Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Artifact Display and Assembly

The Enola Gay is Back Together

The B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay is now back together, the first time since 1960. Since then, it has undergone extensive restoration at the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility, at Suitland, Maryland. Part of the fuselage was displayed at the National Air and Space Museum on the Mall in Washington, DC, until it was moved back to the Garber Facility to prepare it for its and final move and reassembly at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

	The B-29 was disassembled into many pieces and restored at the Garber Facility. Here the forward and rear portions of the fuselage are side by side in building 10. SI photo # 89-8851-2 by Mark Avino, NASM
	Night moves are required for some oversized loads. Here the wings and other parts are loaded and ready to roll around the Captial Beltway. Photo by Carl Bobrow, National Air and Space Museum Garber Facility (bottom)
	The forward half of the fuselage made its trip from the Garber Facility, on the road, and to the doors of the Udvar-Hazy Center. Photo by Carl Bobrow, National Air and Space Museum Garber Facility (bottom)
	Inside the Aviation Hangar, the reassembly begins. Photo by Carl Bobrow, National Air and Space Museum Garber Facility (bottom)
	Soon it is time for the rear half of the fuselage to make its trip from the Garber Facility. It is shown loaded (at the Garber Facility) on a flatbed trailer that soon moves it into position inside the Aviation Hangar. We then get a last "open" view of the forward fuselage. Photo by Carl Bobrow, National Air and Space Museum Garber Facility (top) Photo by Bill Doole (middle) Photo by Smithsonian staff (bottom)
	From the flatbed, the rear fuselage is lowered to the floor, cushioned under the tail gunner's position by several mattresses. With some very careful handling, the rear and forward fuselage parts are brought together. Photos by Bill Doole
	Meanwhile, the vertical stabilizer is lifted for its short ride to the rear fuselage to become part of the empennage. Photo by Bill Doole
	With its tail on, the B-29 is looking more like a complete aircraft. Photo by Eric Long, NASM
	It takes a lot of parts to build an airplane. These parts of the B-29, including engines and propellers, have all been cleaned and preserved. Photo by Bill Doole
	This is one of the four R-3350 engines that was key to the long range and endurance of the B-29. With the engine in place, restoration specialists hang the four-bladed propeller. Photo by Smithsonian staff (top) SI photo # 2003-29161 by Carolyn Russo, National Air and Space Museum (bottom)
	It has taken a lot of dedicated and skilled people to make a 60-year-old aircraft look like new. Be assured that they are very proud of their work. Photo by Carolyn Russo, National Air and Space Museum
	The completed B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay was unveiled to the Press on 18 August 2003. SI photo # 2003-29268-5 by Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum

Back to Udvar-Hazy Center Behind the Scenes Page