The left side of Pima's B-29 - details with my right side shot ref #697830

Built at Boeing Wichita as B-29 and assigned to the 330th BG based in Guam in 1945. By the war's end, "Sentimental Journey" had flown 31 missions. Converted to TB-29 in 1951 and renamed "Dopey" in March 1954 when assigned to the 4713th Radar Evaluation Squadron at Griffiss AFB NY, flying radar defence evaluation flights until the late 1950s. First arrived at Davis Monthan in 1959, being placed on 'Celebrity Row' from 1965 as 0-470016. Now exhibited as it operated from Guam in 1945 (with dual naming either side of nose)

4/45: TOS USAAF; assigned to Gulfport AAF, MS. 11/45: Stored Davis-Monthan AFB. 1948: A Reconnaissance Weather Squadron, Fairfield AFB, CA. 1949: Converted to WB-29. 11/49: 513th RWS, Tinker AFB, OK. 1/51: 513th moved to Hickam AFB, HI. 1951: 57th Strategic RWS, Hickam. 1951 to 1952: Periodically deployed to Kwajalein AB supporting 1951 A-bomb tests and 1952 H-bomb tests at Eniwetok Atoll. 12/54 to 10/55: Tinker AFB; Converted to TB-29. 11/55: 3rd Tow Target Sqdn, Labrador. 7/56: TOS US Army, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, for use as target for weapons testing. 12/85: Tinker AFB for display.

4/45: TOS USAAF; assigned to Gulfport AAF, MS. 11/45: Stored Davis-Monthan AFB. 1948: A Reconnaissance Weather Squadron, Fairfield AFB, CA. 1949: Converted to WB-29. 11/49: 513th RWS, Tinker AFB, OK. 1/51: 513th moved to Hickam AFB, HI. 1951: 57th Strategic RWS, Hickam. 1951 to 1952: Periodically deployed to Kwajalein AB supporting 1951 A-bomb tests and 1952 H-bomb tests at Eniwetok Atoll. 12/54 to 10/55: Tinker AFB; Converted to TB-29. 11/55: 3rd Tow Target Sqdn, Labrador. 7/56: TOS US Army, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, for use as target for weapons testing. 12/85: Tinker AFB for display.

4/45: TOS USAAF; assigned to Gulfport AAF, MS. 11/45: Stored Davis-Monthan AFB. 1948: A Reconnaissance Weather Squadron, Fairfield AFB, CA. 1949: Converted to WB-29. 11/49: 513th RWS, Tinker AFB, OK. 1/51: 513th moved to Hickam AFB, HI. 1951: 57th Strategic RWS, Hickam. 1951 to 1952: Periodically deployed to Kwajalein AB supporting 1951 A-bomb tests and 1952 H-bomb tests at Eniwetok Atoll. 12/54 to 10/55: Tinker AFB; Converted to TB-29. 11/55: 3rd Tow Target Sqdn, Labrador. 7/56: TOS US Army, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, for use as target for weapons testing. 12/85: Tinker AFB for display.

This B-29 never saw action in World War II but was used in in support of atomic bomb testing hence the white colour scheme. Painting such aircraft white was done in order to reflect the thermal radiation of the nuclear explosion.

Entered service with USAF in April 1945. Converted to a TB-29 in March 1952. Transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB (4715th Revron) in June 1959. Loaned to Pima in 1975, where the marking of 'Sentimental Journey' were later applied. Some of the wartime stories include crew complaining about the lack of windows in the back. A flack hit fixed that problem for him. Battle damage repairs (on the flap) can also still be seen. The aircraft was part of a squadron where the aircraft were named after the 7 dwarves. This one was named 'Dopey'. another surviving B-29 is the famous 'Doc'. The aircraft was used in the filming of the movie Enola Gay. During the filming, it was discovered that the wartime markings were still etched in the aircraft skin.

57th Weather Recon Squadron markings