|
|
Overview The World War II era was an important time in history, both on the battlefields in other lands and on the homefront. Kansas has its own ties to the World War II effort through the construction of Boeing B-29 Superfortress and the training of crews for these bombers.
Boeing developed the B-29 as a long-range strategic bomber, building the planes in facilities in Wichita and in Seattle. Because the first B-29s were constructed before testing was complete, the need soon arose for modification centers as well as training and processing facilities for the B-29 and their crews before deployment. In 1942 Great Bend, Pratt, Salina and Walker became sites for airfields with runways large enough to handle the large B-29. Each of these communities contributed greatly to the success of the B-29 and its service in World War II, and their history was forever changed because of their involvement in the war efforts. From the farmer who gave land for construction to the native New Yorker who stayed in Kansas after the war to live and raise a family, there are many stories to be told about the role Kansas played in a war being fought thousands of miles away. More than 50 years after the end of World War II, the B-29 continues to impact citizens of central and western Kansas through the B-29 Memorial at the old Army Air Field in Great Bend. In addition, the B-29 "Doc" is currently under restoration at the Boeing plant in Wichita with the hope that it will one day serve as a traveling memorial to the men and women who served to preserve America's freedom in this war. The Documentary "Bombers on the Prairie: The B-29 in Kansas" tells the story of this crucial time in history through the use of old photographs, music, newsreel and military film and interviews with former military and civilian men and women involved with the B-29 and its airbases. The B-29 airbases not only were important to the war effort, but also changed the history in many communities in Kansas. SHPTV's production crew visited each airbase location -- Walker, Salina, Pratt and Great Bend -- as well as conducting interviews with men and women associated with the B-29 airbases. The production crew also visited the Boeing plant in Wichita where currently a B-29 is in restoration. In addition, a look at the efforts to build a B 29 Memorial at the old Army Air Field in Great Bend are featured.
Order a DVD of this program
|
