Lands On 65th Anniversary Of First 390th Bomb Group B-17
Touchdown In England
A four thousand mile trip is nothing for most of the aircraft
rolling off the assembly line at Boeing these days, but such a trip
in a 65 year old predecessor of the airliners in Seattle is nothing
but extraordinary these days, especially when it takes place over
the North Atlantic.
But thanks to the hard work and dedication of a team of
volunteers from the Liberty Foundation of Douglas, GA, the
extraordinary feat of flying a WWII vintage Boeing B-17G Flying
Fortress from the United States to England took place last week
without incident.
The B-17 “Liberty Belle” touched down in the United
Kingdom on July 3 at the Prestwick Airport in Scotland on the final
leg of its transatlantic crossing started on June 30. The aircraft,
following a similar route taken by wartime crews making the trip,
made stops in Labrador, Greenland, and Iceland before arriving in
the United Kingdom.
"We have all been on tenterhooks following her journey here -
it's a momentous occasion” said Tracey Woods, spokeswoman for
the Duxford Imperial War Museum. "For Liberty Belle to be able to
make such an arduous journey at her age is a minor miracle."
The driving force behind the effort to bring the B-17 to England
on tour is owner Don Brooks. Brooks spent millions of dollars on
the restoration which took nearly 20 years to complete. Brooks has
a personal attachment to the B-17 as his father flew 30 missions
aboard B-17’s during World War II with the 390th Bomb Group
-- the insignia and markings of which is shared by the Liberty
Belle.
The arrival of the B-17 on English soil also commemorates a
special date for the aircraft -- the 65th anniversary of the first
390th Bomb Group B-17 arriving for duty in England.
The B-17’s tour in England will continue until July 25
when the aircraft will return to the United States. During its
visit, the Liberty Belle will fly at the Duxford Flying Legends
airshow with the sole UK-based Flying Fortress named “Sally
B” and the only B-17 flying in mainland Europe, “Pink
Lady” from France. It is scheduled to fly to other airfields
around England to commemorate the brave airmen who valiantly fought
from bases there during WWII.
The Liberty Foundation traditionally tours the B-17 around the
United States annually to offer flights and tours aboard the
aircraft to help keep the aircraft in operating condition. The tour
to England required the sponsorship and support of many companies
and individuals. Fundraising to accomplish the task took nearly two
years.