Celebrate The 60th Anniversary Of Freedom Tour

OXFORD — Victory was on the march sixty years ago in the summer of 1945. Four years of the most intense warfare the world had ever known had passed and the soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought so bravely during World War II had faith that they would be home for Christmas in 1945. VE day had just been declared and VJ day was only weeks away.

In the sixty years that have passed, memories have faded and our brave veterans leave us at an alarming rate. By the estimate of the Veterans Affairs Department, over 1,000 WWII veterans are lost each day. Despite this, the legacy of their service and sacrifices still remains as American’s freedom shines brightly; a heritage of their valor.

The Collings Foundation, a non-profit education foundation founded in 1979 to promote learning and education through hands-on approach, believes it is critical to preserve the memory of these veterans and educate future generations about this heritage.

The foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour will bring two of the most important aircraft of WWII — the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator — to the Waterbury-Oxford Airport for a display at Keystone Aviation Services from Tuesday, September 6, through Thursday, September 8.

The display will take place at Waterbury-Oxford Airport at Keystone Aviation Services from 11 am through 5:30 pm on Tuesday, 9 am through 5:30 pm on Wednesday, and 9 am through 1 pm on Thursday.

Requested donation is $8 for adults and $4 for children, which allows tours through both aircraft. All donations help support the maintenance of the aircraft, which costs nearly $3,100 per flight hour per aircraft.

Visitors also may take the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly an actual mission aboard the B-17 or B-24. Flight experiences allow visitors to enjoy the ultimate in hands-on learning. Flights are 30 minutes in duration and are a tax-deductible donation of $400 per person. Interested visitors should call 978-562-9182 for reservations. Reservations are recommended.

Over 12,000 B-17s were built during WWII to serve as daylight heavy strategic bombers, yet there are only eight currently flying. The B-24 was the most produced aircraft of WWII with over 19,000 built; The Collings Foundation’s survives as the sole example flying. Restored to exacting 1944 condition, they fly to over 120 cities nationwide for display and to offer flights for people interested in reliving history through a hands-on experience.

This year marks the inaugural season of the B-24 Liberator flying in a new paint scheme representing the 8th Air Force as the famous “Witchcraft” of the 467th Bomb Group. “Witchcraft” flew from her base in Rackheath, England, over the skies of Germany and occupied countries in 1944 and 1945. The aircraft flew an unheard of 130 missions without a single casualty or injury to her crew and never once was turned back due to mechanical failure.

Though the aircraft was indeed lucky, her luck ran out after the war. Instead of being preserved in a museum, the original “Witchcraft” was scrapped in 1946. To honor this amazing aircraft, the Collings Foundation is presenting the last flying B-24 Liberator as “Witchcraft” this year.

During the display visitors will be able to tour the aircraft for a small donation and see what it was like to be a crewman aboard during World War II. All positions aboard the aircraft are accurately restored with the original instruments, gun positions, and equipment.

The Wings of Freedom Tour visits over 120 cities nationwide over a four season spanning ten months. The tour was established as a living history exhibit to promote awareness of World War II history and to honor the veterans who fought for freedom during it.

The Collings Foundation is active in operation and restoration of over 22 historic aircraft and a large collection of other vehicles supporting transportation technology education. For more information visit www.CollingsFoundation.org.

For more information locally contact Walt Hushak at 860-276-0749.