Wings Of Freedom Tour Stopping At Oxford Airport
Wings Of Freedom Tour Stopping At Oxford Airport
OXFORD â The Collings Foundationâs Wings of Freedom Tour of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Nine O Nine World War II heavy bomber, Consolidated B-24 Liberator Witchcraft, and the North American B-25 Mitchell World War II medium bomber will be at Waterbury-Oxford Airport this weekend.
The three aircraft will arrive in Oxford on Thursday, September 7, and will remain until Sunday, September 10, offering area residents the opportunity to visit, explore, and learn more about these rare treasures of aviation history.
The B-17 is one of only 11 in flying condition in the United States, the B-24 is the sole remaining example flying in the world, and the B-25 is one of only a handful on display at museums. Visitors will be invited to explore aircraft inside and out. A $10 donation for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under is requested for the up-close access and tours through the inside of the aircraft.
Visitors may also experience the thrill of a 30-minute flight aboard the aircraft. Tax-deductible donations are $425 per person for a flight onboard the B-17 or B-24, and donations for flights on the B-25 are $325 for a seat in the waist gun section of the plane or $400 for a seat in the front of the airplane. Advance reservations are requested.
The three planes will be open for visits from 9 am to 5 pm Friday through Sunday.
The Wings of Freedom Tour travels the country as a flying tribute to the flight crews who flew these planes more than 60 years ago, the ground crews who maintained them, the workers who built them, the soldiers, sailors and airmen they helped to protect, and the citizens and families who share the freedom they helped preserve. These three aircraft were the backbone of the American effort during the war from 1942 until 1945 and were famous for their ability to sustain damage and still accomplish missions.
After the war many aircraft were scrapped for their raw aluminum to rebuild a nation in postwar prosperity and therefore few were spared. The rarity of the B-17, B-24 and B-25 and their importance to telling the story of World War II is why The Collings Foundation continues to fly and display the aircraft nationwide.
For more information visit CollingsFoundation.org. For flight reservations, the local information numbers are 203-938-2338 and 860-276-0749.