Around noon on Saturday of that weekend my dad, uncle and I drove from McLean to Suitland where we (and 4 people from another family) were given a tour through the Garber Facility by an active duty, uniformed, Air Force Major. I asked my uncle to make the tour arrangements knowing he could get past any complications which might arise.
I got both of them hooked on my idea, and we arranged a family gathering (at my uncle's in McLean) for a Holiday weekend (Labor Day I think). I bought additional copies of the book and sent one to my dad and another to an uncle who lives just outside of Washington and has lots of connections. He also said that I could arrange for an escorted tour of the facility. (where they keep and restore all the airplanes not on display or on loan). He confirmed that the ariplane was at the Paul Garber facility in Suitland, Md. I called the curator/director of the Air & Space Museum and asked about 'things'. Being a 'Smithsonian Associate' (contributing member) I decided I wanted to see the plane. Roughly 20 years ago I read a book about the airplane, the crew, and the mission - I was fascinated ! The epilog stated that the DOD had given the airplane to the Smithsonian and it was stored in a warehouse in Maryland. The Enola Gay is one of my favorite subjects. I am a huge airplane buff but not a pilot.
