On Wings Of 'Freedom'
(Courtesy Photo)
The Wings of Freedom Tour will soar into East Texas Monday, allowing patrons to experience the WWII Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, and North American B-25 Mitchell at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.
The show begins at 2 p.m. Monday and will be in Tyler through noon on Wednesday.
Local citizens will have the opportunity to visit, explore, and learn more about these unique and rare treasures of aviation history.
The B-17 is one of only 9 in flying condition in the United States, the B-24J is the sole remaining example of it's type flying in the world, and the B-25 is one of only a handful in flying condition.
Visitors are invited to explore the aircraft inside and out.
A $10 donation for adults and $5 donation for children under 12 is requested for access to up-close viewing and tours through the inside of the aircraft.
Visitors may also experience the opportunity to actually take a 30-minute flight aboard these rare aircraft.
Flight experiences are a tax-deductible donation.
Flights on either the B-17 or B-24 are $425 per person.
Flights on the B-25 are $400 for the front fuselage and $325 for the waist gun section of the plane.
For reservations and information on flight experiences call 800-568-8924.
Hours of ground tours and display are 2 p.m. -5 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Wednesday.
The 30-minute flight experiences are normally scheduled before and after the ground tour times above.
'LIVING HISTORY'
The Collings Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation devoted to organizing "living history" events that allows people to learn more about their heritage and history through direct participation.
The Collings Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation devoted to organizing "living history" events that allows people to learn more about their heritage and history through direct participation.
The Nationwide Wings of Freedom Tour is in its 19th year and visits an average of 110 cities in over 35 states annually.
Since its start, tens of millions of people have seen the B-17, B-24 & B-25 display at locations everywhere.
The Wings of Freedom Tour is one of the most extraordinary and unique interactive traveling historical displays of its kind, according to organization officials.
The tour travels the nation a flying tribute to the flight crews who flew them, the ground crews who maintained them, the workers who built them, the soldiers, sailors and airmen they helped protect; and the citizens and families that share the freedom that they helped preserve.
The B-17, B-24 and B-25 were the backbone of the American effort during the war from 1942 to 1945 and were famous for their ability to sustain damage and still accomplish the mission.
Despite the risks of anti-aircraft fire, attacking enemy fighters, and the harrowing environment of sub-zero temperatures, many B-17s, B-24s, and B25s safely brought their crews home.
After the war, many aircraft were scrapped for their raw aluminum to rebuild a nation in postwar prosperity and therefore very few were spared.
The rarity of the B-17, B-24 and B-25 and their importance to telling the story of WWII is why the Collings Foundation continues to fly and display the aircraft nationwide.
At each location, organization officials encourage local veterans and their families to visit and share their experiences and stories with the public. For aviation enthusiasts, the tour provides opportunity for the museum to come to the visitor and not the other way around. Visitors can find out more by visiting www.collingsfoundation.org.
Updated Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. CDT
Updated Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. CDT
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