Plane Conversations

Brave pilots and crew of a B-17 Bomber in 1944.

On Veteran’s Day, we recognize the brave men and women of the past and present who have fought to make it possible for the citizens of the United States to enjoy their freedoms.  In reflection and appreciation of these dedicated veterans, I want to share with you an experience I recently had flying in the WWII B-17 Bomber, Liberty Belle.

Standing before this beautiful aircraft, I reflected on those brave men who undertook some of the most dangerous missions, in this beautiful, yet deadly, strategic weapon.  I didn’t expect that flying in the Liberty Belle would be quite the emotional journey it was.  To sit where they sat, hear the roar of the engines and look down through the bombsight was an experience I will never forget.  What the pilots and crew had to endure during those long flights during WWII – freezing temperatures, atrocious engine noise, not to mention the fear they must have felt knowing there was the possibility of not coming home - is almost incomprehensible, but strangely stirring when you are inside her.  Brave barely seems enough to describe these veterans!

 So what’s the story behind “Liberty Belle”?   According to the Liberty Foundation’s website, “On September 9, 1944 the 390th Bomb Group attacked a target in Dusseldorf, Germany and suffered its second largest single mission loss of the war. Over the target just prior to bomb release, one of the low squadron B-17s was hit in the Bomb bay by flak. The 1000 lb. bombs exploded and nine of the twelve aircraft in the squadron were instantly destroyed or knocked out of formation.

Six of the nine went down over the target, one flew two hours on a single engine and landed at Paris, another “crippled plane” landed in Belgium and the other struggled back to its home base and landed long after the other thirty nine B-17s had returned from the mission. The one that came home was “Liberty Belle”, she went on to complete 64 combat missions before being salvaged on February 18, 1945.”  More than 60 years later, there are fewer than 12 historic B-17’s still flying.

“Liberty Belle” is one of these rare birds, and she tours the country each year giving people the opportunity to take a flight and experience the grandeur of the B-17 in a way no history book could ever reveal.  “Liberty Belle” provides passengers an opportunity to take a step back in time and gain respect for the men and women who gave so much to protect your freedoms.

To the distinguished veterans of the United States, we thank you, and we salute you.

If you wish to be a flight participant, and receive a historical briefing about the significance of the B-17, then take to the air for a scenic tour around the local area, you can do so by going to www.libertyfoundation.org/index.html

"Liberty Belle" on the ramp at Smyrna Airport (MQY), Tennessee