With one step inside this historic aircraft, there is no doubt why this group of Americans are called “The Greatest Generation.”
With one step inside this historic aircraft, there is no doubt why this group of Americans are called “The Greatest Generation.”
The B-17 Aluminum Overcast 2019 National Tour made a stop to share history Sept. 6-8 at Lost Nation Municipal Airport in Willoughby as part of Geauga County’s Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 5 event.
“We hope visitors will relate to the incredible history of WWII and help our young people to understand the importance of the war,” EAA Chapter 5 Treasurer Patty Fulop said. “It is more than the flight of a historic aircraft. It is an emotional connection to the men and women who were part of ‘The Greatest Generation’ and the sacrifices they made to benefit us in subsequent generations.”
The tour offered once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for aircraft and history-enthusiasts to purchase ground tours and flights and fly in one of World War II’s most vital aircraft.
EAA’s B-17G-VE, serial number 44-85740 — nicknamed Aluminum Overcast — was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 18, 1945.
Although delivered too late to see action in World War II, the airplane has quite a history.
Wesly Wilkes, 15, a student at Berkshire High School, looked forward to his chance to fly in it.
“It was really amazing,” said Wilkes, who flew Saturday on one of the flights with his father. “It was really amazing.”
The B-17 Flying Fortress is a World War II bomber used primarily in Europe.
Because of their long range capability, they were known for flying into battle with no fighter escort, relying on their own defensive capabilities to ensure a successful mission, said EAA Chapter 5 President Tim Connor, who spoke with media about the tour and plane Sept. 5.
After the war, most were cut up for scrap, used for U.S. Air Force research or sold in surplus market. There are less than 15 B-17s still airworthy in the world, he added.
Aluminum Overcast carries the colors of the 398th Bomb Group of World War II, which flew hundreds of missions over Nazi-held territory during the war, Connor said, adding the B-17G is known for its daring missions and personal sacrifices.
Connor sat inside the plane and marveled.
“There is a lot of history here,” Connor said. “There’s very little left of WWII infrastructure. It helps us remember what is rightfully called the ‘Greatest Generation.’”
Participating EAA members paid $435 and nonmembers paid $475 to relive part of the history.
Each flight experience lasted about one hour, of which about 24 minutes was in the air. Once the B-17 became airborne, passengers were allowed to walk about the bomber.
All ticket proceeds will go to support the EAA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the spirit of aviation with everyone, Connor said, adding revenues from the B-17 tour help cover maintenance and operations costs for the aircraft and aid their ambition to educate on aviation for years to come.
Visitors maneuvered their ways through the various narrow compartments of the aircraft and felt what conditions may have been like for those bravely serving in WWII.
Wilkes admitted there was turbulence during his flight.
“But it was beyond amazing,” Wilkes said.
When his plane reached an altitude of 2,000 feet, passengers were allowed to walk around inside the famous bomber and took turns looking inside the cockpit.
B-17s from the Eighth Air Force participated in countless missions from bases in England, often lasting longer than eight hours, and struck at targets deep within enemy territory, Connor said.
Because of their long-range capability, formations of B-17s often flew into battle with no fighter escort, relying on their own defensive capabilities to insure a successful mission. Between 1935 and May of 1945, 12,732 B-17s were produced, he added.
The restoration on the Aluminum Overcast touring plane has taken more than a decade and thousands of hours by EAA’s headquarters in Oshkosh, Wis., staff and volunteers, Connor said, adding the Aluminum Overcast commemorates B-17G #42-102516, which was shot down on its 34th combat mission over Le Manior, France, on Aug. 13, 1944.
Veterans helped finance the bomber’s restoration.
The airplane was on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum, now called EAA Aviation Museum, until October 1993 and then moved to EAA’s Kermit Weeks Flight Research Center for maintenance and restoration in preparation for its first national tour in 1994.
Connor said, adding the B-17 will eventually be housed in the EAA Aviation Museum’s “Eagle Hangar,” in Oshkosh, which features World War II aircraft and exhibits.
EAA Chapter 5 will host its Last Summer Fly-in Pancake Breakfast & Young Eagles Flights at Geauga County Airport in Middlefield Sept. 21.
