All aboard the B-29 Superfortress "Doc"!!
Had a hell of a good time with my father as we took a little journey with Doc. In spite the 29s size, it was surprisingly cozy inside and you basically had to almost crab walk to get around. Since we were the gunners, we sat comfortably in the belly of Doc and the crew and passengers were great. Everyone took turns looking out the "bubbles" on the sides of the plane and a rear tail hatch that lets you look out the top/side. The plane, like every other plane, is subject to thermals and the winds so naturally you would bounce a little as you walk around. There were plenty of handles to safely grab onto to go about the plane. Though trust me, you definitely feel it in your knees.
Doc, to my present knowledge, is the last of 7 who were named after the dwarves and had Walt Disney's interpretations of the characters painted on their nose. My dad and I actually watched the restoration process for Doc and were happily cheering on the plane when they were finally able to get him running again. Like many others, we wanted to see him up in the air with Fifi, who at the time, was the last flying B-29.
To go along with our little trip in the past, my father brought the family book which contains a photo of my grandmother (his mom), a woman who was a W.A.S.P in her younger days. It gives us a brief window into her world as well as the world of those who served during the time these planes were in full operation. Not to mention we found some vehicles my father served on when stationed in Germany. So it also turned into a little fun trip down memory lane for him as he happily shared stories of his own time in the military.
All in all, it was a good father daughter day granted by an old boy who's happy to fly.