After much negotiation (the US Air Force owned the aircraft; the Navy had to agree to release one), much paperwork and a painstaking search for the best survivor, the CAF became the owner of s/n 44-62070, officially acquired title on 23 March 1971, registering it as N4249.

After the CAF technicians ran the engines, tested propellers and landing gear, N4249 was made ready to fly again by 3 August 1971.

The complete restoration to CAF standards of airworthiness was a long and expensive project involving more than three years of fund raising and hard work.

"[3] Besides air displays, FIFI has appeared in several films, including Enola Gay: The Men, The Mission, and the Atomic Bomb (1980), Roswell (1994), and The Right Stuff (1983), standing in for the Bell X-1's "mothership".

[10] In a joint press release,[11] dated 21 January 2008, the Commemorative Air Force and the Cavanaugh Flight Museum announced a pledge of $1.2 million to re-engine FIFI.

[15] Since 2013, FIFI was relocated to the Vintage Flying Museum, Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas.

On 26 March 2021, FIFI made her first appearance at her new home during the CAF's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center (NAEC) at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD).