WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita is home to the B-29 Superfortress Doc because of its place in aviation history, the men and women who built the World War II military aircraft, and the countless volunteers who devoted years and hundreds of thousands of hours to restore the aircraft which was originally manufactured here.

One of the original riveters was one of those who volunteered to help restore Doc, and she still volunteers at the B-29 Doc Hangar and Visitor’s Center today.

“Connie The Riveter” is celebrating her 98th birthday.

This huge piece of aviation history – one of only two of its kind in the world that can fly – is back home in Wichita because of the work of many volunteers like those who gathered for a private reception last week at the B-29 Doc hangar.

“Let’s face it, I may have recovered it, but we couldn’t have gotten where we are today without these volunteers,” says Tony Mazzolini.

Mazzolini is the man who found the B-29 World War II Superfortress rotting away on the floor of the Mojave desert back in 1987. He felt the need to preserve this piece of aviation history.

“Jason, it was an experience. I don’t know if I could do it again. But it was quite an experience trying to move that airplane after sitting for 42 years,” said Mazzolini.

Once it was delivered to Wichita years later, the restoration process would take 16 more years and 450,000 volunteer hours to complete.

One of those who…