For the Mess's FlyBoys:
Posted: 2005-10-14 09:23am
Nine-O-Nine, one of only 11 still-flying Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” bombers, rolls to a stop at (Charleston WV's) Yeager Airport on Thursday. Pointing to the 1944-vintage bomber — which later saw duty as a forest fire tanker — is George Good, who flew in B-17s as an 8th Air Force bombardier in 1944-45. With him is Ernie Given, a World War II P-47 fighter pilot. Later in the day, the world’s only flightworthy B-24 Liberator (no picture) touched down at Yeager to join the B-17 for a two-day public appearance. The planes are available for public tours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Yeager. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Collings Foundation, which restores and displays historic warplanes.