Rescuing DOC": A B-29’s Epic Journey from Desert Wreck to Wichita Glory

🛩️ A Story of Vision, Tenacity, and Wichita’s Unyielding Aviation Spirit

By AHA Apex Wing | Source: AIN Online

Wichita, Kansas—celebrated globally as the Air Capital of the World—has played a central role in aviation history for nearly a century. But perhaps no story illustrates that legacy more vividly than the incredible resurrection of DOC, a B-29 Superfortress that once lay forgotten in the California desert.

In his new book Rescuing DOC, Wichita-based aviation journalist Dave Franson tells the gripping, decades-spanning saga of how one determined veteran and a passionate community brought an iconic World War II bomber back to life.

The fully restored B-29 "DOC" gleams on the tarmac at Wichita, symbolizing the city’s enduring aviation legacy and the tireless efforts of its community.

One Man’s Dream: Tony Mazzolini’s Mission

The story begins with Tony Mazzolini, a Cleveland native and Korean War-era U.S. Air Force flight engineer, who became obsessed with saving a B-29 from oblivion. Mazzolini’s dream took flight in the 1980s, leading him on a relentless search through military scrapyards and crash sites across the U.S. and beyond—including Lake Mead and even Greenland.

Then came a fateful call: a mostly intact B-29 still lingered at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center in California. That aircraft was DOC—a member of a B-29 squadron originally named after the Seven Dwarfs from Disney’s Snow White. Mazzolini had seen DOC in service decades earlier and recognized it immediately.

The Battle for Ownership

But acquiring DOC wasn’t easy. It took over 12 years of navigating military bureaucracy, environmental red tape, and even competing groups trying to snatch the aircraft. Ultimately, Mazzolini had to restore a separate B-25 in exchange for DOC—a lopsided deal, but one that finally gave him legal ownership.

After its careful removal from the desert—avoiding endangered desert tortoises along the way—DOC was hauled 40 miles to Inyokern Airport, making it the “longest and widest vehicle to ever cross a California highway.”

Wichita Answers the Call

Despite Mazzolini’s efforts, restoration at Inyokern stagnated. That’s when Boeing Wichita stepped in. The aircraft’s birthplace welcomed DOC home, and local leaders like Boeing’s Jeff Turner helped mobilize the city’s unmatched aerospace talent.

Volunteers—many of them retired or current aircraft workers—painstakingly restored the bomber over several years. From replacing 80-year-old components to removing radioactive radium from cockpit dials, every detail was addressed.

In 2009, despite Boeing’s departure from Wichita amid economic uncertainty, the company donated $1 million to ensure DOC had a permanent base. Mazzolini then transferred ownership to a Wichita-based nonprofit that continues to care for the aircraft.

A Triumphant Return to the Skies

On July 17, 2016, after decades of setbacks and triumphs, DOC roared back to life—lifting off for its first flight in more than 50 years. Crowds of volunteers, officials, and enthusiasts witnessed the silver Superfortress reclaim its place in the skies.

Today, DOC resides at its custom-built hangar and museum at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (KICT). Franson’s book captures not just the technical challenges but the heart and soul poured into the project by generations of aviation lovers.

More Than Metal: A Symbol of Legacy

“DOC is Wichita with wings,” Franson writes. Built during the war in what was called The Battle of Kansas, DOC now serves as a powerful symbol of pride, perseverance, and patriotism—a tribute to the Greatest Generation and Wichita’s indomitable aviation heritage.

📚 Why Read “Rescuing DOC”?

For aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, and fans of underdog stories, Rescuing DOC offers a front-row seat to one of the most audacious aircraft restorations in history. It’s a reminder that with vision, grit, and community, even the most forgotten relics can soar again.

Reference:

Epstein, C. (2025, July 17). New Book Details B-29’s Triumphant Return to Wichita and Airworthiness. AINonline. Retrieved from https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2025-07-17/new-book-details-b-29s-triumphant-return-wichita-and