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Visitors get a close look at a B-17G “Flying Fortress,” the legendary and iconic bomber of World War II.
HYANNIS – Christine Froula’s father was a World War II bombardier. She had heard the stories, but yesterday she got the chance to experience first-hand the inside of a plane like the one her father flew in.
“His first crew on this plane—there were 10 of them—my father was taken off that crew, the crew he trained with, and was put on a different crew. His first crew was sent to France and they all perished,” she said.
Froula and her husband, John Austin, who live in Barnstable Village, were among the dozens of people who turned out to see the “war birds,” the World War II fighter planes that visit Barnstable Municipal Airport annually through the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom tour.
Austin said he found the visit emotional.
“Being the son-in-law of a bombardier, it’s incredibly moving. What is really moving is these young people at the age of 19—that’s how old my father in law was—are growing up really fast and facing things I can’t even imagine,” he said.
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A close-up of the “Flying Fortress,” World War II bomber.
Visitors could tour the outside and inside of the planes, among the last surviving fighter aircraft from World War II. The planes on display are a B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-24 Liberator, a P-51 Mustang and a B-25 Mitchell Tondelayo.
Airport Manager Roland “Bud” Breault said the display is a wonderful history lesson and a reminder “of what went on in the past to help preserve our freedom.”
Seeing, in particular, younger people learning about the planes is gratifying, he said.
“These are the aircraft that helped us win the war,” Breault said.
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The names of crew members covers one side of the “Flying Fortress” World War II bomber.
Over the years the planes have come to the airport, Breault said he has heard a range of stories from World War II veterans.
One man said he was a bomber crewman whose plane was shot down over Greece. He managed to escape and make it back to the front lines.
Another man said he completed 75 bombing runs over Germany in one of the planes and never got shot down. “And that’s almost unheard of,” Breault said.
A woman visiting the planes yesterday said she had been a “spotter” during World War II, looking for German planes.
The planes are at the Barnstable Municipal Airport East Ramp today and tomorrow for tours.
Admission to the event is $12 for adults and $6 for children. World War II veterans can tour the planes for free. The tour also allows visitors to go up in the planes.
Bomber flights, which last 30 minutes, are $450 per person and the flights in the P-51 Mustang are $2,200 for 30 minutes or $3,200 for a full hour.
By LAURA M. RECKFORD, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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