For about 65 years, few World War II veteran pilots have stepped foot inside the aircraft they used to defend their countries and fellow servicemen, but groups like the Liberty Foundation are giving those veterans and other WWII enthusiasts a chance to relive the days that the B-17 bomber flew overhead.
The foundation is offering flights and tours of the Liberty Belle, the most recently restored Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., August 29, at Joplin Regional Airport.
A flight mission is available for those who want to go up in the air for 30 minutes. Cost is $395 for Liberty Foundation members and $430 for non-members.
Those on the flight can view the different areas of the bomber, including the control area, cock pit and the turret area. Attendees can watch the flight from the ground, as well as tour the plane on the ground, at no charge.
The Liberty Belle is one of 14 B-17s flying today. There were 12,732 bombers produced between 1935 and 1945 with 4,735 lost in combat.
Liberty Belle was built toward the end of the war and didn’t see combat. It is painted in the colors and nose art of the original Liberty Belle B-17 that flew countless missions with the 390th bomb group of the 8th Air Force.
For more information on the event, visit libertyfoundation.org.
