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Photos from Commemorative Air Force B29 B24 Squadron social media pagesTwo iconic warbirds will not be making it to Sun ‘n Fun this year. The Commemorative Air Force revealed that due to extended maintenance, the B-29 "FIFI" and the B-24 "Diamond Lil" will not be attending the tour stops in Montgomery, Alabama or at the Sun ‘n Fun Airshow in Lakeland, Florida.
Sun ‘n Fun revealed that while the two warbirds were undergoing winter maintenance, additional items were found that needed to be addressed before the aircraft could return to flight safely. Attendees at the 50th annual convention can still enjoy an appearance by the P-51 Mustang "Gunfighter" and the RC-45J Expeditor which are part of the AirPower History Tour. The two other planes will still be attending the event and are offering rides.
B-29 FIFI
This WWII-era aircraft is one of two left flying in the world as of 2023. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown in the U.S. during WWII and the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest operational aircraft during WWII, featuring modern technology and features. The aircraft was the single most expensive weapons project the U.S. undertook during WWII, greater than the cost of the Manhattan Project by between one and 1.7 billion dollars. The bomber's unique innovations included a pressurized cabin, dual-wheeled, tricycle landing gear and a remote, computer-controlled fire-control system that directed four machine gun turrets that could be operated by a single gunner and a fire-control officer. The manned tail gun installation was semi-remote.
The B-29 Superfortress was first flown in 1942 and began active service in 1944. The plane was designed as a replacement for the older B-17s and B-24s, with longer range and greater bomb loads for operations in the WWII Pacific theater. The bomber was also used during the Korean War in the early 1950s, remaining a staple of the USAF until late in the decade.
After retiring in the late 1950s, FIFI was left at the U.S. Navy Proving Ground at China Lake, California and used as a missile target. The CAF found FIFI in the early 1970s and rescued and restored the warbird, flying it until 2006 when the chief pilot opted to ground the plane to undergo a complete power plant re-fit. After an extensive four-year restoration, including replacing all four engines with new custom-built hybrid engines, FIFI hit the sky again in 2010, flying coast to coast and attracting crowds at each stop.
B-24 Diamond Lil
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber designed by the Consolidated Aircraft Company in San Diego, California. The B-24 was used throughout WWII, serving every branch of the American Armed Forces and several Allied air forces and navies. The heavy bomber was used in every theater of operations throughout its time in WWII. The Liberator was a staple of U.S. strategic bombing campaigns in the Western European theater, along with the B-17. Thanks to its range, the B-24 was a useful choice in bombing operations in the Pacific, including the bombing of Japan. Long-range anti-submarine Liberators played a crucial role in closing the Mid-Atlantic Gap in the Battle of the Atlantic.
The Liberator was contracted to be built for France in 1940 and later contracted to be diverted to Great Britain as AM927. Diamond Lil was the 25th built out of 18,482 B-24s, but the total number built, including all variants, is 19,267. This B-24 was completed and accepted by the British Air Ministry in May 1941. Two days later, CAC flew the plane to Kansas City and delivered it over to Trans World Airlines. TWA was contracted to conduct flight crew training for RAF pilots. A month later, while two pilots were practicing landings, the right main brake locked up during the landing and the B-24 departed the runway. The right gear collapsed and the nose gear failed before the plane came to a stop and there was significant damage to the bomb bay. CAC initiated a recovery effort over the next six months and in December of 1941, it was flown back to the company in San Diego. The plane was too damaged to return to service as a bomber, but could still fly. A loan arrangement was made between the British Ministry and CAC for the San Diego-based company to keep the plane for logistic support and further B-24 development.
The B-24 was used as a C-87 Liberator Express prototype, returning to service in July 1942. The aircraft was in use throughout the remainder of the war, hauling personnel and equipment between the five B-24 production plants and other vendors. Diamond Lil was also used for flight test purposes, helping in the development of improved flight control characteristics for the later model Liberator bombers. After WWII ended, the ownership was transferred to Consolidated Vultee. The plane underwent several modifications between 1945 and 1947 to improve performance and sustainability, including the long RY-3 nose and PBY nacelle assemblies. On Nov. 10, 1948 the warbird was sold to the Continental Can Company, repainted and outfitted with a luxury interior. The company used the Diamond Lil for executive transport and cross-country flights between its plants for the next decade.
In April 1959 the B-24 was sold to the Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) Mexican state-owned petroleum company, which used it for transport. In 1967 PEMEX decided to upgrade and replace the B-24 with a DC-6 aircraft, loaning the Diamond Lil to the CAF, which eventually took on full ownership of the plane in May 1968. In 1972 the plane was repainted in the colors of the 98th BG, of the Ploesti Raid, and named Diamond Lil. Between 2006 and 2007, Diamond Lil was reconfigured to the B-24A/RLB-30 roots and given nose art.
The Diamond Lil returned in April 2012, but a month later, on May 26, the plane experienced a complete hydraulic failure and subsequent nose gear collapse. Temporary repairs were made and the plane was flown away for repairs. Due to the complicated process of restoring these old warbirds, like fabricating many specific replacement parts, the restoration was not complete until July 2013. Since that time. Diamond Lil has toured the U.S. and provided both young and old aviation enthusiasts with a special opportunity to explore a rare aircraft through tours and ride flights.