The Collings Foundation is celebrating the 25th anniversary of their Wings of Freedom tour this year. Barnstorming their aircraft across the country is a massive undertaking, but in the tradition of barnstormers throughout the age of flight, their aircraft are eagerly anticipated wherever they stop. This year’s tour features the Foundation’s B-17G Flying Fortress “Nine-O-Nine”, B-24J Liberator “Witchcraft” and TP-51C Mustang “Betty Jane” and has already visited more than 20 locations in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The trio will stop in Scottsdale, Arizona today, and then move on for an extensive tour of California over the rest of April, and all of May. They will then head north to Washington State, via Nevada in June, before heading east. The Collings Foundation hasn’t defined their schedule past late June yet, but be sure to visit their website HERE for updates, which will occur regularly.
In a recent conversation with WarbirdsNews, Hunter Chaney, the Foundation’s Marketing Director said: “The Collings Foundation operates this extraordinary tour in honor of our WWII Veterans. When it comes to engaging people in WWII history, touring through and flying in these fully restored aircraft is a particularly effective means to bring people closer to understanding. Hearing stories from our WWII Veterans and their families in such a setting creates an indelible memory. We are honored to continue to see our remaining WWII Veterans come out to visit and help support the tour.”
Hunter continued, “B-24 Veteran and Leesburg, Florida stop organizer Howard Collins helped celebrate the Foundations’ first 2014 stop by being one of the longest serving volunteer in our history. B-24 Veteran Irwin Stovroff has continued to do an absolutely stellar job getting school groups to visit his stop in Boca Raton, Florida. Irwin was in the 8 th AF, 44 th BG and was shot down over France and became a POW in Stalag Luft 1. He has been invited by France to come back to see the spot where he bailed out of his stricken bomber and captured.” Please help support this organization Vets Helping Heroes. Click Here for more information. “WWII Vet George Roberts came out to see the aircraft and talk with the public when the tour was in Louisiana. Mr. Roberts was a B-17 Vet from the 306 th BG and survived 31 missions. In a chilling single sentence he said, “Schweinfurt was the worst…”
For more information about the Collings Foundation 2014 Wings of Freedom Tour click HERE.
More pics from the tour.
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Hello my name is Joe Mueller, I am an artist, illustrator who paints WWII nose art with pin-up girls. They are very popular at the art shows that I do.
They are made from authentic names from a book I have on the subject. I am currently talking with a company that is capable of printing these items on items like mugs, t-shirts, metal sheets, mouse pads, prints, ect. I would like to hear your thoughts on possible working together with merchandising. Thank you, Joe Mueller
My step dad was a world war 11 veteran, his wishes were that his ashes be scattered over the ocean, Pacific if possible.is this anything that you could help me with ??
I would like to set up a flight on your Mitchell B-25 when to come to Orange County 5/4 to 5/8. My father, who is now 96 years old flew B-25’s in WWII, stationed in the Pacific Theater. I am available on the 4th, 7th or 8th. Please let me know if this is possible.
Thank you,
Mike McCartney
I am a World War II veteran & I flew 44 missions on B-24 bombers in the Southwest Pacific area. I was a top turret gunner. There are just two of my crew surviving & I would like to get together with my crewman for a reunion this year. I would like this to be when your B-24 & other planes visit Burlington, N.C.. Can you tell me the dates when you will be here?
Hello Charles… thanks so much for writing in! I’ve checked the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom tour schedule, and it doesn’t appear that they will be in Burlington, NC this year. However, they will be in Greenville, SC on October 27th, if that is close enough for you. You can see their schedule here, in case another location works better…
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/events/
Thanks so much for writing in though… I am sure that all of our readers would wish to thank you for what you did in WWII. If you were interested in talking to us about your experiences, we’d love to hear from you! Thanks again, and best of luck with your reunion.
Would like to take my grandson, age 10, on a B-17 or B-24 ride whenever you might be in the LA area.