Wings of Freedom Tour

If you can, make time today or tomorrow morning to stop by the Palestine Municipal Airport to see the planes here for the Wings of Freedom Tour. They really are something special to see. It's amazing to think that these planes carried tons of ordnance over Europe and made it back through the flak and fighters, and that they're still flying today. It's also interesting to look at the size of the B-17 and the B-24 bombers. They look large when you're standing next to one, but when you start to think about the size of the commercial passenger jets we're used to - 727s, 747s, MD-80s - they're actually small. There's not much plane in between the young men who crewed those planes and the metal being shot at them from the ground and the enemy fighters. It really gives you something to think about, particularly when you listen to the stories of the men who flew them. The P-51 Mustang, the small silver fighter, was one of the most well-known American fighters from World War II. It's much smaller than the two bombers, particularly the B-24, but most of the planes were designed for only a pilot, although some models had a passenger seat.

Walk-through tours are going to be available regardless of weather. Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children. Not only do you get to see the planes up close, inside and out, you also hear about what it was like to fly in them from people who really know. Pretty cool experience. In addition, flights are available on all three aircraft, but for a much higher, and tax-deductible, price. The money raised by the flights helps to keep the aircraft in the air for everyone to enjoy. I had planned to fly in one of the bombers yesterday but was unable to due to family illness. I'm still planning on today sometime. I'll post after I do, as soon as I stop grinning.

The tour is here courtesy of the Veterans Historic Education Center, which sponsored this stop. The VHEC also brings the Vietnam War era Huey helicopter to the Armed Forces Weekend each year at the Texas State Railroad, and it sponsored the traveling Vietnam Wall nearly two years ago on Veterans Day. The group is a non-profit and has been digging into its own pockets for events such as these, so if you see Anne Coleman, Reba Hays or other VHEC members, why not tell them thanks and maybe pass on a little donation if you can to help recoup some of the expense? After all, the drive to our airport is shorter than the drive somewhere else.

Looking forward to flying

I'm really excited to circle Wed., March 25 on my calendar. That's the first of three days that the Wings of Freedom Tour will be in town at the Palestine Municipal Airport, featuring a B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and a P-51 Mustang. I really enjoy World War II history since I had an uncle and a great uncle who served in the European Theatre, and my parents were teens then. I've read several of Stephen Ambrose's books on World War II (Band of Brothers, Citizen Soldiers, D Day, Wild Blue) as well as James Bradley's book, Flyboys, about the Pacific air war near Chi Chi Jima and Iwa Jima. I've also had the privilege to interview several World War II veterans. So I'm very excited about the chance to fly in one of the aircraft for a story and photos (videos, too, hopefully). Now I just need the weather to cooperate.