Long-time watchers of my gallery will have seen images of a stunning, gleaming, immaculate B-29 Superfortress, lovingly restored by volunteers in Wichita, KS, where she currently resides and from where she flies on various engagements. Her name is Doc, and she was one of a 9-aircraft surveillance squadron. She was restored after having been found at - and recovered from - the United States Navy's 'China Lake' bombing range.

Many B-29s were sent to China Lake, as target practice for the USN's latest and greatest toys. Among them was the B-29A you see here, which was found almost intact by aircraft enthusiasts (presumably with good contacts) in 1979. Under contract by the Imperial War Museum, a company from Tucson, AZ, recovered the aircraft, restored her to airworthiness, and in 1980 she was flown by former pilots and enthusiasts across the Atlantic - making several stops along the way - to Duxford Airfield. She was painted with the nose art 'Hawg Wild!', depicting her as belonging to the 501st Bombardment Group, which was established in May 1944 and flew high-altitude missions over Japan from April 1945 until the end of the war. 'Hawg Wild' may no longer be airworthy, but she sits quite happily and in reasonable condition at Duxford's American Air Museum.

Hope you enjoy!