FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NR #AS-0403

MIDLAND, Texas (September 17, 2004) – After leaving Midland on March 14, 2004, the Commemorative Air Force's B-29 Superfortress Fifi and B-24/LB30 Diamond Lil will return home to Midland to participate in the FINA-CAF AIRSHO 2004 slated to take place Oct. 2-3, 2004, at Midland International Airport. The planes are scheduled to arrive at approximately 1:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at CAF Headquarters at Midland International Airport . Please contact Tina Corbett at (432) 638-3846 to confirm arrival time.

The airplanes have toured a total of 30 cities in the Midwestern and eastern United States including stops in North Carolina , South Carolina , Tennessee , New York , Ohio , Pennsylvania , Michigan , Indiana , Illinois , Missouri , Georgia , Louisiana , Oklahoma and Alabama . They participated in nine large special events /airshows including the reunion of the 460th Bomb Group at Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. The 460 th Bomb Group was a highly respected and decorated B-24 unit based in Italy during World War II.

"We've had a great tour," CAF Col Jim Stewart, B-29/B-24 tour director said. "I believe that we represented the CAF well. We made many new friends and all asked when we would return. Everywhere we went, we were received by friendly people who expressed their appreciation for our volunteers and their work," Stewart said adding that he estimated over 250,000 people had viewed the aircraft while the planes were on tour.

Fifi , the world's only flying B-29 Superfortress, has been with the CAF since 1971 when it was rescued from the desert at China Lake , California . Diamond Lil , the oldest surviving Liberator, has been with the CAF since 1968.

Following the AIRSHO performance in Midland , the B-29 is tentatively scheduled to participate in filming for a BBC documentary. After the filming, the B-29 will remain in Midland for scheduled winter maintenance. The

B-24 will travel to Tulsa , Okla. , the week after AIRSHO to begin maintenance.  

-30-