B-29 Superfortress FIFI Walkaround

[@Chrisfrom_Dallas]

I live in Dallas, every time this plane flies over I am happy for the historical importance, and more so for the crews that keep her alive. Good work.

[@Thecohostobviouzx]

Thank you so much for keeping this old bird flying. My neighbor growing up was Lieutenant Carl J. Manone, who was the lead bombardier of a B-29 and flew in 35 combat missions with the 20th Air Force. He was highly decorated with 3 distinguished flying crosses with oak clusters as well as the Air medal with 3 clusters, presidential unit citation with clusters and the Asiatic-Pacific theater medal with four battle stars. Sadly Carl passed away in 2012, I miss him and his stories, thanks for showing this beautiful plane.

[@ErikJohnston]

Glad you liked it. Carl sure sounded like a true American hero. I wish I could have met him.

[@robertgolden1080]

What a fantastic airplane. This plane literally, saved thousands of American and Allied lives during the Pacific Theatre in World War 2. Really appreciate the tour.

[@tommcintyre2963]

Many thanks for the great tour. I have had the pleasure earlier, given by none other than Captain Randy Sohn. I was with him on his last 747 check ride for the airline. As always, he is/was a gifted pilot and contributed to aviation in many ways..... Cheers, Tom McIntyre

[@donaldbarrier5806]

My grandfather was a B-29 commander . Dropped fire bombs on tokyo flying out of base on Tinean. Always wondered exactly what inside of aircraft was like. Thanks. Great review. ..... I remember going to airshows at Love Field and being in awe of our great warbirds. Thanks for the review. Brings back great memories of one of my heroes and his aircraft !

[@Bluejackets70]

This is an excellent video and a wonderful tour of a beautiful aircraft. I was lucky enough to see fifi in person back in 2018 and I will never forget that experience

[@dgim8016]

Capt Allen Benzing does just an outstanding, A+ presentation...thank you sir...incredible tour of the B-29, its equipment and its operations!

[@brianterrel388]

AWESOME. My father was a bombardier on a B 29. He was stationed on Guam and flew 15 missions over Japan

[@yolandasalvador7993]

The restoration of this plane is nothing short of incredible. A++ for the presentation. Thank you!

[@visarma9673]

My mentor flew Fifi before Fifi was Fifi... an amazing aircraft. Thank you for your efforts... I look forward to (one day) watch Fifi and Doc fly together. I was fortunate to spend some time in Fifi a few years back. As I understand, this b-29 never left the USA during the Great War.

[@arkansasmountainman]

Wonderful video tour. I thank all our brave veterans who served and serve today as well as those who will serve our country. Thanks be to God for these men and women. It's wonderful that your group restored FIFI to the memory of those great men that flew these aircraft. I tried to visit your PX site but it could not be found. I look forward to seeing FIFI someday.

[@bomberkid55]

Great tour! I appreciated the detail on each station and the undercarriage of the aircraft.

[@ErikJohnston]

+bomberkid55 Glad you liked it, We tried to go into as much detail as we could.

[@8MoonsOfJupiter]

Fantastic tour - it's fascinating to see such detail of the inner workings of this beautiful plane as it really brings to life what it must've been like for the brave men who put themselves in the line of fire when on a mission. I can't imagine how cold, noisy, uncomfortable and just plain scary it would've been flying to war in a Superfortress (especially so for the tail gunner). A magnificent and iconic aircaft - thank you for showing us around her.

[@Paul1958R]

Erik/Al Great video - thank you! My son and I visited FIFI when she visited Boire Field in Nashua NH in July 2018. My father was a USAAF B-29 navigator in the pacific 1944-1945. We are Friends of Doc. Paul (in MA)

[@drfranklippenheimer8743]

I sat in the cabin with my Dad and got a fantastic tour of Mimi while it was visiting Lincoln, NE back in the '90s. I'll never forget it.

