6th Bomb Group Reunions
HIGHLIGHTS
“Doc” VIP Tour – Watch B-29 “Doc” Take-off!!
Reunion attendees will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing the engine start, taxi and take-off of one of only two operational B-29s in the world: “Doc”
B-29 Doc Hanger, Education & Visitors Center visit:
- talk with Doc volunteers who maintain Doc
- hear about the history of the B-29 and restoration of Doc
- climb in and tour Doc
- watch Doc engine start, taxi and take-off
VIP Tour – Boeing Wichita B-29 Plant
See Boeing Wichita B-29 Plant where most 6th Bomb Group B-29s were built then flown from the adjacent air strip to Kearney Army Air Field, NE for assignment to their crews for deployment.
- Learn history of B-29 production with plant tour
- See today’s Boeing 737 commercial aircraft fuselage assembly line in plant
This tour is listed as optional because attendees will need to arrange car pools to the plant.
Pratt Army Air Field B-29 Museum visit
Pratt Army Air Field was the first US AAF B-29 air base in the world. It received the top secret YB-29 prototype in August 1943, where, under heavy security, Boeing engineers tested, troubleshot and modified the design. It became the first B-29 training base for the war once B-29 production began in Wichita. The Pratt Army Air Field B-29 Museum chronicles its history.
Cosmosphere Space Museum visit
The Cosmosphere Space Museum is recognized as the best display of the US / USSR Space Race in the world:
- Largest combined collection of U.S. and Russian space race artifacts
- Apollo 13 Command Module Odyssey, Mercury and Gemini space capsules
- Vostok and Voskhod 2 space capsules, Sputnik (flight-ready backup)
- Moon rock from Apollo 11
- Redstone and Titan II rockets, Russian RD-107 rocket engine…
- German WWII V-1 and V-2 rockets
- Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
- 4K theater documentaries
- Planetarium space / night sky presentations
PAST REUNIONS + CLICKABLE YOUTUBE LINKS
Sep 11-15, 2019 – Everett, WA
The highlights of this reunion included a tour of the Boeing 787 Assembly Plant in Everett, a special interior tour of a restored B-29 on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle and a B-29 history presentation by David Loffing, Boeing Chief Project Engineer, Commercial Airplanes.
Oct 17-22, 2018 – Boise, ID
This reunion had several highlights, including a tour of the Mountain Home Air Force Base and the Warhawk Air Museum. We were joined by Lt. Col. John Barry and the “Rowdy Rebels from the Air Force Academy.
Nov 8-12, 2017 – Galveston, TX
This reunion had several highlights, including a tour of Galveston, the Lone Star Air Museum and a presentation to the local ROTC class.
Sep 21-25, 2016 – Treasure Island, FL
There is a video of the vets sharing their recollections on YouTube.
Sep 9-15, 2015 – Portland, OR
There is a video of the vets sharing their recollections on YouTube.
Sep 25-28, 2014 – Baltimore, MD
This event was again hosted by the Ritter and Webtster families. There is a video of the vets sharing their recollections on YouTube.
Oct 3-6, 2013 – Milwaukee, WI
Details were posted in the June 2013 Newsletter. This event was hosted by the Ritter family and was the first time the Group had visited Milwaukee.
Oct 4-7, 2012 – Charleston, SC
See the June 2012 newsletter for details. John Handy has made pictures of this available on Flickr. There is a video of the vets sharing their recollections on YouTube.
Sep 8-11, 2011 – San Diego, CA
Sep 9-12, 2010 – Dayton, OH
The birthplace of aviation.
Oct 29-Nov 1, 2009 – Las Cruces, NM
Took tours of the White Sands Missile Range, the Trinity Bomb Test Site, and the Farm & Ranch Museum along with several memorable meals, including lunch at the Owl Club and dinner at the Double Eagle Restaurant. The Group was also honored by the citizens of San Antonio and of Las Cruces, who dedicated a monument honoring the 6BG. John Creek, Jr. and his family (now residents of New Mexico) again hosted this event and handled the arrangements for the events, including making many visits to AF security to obtain the necessary clearances for the trip to the Trinity Bomb Test Site.
Oct 23-26, 2008 – Midland, TX
Took a tour of “Fifi,” the Petroleum Museum and enjoyed the hospitality of the people of Midland, including a Texas barbecue. The event was hosted by John Creek, Jr., a resident of Midland, who also handled arrangements for the events.
2007 – Washington, DC
Visited the Smithsonian and the “Enola Gay.”
2006 – Wichita, KS
The group unsuccessfully tried to take a tour of “Doc,” but had a nice tour of the new Wichita Air Museum.
Apr 29-May 1, 2004 – Savannah, GA
Oct 04-07, 2002 – Nashville, TN
May 17-20, 2001 – St. Louis, MO
Aug 30, 1986 – Omaha, NE
I believe this is the first reunion. Just a bunch of kids, most in their 60s