In the fall of 1997 the B-29 Memorial Plaza Committee was established to design and build a memorial to the men and women who made the B-29 project a success. The concept to build a memorial came from Bob Kilburn a veteran of the 20th Air Force. Bob visited the Great Bend Army Air Field in Great Bend, Kansas and was dismayed to find little reference of the historic role of the airfield. He inquired about other B-29 airfields: Smokey Hill, Pratt, and Walker, and found they also were not recognized. He suggested a sign be placed at the sites and a plaque be dedicated to the men who gave their lives for their country. From Bob’s suggestions came the concept of a memorial.

Great Bend was chosen for the memorial site due to the number of original base structures that still exist, and it is typical of other World War II airfields. In addition, the city will donate the land and help maintain the memorial.

Veterans Richard Bergen and Gene Hinde have designed a dramatic and symbolic concept for the memorial; a plaza accessible to the public. From the ground, the intersecting arches represent the emblem of the Global 20th Air Force. Looking up 16 feet, through the arches, gives one the feeling of looking through the nose of the B-29. The centerpiece will be a B-29 sculpture cast in stainless steel. The memorial will be lighted and will be visible for two miles. Groups (e.g. bomb crews), as well as individuals, will be honored with bronze plaques and inscribed bricks to be placed within the memorial’s walls and brick paths.

Even though the memorial is dedicated to a past era, it represents a look toward the future. It will remind tomorrow’s generations of the sacrifices that were made to keep the United States secure. Those sacrifices will never be forgotten.