[@fredderf3152]

Thank you for posting this video. I got to see FiFi fly many years ago at an air show here in Indiana. But never got to see her up close. BTW; I worked at the Naval Avionics Center in Indianapolis for many years... which was the original location for the construction and assembly of the Norden bombsight during WWII.

[@marstuv5068]

Interesting

[@michaelwoodward5787]

Just got to see her for the first time ! Absolutely awesome. 🇺🇸

[@fletcher3913]

Another great walk around Erik. A big thank you to the Pilot and the CAF.

[@ErikJohnston]

Your welcome. Really glad you liked it.

[@vicentetoni3573]

Fantastica demonstracao do poderio dessa aeronave.

[@richardbowles7690]

Thanks for the tour. Truly a different age of technology; pinnacle of mechanical before semiconductors became the thing. #FiFi #B29

[@H.pylori]

Fantastic video of an iconic WWII aircraft. With all of the controls, switches, panels, and doors, how did they ever master flying this aircraft? They were exceptional people meeting the challenge of the times. This personal tour added special insight as to how the plane was flown. Thanks to all involved in producing this video and getting it online.

[@walteralter9061]

I'm 3 years old and dad takes me out to the flight line, don't recall the air base, and we walk out to the B29 he pilots. I'd been around airplanes quite a bit up to that point, but this time we're up under the nose wheel well and dad is handing me up to one of the crew and I'm hauled up into the flight deck. I am blown away by the order of everything from hydraulic lines and wiring looms to rows of gauges and switches. This is unlike any space - home, nursery school, stores, etc., that I've previously been in. The plane smells strongly of hydraulic fluid, I love it. Dad lifts me up to the bomb bay tube. Unlike Fifi, this one has a gurney cart and a pull cable and I'm shuttled to the rear gunnery compartment for a look see. Don't recall much else other than that I've always needed things to be orderly around me, lol! So it was a bit of fortuitous aesthetic programming. I've been a WWII air power buff ever since.

[@PhilG999]

I had a chance to tour FIFI some years ago at PDK. My Granddad worked on building them at Lockheed (then Bell Aircraft) in Atlanta. IIRC FIFI was out of the California plant?One of my earliest memories was Granddad taking me to the plant when I was about three. Huge. Noisy. And I loved every minute of it! Granddad always told everyone I'd be an Engineer. And I am. Wish he had lived to see me graduate...

[@ErikJohnston]

Great story Phil. Thanks for sharing it. Glad you liked the video

[@marstuv5068]

I'm sure he'd a been Mighty Proud

[@isellu]

Well done. This is a very informative video of something few of us will ever get a chance to see. You are doing a great service to preserve the memory of these wonderful planes and the crew who flew and maintained them. Thank you! TJ

[@christianbuczko1481]

I love seeing these old aircraft and its nice to see these walk around vids which show alot of details you never normally learn about unless you served on one. I wish id got money to donate, and hope you can keep them flying for many years to come. Their a great memorial to the men killed in ww2.

[@johnkinnane547]

G'day Daneil yes I have seen it and it was great, lovely old plane beautifully restored and great to have at least one flying. I really love it when they are starting those magnificent radial engines. The other thing which is fascinating is that all the rudder elevators and trim settings ect., are all operated by wire and pulleys. Kind regards John

[@leeenfieldsmle]

Absolutely incredible that they were able to design and mass produce such a complex aircraft under such demanding time lines, not to mention training up the aircrews to operate and maintain them. Mind boggling.

[@howardblake7032]

Fantastic this presentation came out of the blue I have been isolating for two weeks never thought I could have a look inside a B29 I worked for Caterpillar for 50years and still love engines thank you H UK

[@pizzamonster975]

Incredible engineering and incredible brave souls that came together for victory in the air during one darkest days of history

[@eduardolandi6355]

Remarkable how the inside resembles a submarine. Honour to the brave crews that flew those planes. And to the amazing team that keep this fantastic machine alive!

[@mikemac2888]

Outstanding! Had the pleasure of seeing her fly many times in person. This and Diamond Lil are by far my tow favorite birds. (I do miss Lil's old livery).

