News : Special Honor Flight: WWII airman rides in world's last flying B-29

A special flight took place Sunday, as a WWII airman rode again, in the world's last flying B-29.

An emotional reunion took place on Sunday between a 70-year-old warplane and a 91-year-old World War II veteran who flew 29 missions on a similar plane until the summer of 1945, when he helped deliver care packages to Americans held in POW camps.

Jerry Micka of Cedar Rapids, accompanied by three generations of descendants and escorted by his son, Mike, climbed the ladder into the gunner’s chair at the top of the middle of the B-29 Superfortress known as Fifi. Fifi is the only remaining B-29 still capable of flight, thanks to decades of work by the members, volunteers and donors of the Commemorative Air Force.

As reporters and TV cameras surrounded him, Micka shared memories of his service and hugs with his family, laughing throughout the morning.

The Eastern Iowa Honor Flight organization, which has offered trips to Washington, D.C., for several hundred veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam, paid for the flight.

“We put an ad in the paper for more crew members from a B-29, but he was the only crew member we could find,” said George Rickey, the organizations media representative. The group did find some vets who had done some work with the bombers, but Micka was the only to serve on a B-29 crew. He was a gunner on nearly 30 missions.

Sole survivor

Like Fifi, Micka is also a lone survivor. His family did some research, looking up the men who appear in a photo of “Lady Jean,” the bomber on which Micka flew.

“All of them have passed,” said Micka’s wife, Florence, who was still in high school during the war. The couple later married and lived most of their lives in Minnesota until retiring to the Cedar Rapids area. Their children, some grandchildren and one great-grandson were on hand to witness Sunday’s flight.

Known for his love of sharing stories from his time on the B-29, Micka’s favorite missions were among his last, as his crew delivered care packages to American POWs who were counting down the days until they could be freed and come home.

The Commemorative Air Force team tours the country with Fifi, and a few other vintage warbirds. The group offers walk-around tours, as well as flights. The Cedar Rapids event ended Sunday. A few local residents spent some time looking at the planes and taking photos. Former Shellsburg Legion officer James Sanders was among those taking a ride in one of the smaller planes.

FIFI was in a boneyard, when a CAF member saw her from above more than 40 years ago. He began the process of securing the B-29 from the U.S. government. While appearing mostly original, the bomber does have modern engines; the original B-29 engines were well-known for their mechanical issues and propensity to catch on fire.

See more about Fifi and the Commemorative Air Force HERE.

See photos of the B-29 and other planes HERE.