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Re: Enola Gay
You're suspicions are probably correct. I believe that FIFI is the last flyable B-29 in the world (if I'm wrong....somebody please speak up). Approx. 25 years ago I saw FIFI take off on the SE runway at San Antonio Intl. Airport.....what a thrill to have that thundering a/c fly right overhead!
For many, many years the legendary ENOLA GAY languished behind the scenes at a warehouse of the Air & Space Museum known as the Garber Restoration Facility. A controversy erupted when the then Smithsonian dir. planned to use only the fuselage of the ENOLA GAY as a centerpiece for a 50th anniversary exhibit (50 yrs. from the atomic missions) which was to include a display describing "american war crimes" against the Japanese. This met with massive resistance from veterans groups and the survivors of the atomic missions; the resulting display was much diminished in scope. I met both pilots, Paul Tibbetts Jr. and Charles Sweeney in late '98 and early '99 and heard their own stories of the missions and the need to end the war quickly.
Finally, after many years, #82 ENOLA GAY was fully restored and proudly stands in the Udvar-Hazy facility near Dulles airport in DC. Hope that this provides some background info. for you.
Tripp
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