[@marcnshawny]

Excellent presentation. Really appreciate all the details. I had the pleasure of taking the tour of Fifi at PAE, Paine Field, Everett Washington years ago when I worked for the FBO there but it wasn't this comprehensive. What a wonderful old lady she is. I do have a question though. In the event that the flight engineer is out of commission for any reason during a flight, can the plane be flown by the pilot(s) or does one of them need to go back and man that position? It was certainly a critical part of the operation. Again, thank you for the grand tour. I'm sure you're all very proud of her.

[@patriciathomas9669]

I remember seeing her at the air show in Harlingen, TX back when I was a kid. They would fly her low and slow over the crowd and open the bomb bay doors. I was heartbroken when the CAF was moved to Midland. I haven't seen FIFI since (roughly 30 years).

[@johnosbourn4312]

Well, today, the CAF's HQ is now in Dallas, after they out grew their base in Midlands.

[@johnp9402]

My grandfather was a navy aircraft mechanic in WW2 and volunteer at Boeing flight museum. He helped restore FIFI when it was at Boeing Field.

[@Space_Man909]

Cool!

[@nightrider6769]

Wow loved the video and thanks you for doing it and giving people an indep view of operation of this wonderful plane. I spent sometime helping maintain Miss Mitchell she is stationed at Fleming field in st. Paul Minnesota. I thought that plane was complicated that's nothing compared to the B-29 good God. but one day I just so happen to be at the hanger and she was going up for fall pics and had a fighter escort. and I got to go. let me tell it was a thrill of a lifetime. I was in the trail section of the plane and spent the entire flight in the rear gunner position had a great View and saw all the old fighter planes flying with us. it was so cool I'll never forget.

[@ruffmansavageveteran1345]

Engineer on a B-29 had way more responsibilities in comparison to a Ch-47 Chinook flight engineer. Much respect!

[@johnosbourn4312]

I've seen her a handful of times in my life; once in Arizona, when she was painted up as "Fertile Myrtle"; the B-29 Mothership that carried, and dropped Chuck Yeager, and "his" XS-1 named "Glamourous Glennis", on Oct. 14th 1947; this was done for the movie, "The Right Stuff", and then the next time I saw her was here in Nebraska, at the 1995 Offutt Air Show, and finally, the most recent time that I saw her flying, was about three, or four years ago, during our annual Arrows To Aerospace Parade.

[@2utoday]

That was an awesome tour! Two thumbs up for a great effort keeping the "FIFI" B-29 in fabulous flying condition!

[@aidjunkie8503]

Thank you for such a well composed and informative look around. fantastic.

[@barryreed6806]

Thank you very much for posting this video, I wish I could have seen this before touring the plane here in St. Louis last weekend. But I do remember viewing a lot of these items while in the cockpit. Also, thanks for keeping her flying!

[@alucardlledroc]

Wow....What a super nice WWll piece ...love to see it still fly...what a treat to see.

[@benmcdonough4340]

I saw this at spirit of STL during the blue angels air show. I was right by where it parked after it gave a flight demonstration, beautiful plane. I really appreciated watching it fly.

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

That is awesome to see the inside of this great Lady. Thanks for making this video.

[@ErikJohnston]

Check out the B-29 flight vide I recent posted

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

@@ErikJohnston I definitely will. Thanks Erik.

[@mikebtrfld1705]

My uncle flew P-40's in Burma before Pearl Harbor. He joined the army in 1938 at 16 years old, a captain at 19 with a leather jacket and a pearl handled .45 He flew all throughout WW2 and the Berlin Airlift. After the war no airline would hire him, no highschool diploma.

[@ErikJohnston]

Mike Buttfild Wow! What an amazing career in the service! I bet he had some great stories

[@craigkoehler4363]

Only pimps carry pearl handled pistols.

[@Dumbrarere]

@@craigkoehler4363 Considering this is a military veteran we're talking about, the comment you made is a tad disrespectful.

