B-29 ‘Doc’ a Step Closer to Airworthiness Certificate

A World War II bomber is moving closer to achieving its Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness certificate.

The Wichita Eagle reports that four volunteers attached a nameplate Monday to the B-29 Superfortress known as “Doc.”

The volunteers were among the earliest to work on the restoration effort and included Connie Palacioz. As an 18-year-old in 1944, she worked on the B-29 production line and riveted “Doc’s” nose section. She says she “never thought” she would see the restoration reach this point.

The Wichita-built plane was dubbed “Doc” after being assigned to a squadron of eight bombers named for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was finished too late to fly bombing missions during World War II, though it eventually served as a radar trainer during the Korean War.