History

Courtesy of the (Kansas) Pratt Tribune

25 May 2005:

The Pratt B-29 All Veterans Memorial will host a luncheon at the Ellis VFW Building in Pratt to honor the Marines first spy and recognized amphibious warfare prophet, Lieuenant Colonel Earl "Pete" Ellis.

Source:

The Associated Press
May 28, 2003
Pratt — They called it the "Flying Guinea Pig," and Bob Robbins was the guinea pig that flew it.

During the 2003 Dedication of the Memorial, Stan Reimer documented the event by taking many photographs.

Stan has selected several of these to be displayed on this website in the following albums:

2003 Dedication Album #1

2003 Dedication Album #2

2003 Dedication Album #3

Thanks to Mr. Reimer for permission to use these photographs!

Note: Captions will be updated as time allows.

Memorial planned for Pratt's role during WWII

The Associated Press
October 21, 2002
Pratt — Before he flew the B-29 Superfortress that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan in August 1945, pilot Paul Tibbets took a practice run in Pratt and nearly clipped the top of the old Roberts Hotel.

By Carol Bronson
Pratt Tribune Apr. 27, 2001
An opportunity is available this weekend for those who remember when there was an Army Air Field instead of a municipal airport north of Pratt, with long-range heavy bombers instead of light civilian planes, as well as for those who are unaware of the community's importance in World War II.

Source: Pride August 26, 1959 (A Supplement to the Pratt Daily Tribune)
First B-29 Superfortress from Pratt
At 1 a.m. of a day late in March of 1944 a B-29 Superfortress took off from the Pratt Army Air base, bound for India, the first such plane to leave the United States for the Pacific theater of World War II.