[@davidgreen5099]

@@Dumbrarere it's a quote from General Patton concerning his pistols.

[@Dumbrarere]

@@davidgreen5099 I did not know this. Still, he could have made it quite clear that he was quoting Patton by writing it in quotes, followed by the name.

[@willconnor5858]

Been working at the VFM for about 5 years. Haven't done much inside FIFI yet. Just poked my head up in the forward section. Great video!

[@johno9507]

Amazing the leap in technology between the B-17 and the B-29.

[@davidlefort4131]

I have to say I always love the storys of the courageous young man that volunteer for those assignments and those b29fortress wow I wish I could have the chance to maintain those old warbirds beautiful tour thank-you now I can daydream about the warbirds

[@FLORIDAROOMJAMS]

Amazing ! And this was just one of thousands that flew during WW2 during the fight againts the japanese and later during the Korean war. One can only think how many people it took to design , build , transport , maintain, arm , fuel , just a single B-29 much less a flight , squadron , group ...to have them go from the factory to the target ...its incredible to imagine ..and there is only 2 of these awesome plans flying today some 70 years after they were state of the art fighting machines ...what a incredible machine !

[@marstuv5068]

Wish there were More (flying Today)

[@johnbirkett]

Fascinating stuff, from an ordinary bloke in the middle of the UK = Thank you.

[@Beamin-vt7jm]

It’s amazing what our country can do when we bring together the greatest minds and spend a lot money. A technology marvel for that time.

[@TheFlyingExperience]

such an incredibly great video!!!!! this is FANTASTIC. HOPE YOU GUYS DO MORE

[@ErikJohnston]

Thanks, glad you liked it. I have done several walkaround videos. Check them out when you have time

[@eaterofbubcakes1889]

+ErikJohnston Great videos!

[@amalieslu]

seatgurus .

[@陳添榮-q8y]

ErikJohnston上

[@carlosalbertolizarralde7402]

Great tour!! I had never seen anyone do it like that before!! Thanks.

[@docd-monik3946]

I've always been fascinated with the B29. My grandfather used to take me to the Wright Patterson museum in Dayton, OH where they have the Bockscar on display (the B29 that ended WW2, for those who dont know) and I always thought it looked very sci-fi, especially for the era it was made.

[@johnosbourn4312]

She's the second B-29 to have dropped a Nuclear Bomb in that War, and here's a cool fact about the B-29 that you haven't heard of: The B-29's of the 509th Composite Group, were built right here in Bellevue, Nebraska, at what today is Offutt Air Force Base, and they were all modified for the dropping of Nuclear Bombs, under the Codename of "Silver Plate".

[@marstuv5068]

@@johnosbourn4312 very Interesting

[@stevem7868-y4l]

What an interesting walk around, kudos to the flight engineer, i bet he had to make the T and coffee, and sweep the aircraft at the same time as all of his other more important tasks!

[@thetreblerebel]

FiFi is a legend. Glad it's still flying

[@MaverickEchoJuliet]

Excellent video, I enjoyed it very much. Great job by the presenter as well !

[@susan123465]

Great walk around and intro, about the best I've seen. Thanks for your efforts. What a great beast of an aircraft!

[@xbone4138]

That's awesome, but they are so rare! I wish I could see one of these beauties up close one day...

[@yolandasalvador7993]

Agreed ....

[@debbiequick2133]

Another comment: my Dad was a Pilot and Commander of a B-17 and also a co-pilot of a Boeing B-29 during WWII and was stationed here in Arizona @ Williams Air Force Base...John Quick in Arizona

[@BigUnitBeef]

Absolutely amazing. Thanks for the hard work and dedication to keep this piece of history air worthy.....

[@rstormo68]

Thank you for showing us this iconic aircraft! Again thank you!!.

[@ErikJohnston]

Ronny Stormo your very welcome

[@peterw3265]

Great tour of a GREAT Plane. Can't wait to see it in Nashua,NH. this week!!

