Aviation photographer Dylan Phelps captures a Lancaster and the only two remaining flightworthy B-29s in ultra rare formation.
On July 24, 2024, I was filled with a mix of excitement, joy, and nerves as we prepared for the most significant photoshoot of my budding air-to-air photography career. Months of meticulous planning had led us to this moment. I was going to lead a WWII bomber air-to-air photoshoot.
While I had participated in several air-to-air shoots before, this one held substantial historical significance. Three iconic heavy bombers from World War II were set to share the sky above Oshkosh, Wisconsin: an Avro Lancaster and two Boeing B-29 Superfortresses.
A rare sight in the skies
The Lancaster and Superfortress had seldom been photographed together, and this shoot also marked the first reunion of Doc and FiFi since 2018, following their initial flight together in 2017 at Oshkosh.
This was a noteworthy event in itself, especially considering they are the only two remaining airworthy B-29s in the world, despite Boeing having produced 3,970 of them.
Once in a lifetime photoshoot opportunity for me
The idea for this once-in-a-lifetime shoot emerged when it was confirmed that all three bombers would attend the annual EAA AirVenture fly-in in Oshkosh, Wisconsin which takes part at the Wittman Regional Airport.
Both B-29s were featured to commemorate “Turning the Tide,” a tribute to World War II air power, while the Avro Lancaster would be celebrated as part of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s centennial, marking its first visit to AirVenture since 2015.
With these three aircraft confirmed, the EAA decided to kick off the Wednesday night airshow with a spectacular flyover of these legendary bombers. Excitement spread quickly, and discussions about capturing this extraordinary trio in flight followed.
When I was approached about this potential opportunity a few months in advance, I felt a mix of thrill and pressure. I knew I had to deliver stunning results for this rare occasion. While I had previously photographed larger aircraft like the C-47 and B-25, those shoots were relatively much simpler, with fewer moving parts and the focus on one aircraft at a time.
Preparing for a WWII bomber air-to-air photoshoot is more difficult that you’d think
This heavy bomber photoshoot, however, came with many complexities. The primary goal of their flight was not to accommodate photography but to ensure that all three bombers took off and formed up in time for their airshow pass at 8:00 PM.
We had to navigate fading sunlight, limited airspace over Lake Winnebago, and allow the crews to practice their own maneuvers prior to their airshow pass. Despite my initial nerves, I, of course, eagerly accepted the challenge.
Who wouldn’t be nervous doing a photoshoot with some of the rarest WWII bombers?
Months later, the day arrived, and the familiar jitters set in. In aviation, nothing is guaranteed, with many factors, including aircraft availability and weather, in play.
As a positive sign, weather conditions were looking promising. In the late morning, all the crew gathered to discuss the goals of our flight and safety matters. The photoshoot appeared to be a go.
Later that evening, just before 7 PM, we climbed into our photoship, the Commemorative Air Force’s Twin Beech, affectionately known as Bucket of Bolts. This aircraft has a removable emergency exit on the right side and a seat that can be adjusted to face rearward, providing excellent visibility for photographs.
Here we go!
I double and triple checked my camera equipment and moments later, we were ready to go. Our twin Pratt & Whitney R-985s roared to life and we departed from Wittman Regional’s runway 27, heading east over Lake Winnebago for the rendezvous with the bombers.
Beautiful, gleaming B-29 appeared on the horizon
Within minutes, I spotted the first B-29 on the horizon—Doc, its polished metal gleaming in the evening light. Soon after, I also had a visual on FiFi and the Lancaster as they started clawing our way.
It was a surreal moment for me as an aviation enthusiast, witnessing these iconic bombers together. Remarkably, until then, I had never even seen an Avro Lancaster in person. Despite all this natural excitement, it was time for me to focus. One final check of my camera equipment and it was time for me to get to work.
Pinch me! I’m directing a WWII bomber air-to-air photoshoot
I began directing the formation through my headset, acting as both photographer and an aerial choreographer of sorts. “Lancaster, that looks perfect. Hold your position. FiFi, climb up ten feet,” I instructed.
Maintaining proper spacing among the aircraft was crucial; it didn’t take much for these massive bombers to unintentionally obscure one another, especially during turns. As I snapped photos with my trusty Nikon Z8, I realized just how vital every minute of this opportunity was.
The sheer size of the bombers meant they occupied considerable airspace, and formation adjustments took longer than they would with smaller aircraft like the P-51 Mustang or T-6 Texan. Good natural lighting was essential to maximize this historic photo opportunity, and with our limited airspace, I needed to seize every chance to capture the beauty of the setting sun while we’d be flying south to north.
Before I knew it, we’d again be turning back to the south, and the bombers were momentarily backlit again, forcing me to exericise more creativity for silhouetted angles of the aircraft.
The shoot was a blur but I got the pictures to prove it!
All of us in the Twin Beech photoship stayed intensely busy, and before you know it thirty minutes had passed, and it was already time for us to break off and return to Wittman Regional, allowing the heavy bomber crews to perform their necessary maneuvers prior to their airshow pass. As we were headed back, the adrenaline began to wear off slightly, and the gravity of what we had just done really hit me.
I quickly reviewed some of the photos I had taken and was amazed by the results, grinning with satisfaction that we accomplished what we had set out to do. We touched down gently on runway 27 at Wittman Regional and taxied back to our spot in warbird parking.
As we exited the Twin Beech, you could see the heavy bombers approaching for their airshow-opening pass, hitting their 8:00 PM time on target perfectly. Mission accomplished!
Thanking everyone who made the WWII bomber air-to-air photoshoot possible
My gratitude goes out to everyone involved in this historical endeavour – the Canadian Warbird Heritage Museum with their Avro Lancaster, the Commemorative Air Force with their B-29 FiFi, Doc’s Friends with their B-29 Doc, the EAA, my fellow photoship crew, and many more
