Dates

Event

1945

Constructed as a B-29A-60-BN.

31 July 1945

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-62070.
Accepted at Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Salina, KS.

August 1945

Transferred to 247th Army Air Force Base Unit, Smoky Hill AAF, Salina, KS.

September 1945

Transferred to 232nd Army Air Force Base Unit, Dalhart AAF, TX.

October 1945

Transferred to 242nd Army Air Force Base Unit, Grand Island AAF, NE.

Transferred to 718th Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomb Group, Grand Island AAF, NE.

23 December 1945

Involved in an incident.
Accident due to engine failure at Grand Island AAF.

April 1946

Converted to a TB-29A.

18 September 1947

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 44-62070.

November 1947

Assigned to 4141st Air Force Base Unit, Pyote Field, TX for storage.

October 1951

Transferred to Contract Maintenance and Modification.
Restored as B-29A.

April 1952

Redesignated as B-29A.

Transferred to 310th Bombardment Wing (SAC), Smoky Hill AFB, KS.
Operated with markings: Lucky Strike

April 1953

Transferred to Sacramento Air Materiel Area (SMAAR), McClellan AFB, CA.

May 1953

Transferred to 310th Bombardment Wing (SAC), Smoky Hill AFB, KS.

August 1953

Transferred to 3510th Flying Training Wing (Air Training Command), Randolph AFB, TX.

November 1953

Converted to a TB-29A.

October 1956

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 44-62070.

From October 1956 to 1971

Transferred to Naval Weapons Center, China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA.
Used as a range target then left derelict in open storage.

Circa October 1956

Markings Applied: 31
Marked as 31 while on the range.

23 March 1971

To Confederate Air Force, Harlingen TX with new c/r N4249.
Not immediately relocated from China Lake.

Restored.
Restored on-site at China Lake for a ferry flight.

3 August 1971

Ferry flight. Delivered to Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX.
Moved from China Lake to Harlingen, TX.

Restored.
Full restoration using the components from three other B-29s.

22 July 1978

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At the Dayton, OH, International Air Show 35mm slide

6 October 1978

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Superfortress Fifi after displaying at the Confederate Air Force Airshow of 1978 at Harlingen, Texas.

6 October 1978

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Confederate Air Forces Superfortress Fifi at their 1978 Airshow at Harlingen, Texas.

August 1981

Assigned civil registration: N529B

June 1982

Photographer: Mark Kennedy
Notes: B-29 Superfortress N529B (Confederate Air Force) at Confederate Air Force Airshow, Scholes Field, Galveston, Tx. June 1982. (Markings applied for the movie The Right Stuff)

June 1982

Photographer: Mark Kennedy
Notes: B-29 Superfortress FiFi N529B (Confederate Air Force) at Confederate Air Force Airshow, Galveston, Tx. June 1982. (Markings applied for the movie The Right Stuff)

In the inventory of Commemorative Air Force Airpower Museum, Midland International Airport (MAF), Midland, TX.
View the Location Dossier

Markings Applied: 521800
Used in the filming of the movie The Right Stuff. Portrayed the mother ship.

Markings Applied: FIFI

30 July 1991

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Oshkosh, WI 35mm slide

Operated by Commemorative Air Force-B-29/B-24 Squadron, Addison, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.
View the Location Dossier

10 September 1991

To American Airpower Heritage Fly Museu, Midland, TX keeping c/r N529B.

23 June 1993

Photographer: Mike Henniger

1993

Photographer: Corel Photo CD-ROM 1993 (copyright waived by Corel
Notes: Hey, subtle must be your mdidle name. Great post!

16 October 2000

Damaged.
Nacelle damaged from an engine fire which started on takeoff from Tulsa, OK.

30 July 2002

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Cedar Rapids, IA 35 mm slide

18 August 2003

Certificate of airworthiness for NX529B (B-29, 44-62070) issued.

2006

Restored.
Grounded for an overhaul restoration with the main focus on the engines. The engines were replaced with customized units based on the combination of the R-3350-95W and the R-3350-26WD.

6 July 2010

Certificate of airworthiness for NX529B (B-29, 44-62070) issued.

5 August 2010

First post-restoration Flight.
Flew at the CAF Headquarters at the Midland International Airport.

26 July 2011

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: The star of 2011 Oshkosh

26 July 2011

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: At 2011 Oshkosh

28 July 2011

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: At 2011 Oshkosh

29 March 2012

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: Built in 1944 - Fifi is 3 years older than your contributor !! (photo courtesy of my wife at 2012 Sun N Fun )

12 June 2012

Photographer: Mike Henniger

October 2013

Photographer: Mark Kennedy
Notes: B-29 Superfortress FiFi (Commemorative Air Force) at Wings Over Houston Airshow, Ellington Field, Houston, Tx. Oct. 2013.

October 2013

Photographer: Mark Kennedy
Notes: B-29 Superfortress FiFi (Commemorative Air Force) and P-51 Boo-Man Choo NL51MV at Wings Over Houston Airshow, Ellington Field, Houston, Tx. Oct. 2013.

21 March 2015

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Los Angeles County Air Show at Fox Field in Lancaster, California.

24 August 2015

To American Airpower Heritage Fly Museu, Dallas, TX keeping c/r N529B.

29 October 2016

Photographer: Tom Tessier
Notes: At CAF Wings Over Dallas Airshow, Dallas Executive Airport, TX.

18 July 2017

Certificate of airworthiness for NX529B (B-29, 44-62070) issued.

25 July 2017

Photographer: Kevan Noseworthy
Notes: at 2017 EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI

8 March 2018

Certificate of airworthiness for NX529B (B-29, 44-62070) issued.

8 March 2018

To American Airpower Heritage Fly Museu, Midland, TX keeping c/r N529B.

19 July 2019

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Janesville, WI

To Commemorative Air Force-B-29/B-24 Squadron, Fort Worth Meacham Airport/Meacham Field, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.
View the Location Dossier

22 August 2022

Photographer: claude angeli
Notes: Mansfield, Ohio

22 August 2022

Photographer: claude angeli