[@baker2niner]

Thanks for the excellent tour. Makes me think of Pop and his (pretty crazy) stories as a CFC in the 497th BG (A sq 53). (He always said Fifi's tail is marked wrong for the 497th!)

[@gaylemorris7286]

She was one of my father's planes on Okinawa (Kadena AFB) during the Korean War and we saw her many times when we picked him up on the flight line after a "run". I never knew planes could fly with so much damage (of course some didn't).

[@johnmcclintock8004]

WELL DONE, SIR... RIP to all of the heroes of WW2 that served our great nation !

[@64maxpower]

The combined efforts of people determined to win against the enemy is impressive. Just building a single B29 must have been a monumental effort. I can't imagine building hundreds. The Russians must have been blown away when they had the job to reverse engineer the captured B29s

[@johnnolan2306]

I saw a show on TV about the captured B-29s that landed in Vladivostok (I can't remember the title) and they said that the the man in charge self terminated on the day of the 1st test flight to avoid whatever the Soviets had planned for him if there was a failure.

[@marstuv5068]

Hahaha. So True!

[@myplane150]

Really is amazing how much aviation tech advanced during the war years...

[@kuntosjedebil]

He bought the plane for his wife? That's an amazing gift. Like the Homer's bowling ball.

[@duffmangames6997]

Tax break??

[@ianmangham4570]

Homers bowling ball

[@gregpeterman1102]

There's an almost airworthy B29 at Veterans Memorial State Park in Georgia, it has been sitting there since it was flown in.

[@robertkerr3059]

nice video, the correct name for the little engine inside to get the show started is PUTPUT he is a new generation pilot flying an old school ship, just to be accurate

[@louiswager2629]

great presentation, just love these old Warbirds - American History - thanks for sharing Sir!

[@thumperyeah6618]

Looking forward to taking Dad and flying on her next week!

[@davidhudson5452]

Have been on FiFi once a long time ago nice too see her again

[@oz5crc]

Totally agree with other omments here. What an most excellent walkaround-video. Great job. Thanks

[@johnthepom100]

Most enjoyable video ive watched in a long time, many thanks.

[@mariekatherine5238]

This plane is amazing. I’ve been in one, but never had the chance to fly in one. It’s kind of on my bucket list, if my health allows.

[@stemshop5114]

Thank you for sharing your very educational video. We live just 10 miles north of Oshkosh and have seen FiFi flying over the area here during AirVenture!

[@ErikJohnston]

Your welcome. Really glad you liked it. We had fun making it

[@johnkinnane547]

G'day from Tasmania Australia thank you very much for the wonderful insight to this fantastic aircraft. I really enjoyed it and to find out more about her thanks again kind regards John Kinnane

[@Dakota-je9os]

Just under a year after you posted this video the other flyable B-29, Doc, took off for the first time in over 50 years from Wichita, Kansas. My home state.

[@twobighands]

Great Tour Sir. Very Well done. I really like your attention to detail.

[@adamskinner5868]

Hi from Wellington NZ, hosts to the 1st Marine Div during WW2. Great video and very informative, giving us a wonderful opportunity to see and understand the different crew positions and workings of this iconic aircraft. Thank you so much for this and the important work you do. I would have thought the US Air force would have liked to help? Thanks again

[@davidgreen5099]

Thanks for putting up with us Yanks.

[@adamskinner5868]

@@davidgreen5099 Who didn't like the rich n generous Yanks being in town, other than worried Parents and boyfriends etc of the local women. The Yanks had a great reputation as being polite n friendly young men who were very well liked and respected, doing their bit a long way from home at a dangerous and uncertain time. I've only ever heard positive stories about their time here which wasn't that long but made a big splash with the locals.

[@davidgreen5099]

@@adamskinner5868 Thanks!

[@marstuv5068]

@@davidgreen5099 hahaha. You know it!!

[@josephmurphy7363]

Exquisite workmanship, courtesy of the Greatest Generation.

[@russellbluewolf6427]

i remember this airplane (not sure if its the same aircraft) at the airport next to job corps in San Marcos back in about 96 or 97...they would start up the engines about every day or so..was such a sound...

