A fully restored B-17 Bomber is on a temporary stay at the Springfield-Branson National Airport.
The Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey arrived at the airport Monday afternoon. An exhibition will open Tuesday and run through Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm. The aircraft is one of ten airworthy B-17s remaining out of over 12,000 manufactured for combat during WWII.
Tours of the iconic warplane will include the battles they help fight and stories of the airmen who flew them. It was not unusual for combat pilots of the Boeing B-17 to be about 21 years old, while gunners and radio personnel aboard the plane might have started as teenagers. Several thousand of these servicemen were shot down in the early stages of the war before new tactics were implemented. The Bombers were used in every theatre of war from 1941-1945.
For a fee, you can schedule a ride in the warplane by calling 602-448-9415 or emailing b17rc@azcaf.org. Learn more about tour availability here.
The exhibit is part of The Flying Legends of Victory Tour conducted by CAF Airbase Arizona, a non-profit flying museum. The tour visits 40 communities around the country each summer.