C-47 That’s All…Brother to Join B-29 Doc in Mason City, IA

One of the lead aircraft that delivered the first Allied troops to France on D-Day in 1944 will join the B-29 Doc History Restored Tour in Mason City, IA, July 20-23. Both historic warbirds will arrive at Mason City Municipal Airport July 19, and will be available for flight experience rides along with ground and cockpit tours during the four-day tour stop.

B-29 Doc is one of only two B-29 Superfortress aircraft still airworthy and flying, and the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Central Texas Wing’s C-47 That’s All…Brother place in history and its service to liberate France during World War II is a remarkable story.

“Hosting both of these historic warbirds is a unique and one-of-a-kind event for Mason City and the surrounding area,” said David Sims, Mason City airport manager. “Both aircraft have storied pasts and provide up close and personal access to our nation’s history. We are proud to host this event and give people the opportunity to see two of the airplanes that served to protect our freedom during World War II.”

Ride flight tickets for B-29 Doc and C-47 That’s All…Brother are on sale now for the tour event at Mason City Municipal Airport. Information about rides and flight ticket purchasing can be found here: www.b29doc.com/rides and https://thatsallbrother.org/tour/.

“Having two historic warbirds on the ramp in Mason City for people to see and experience allows us to expand our joint mission of honoring the Greatest Generation while inspiring the generation of aviators,” said Josh Wells, B-29 Doc executive director. “It’s important that we honor the legacy and tell the story of our nation’s World War II heroes by giving people a chance to climb inside these historic warbirds. We are proud to share this common mission with our friends at the Commemorative Air Force.”

The tour stop in Mason City will be the third time in 2023 that Doc and That’s All…Brother will share a ramp together. The first was in April in San Marcos, TX, and the second will be in Wichita, KS two weeks prior to Mason City.

“When we can partner with organizations and other warbird operations who share our joint mission of preserving our nation’s history and the legacy of the Greatest Generation we’re all-in,” said Deena Clausen, CAF Central Texas Wing leader. “We look forward to continuing to broaden our reach and allow more people to get up close and personal with these historic aircraft.”

Event Details for the B-29 Doc History Restored Tour and C-47 That’s All…Brother in Mason City

B-29 Doc and That’s All…Brother will arrive at Mason City Municipal Airport Wednesday, July 19 and will be available for ground and cockpit tours when the aircraft are not operating ride flights. The ramp will be open for public access Thursday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Friday, July 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The hours on Saturday and Sunday for ground and cockpit tours will be from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. both days, and will be subject to the aircraft ride schedules. Admission for the ground and cockpit tour event will be $10 per person and $20 per family with tickets available at the gate. Ride flight tickets are on sale now for both aircraft:

B-29 Doc: www.b29doc.com/rides

C-47 That’s All…Brother: https://thatsallbrother.org/tour/

About Doc’s Friends and B-29 Doc
Doc’s Friends, Inc., is a 501c3 non-profit board that owns and manages the operation of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress known as Doc. Doc is a B-29 Superfortress and one of 1,644 manufactured in Wichita during World War II. It is one of only two remaining B-29s that are still airworthy and flying today.  The mission of Doc’s Friends is to HONOR the men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedom of others, including those who designed, built, maintained and flew the B-29 during and after WWII. CONNECT people with the rich heritage of the B-29 and allow aviation enthusiasts to experience the thrill of a B-29 up close. EDUCATE todays and future generations on the contributions of the Greatest Generation during wartime.

About the B-29 Doc History Restored Tour and B-29 Doc Flight Experience
Each year, B-29 Doc travels to cities across the United States to allow aviation enthusiasts a chance to B-29 Doc up-close and personal. Doc’s annual tour mission includes an average of 100 flight hours, beginning in early April and spanning through the summer until late October. Tour stops include ground and flight deck tours, as well as B-29 Doc Flight Experiences. The B-29 Doc Flight Experience will last approximately 90 minutes and includes a 30-minute ride. Prior to takeoff, passengers will experience a crew briefing and learn more about the history of the B-29 and the role it played in U.S. history. Passengers will also get to hear and see the sights and sounds of engine starts and run-ups prior to takeoff.

About Commemorative Air Force (CAF)
The CAF was founded to acquire, restore, and preserve in flying condition a complete collection of combat aircraft flown by all military services of the United States, as well as selected aircraft of other nations, for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans. More than just a collection of airworthy warplanes from the past, the CAF’s fleet of 180 historic aircraft, known as the CAF Ghost Squadron, recreate, remind, and reinforce the lessons learned from the defining moments in American military aviation history. More information at www.commemorativeairforce.org.

About the C-47A That’s All, Brother
That’s All…Brother was the C-47A troop carrier aircraft that led over 800 other C-47s in the Airborne Invasion on D-Day, June 6, 1944, carrying 101st Airborne Division paratroopers into France during the D-Day invasion. During the remainder of WWII, That’s All… Brother served in Operation Dragoon, Market Garden, the Relief of Bastogne, and Operation Varsity. After the war, the aircraft was sold as surplus and its contribution to history was almost forgotten. In 2015, the CAF rescued the aircraft from a boneyard and completed restoration to its WWII configuration in 2018. In June 2019, it returned to England and France for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day (flying over Omaha Beach on June 6, 2019) and plans to return to Europe for the 80th-anniversary commemorations in June 2024.  More information at www.thatsallbrother.org.