[@donnieluc6643]

I don't know why, but I absolutely love the B-29 & have a early plastic model - still in box, (politically-incorrect lol), it has the fat man; little boy atomic bombs. This video has great detail if I decide to assemble my B-29 Enola Gay or maybe FIFI. Anyhow, thanks for the great uploads!

[@mikebtrfld1705]

He did Eric, he was a cross between Robert Conrad and Michael Landon. He studied martial arts in Burma. I heard he liked to fight back in the day. He has a star in the Wings of Fame air museum at Chino airport. He took flight training there when it was called Cal Aero Field.

[@briantaylor8197]

I wish that I lived much closer. I don't get to see WW2 aircraft anymore.

[@MrSebfrench76]

thank you so much for that ,from a french enthusiast of the B 29.

[@hitleposixv167]

Great video, really interesting and it answers most of my questions about B29! Thank you!

[@duartesimoes508]

So sad that other B-29 burned when they were trying to retrieve it from Greenland, in the nineties. Remember that, in Discovery Channel? "B-29 frozen in time"... What a terrible loss.

[@johnosbourn4312]

Yeah, the aircraft you're talking about was the "Kee Bird".

[@rcbif101]

Nice tour. When you got to the APU, I though you'd mention how it killed that one B29 that was ready to come home.

[@davemacclary9845]

I just saw both B-29 bombers at the Manassas, Va airport. Very impressed.

[@troybond5426]

I would be thrilled to see this aircraft in person, & be able to go for a ride in it 🇺🇸

[@fredwertz1065]

I worked at Boeings Everett plant for 10 years ,One day I happened to see Fifi there getting a new paint job

[@MarkInArizona]

Thank you for the detailed walk through! Education as well as interesting.

[@charlesr5210]

I remember as a kid, when FiFi was stationed in Harlingen at the then Confederate Air Force Museum in the late 70's when they were doing an engine run test. It was very cold and man what a clatter those engines made! Like 4 top fuel dragsters running all at once.

[@ErikJohnston]

that's a cool story. there is nothing like the sound of a radial engine. I love it

[@charlesr5210]

It was actually kinda terrifying. Very cold engines belching out huge flames and alot of smoke. Backfiring like crazy.

[@mikefinamore2210]

I had the opportunity to see "FIFI" in 2011, at DuPage County Airport, while she was on her way to Oshkosh. I would love getting to see her again, and maybe getting to ride with her.

[@manuelvillamil9809]

Great Job keeping this piece of history flying! How many spare engines do you have?

[@jduff59]

Thanks Allen, great and unselfish presentation, I have an entirely new appreciation for B-29 Flight Engineers. Were they strictly officers or were qualified senior NCO's also used?

[@peterschmidt8287]

Flight engineers were enlisted airmen, normally at least staff sergeant.

[@zcommezapruder]

Thank you so much for spending your time for all the exlanations, that was very interesting.

[@LeonardFShanerJR]

My reason Late Uncle Gerry flew in Z Square #55 , 73rd. Bomber squadron over Japan between 1944-45 , He was the Right side gunner, although he said, he was a right waist gunner. He was 18 years old too. He flew out of Saipan and flew on 18 mission. When it was time for them to come home to the States, They flew in into San Francisco, Calf. and flew right under the Golden Gate. They were glad they didn't catch flack when they got back to the Home base, My Uncle said. My Uncle went onto be an employee of Dana Corp. and worked his way up to head controller. So if anyone in here who had worked for Dana, my Uncle Gerry, signed your paychecks. Uncle Gerry passed away on March 24, 2016 at age 91.

[@davidlefort4131]

awsom I love to read stories like that my friend you know what it's so incredible the young men like your uncle those are memory to Cherish

[@Conrailfan2596]

cool another person who likes conrail

[@johnosbourn4312]

Don't you mean 73rd Bomb Wing, not 73rd Bomb Squadron.

[@truemansparks]

Great tour of the amazing B-29