Collings Foundation aircraft return to MAPS

From The Suburbanite.com: Collings Foundation aircraft return to MAPS
Green, Ohio —

The skies over Akron-Canton airport reverberated to the deep sounds of three historic World War Two aircraft. Part of the Collings Foundation Wings Of Freedom Tour, spectators on the ground saw a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Nine-O-Nine, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Witchcraft and North American P-51 Mustang, Betty Jane, circle overhead and land to the delight of the waiting crowd.

Many of the spectators were World War II veterans who had flown or serviced these historic aircraft during the war.

The Collings Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation devoted to organizing "living history" events that allow people to learn more about the aviation heritage of these famous aircraft.

The foundation has been flying the tour for 22 years and, on average, visits more than 100 cities in 35 states from late spring to early fall. Visitors can walk through the planes. Flights are available in all three aircraft.

For the B-17 and B-24 the cost was $425, while the P-51 was $2,200 for half an hour or $3,200 for a hour. Though expensive, it is a unique opportunity for those participating in the flights to experience the thrill of flying in historic planes which played a key role in the U.S. victory over Germany, Italy and Japan during World War II.

Several MAPS members traveled to Columbus where Collings was hosting a show at Bolton Field. MAPS members returned to Akron-Canton in the B-17 and
B-24.

During the flight guests were allowed to walk around in the aircraft from nose to the tail.

The view from the glass noses and side gun positions were especially breath-taking as the planes thundered along at relatively low altitude over a brightly lit Ohio countryside. Each MAPS member said they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

For the veterans waiting in the MAPS hanger, the sounds of the old warbirds making their final approach raised a lump in many a throat.

These were the planes of their youth. They said the years seemed to fall away from them as they watched the aircraft taxi down the runway, reminiscent of what they had seen so many times before during the war.

As the veterans came out to examine the planes they talked with their family members and each other about their experiences.