One of the most iconic airplanes from World War II, B-17 Bomber “Sentimental Journey,” will make a stop in Hays, Kansas as part of its Summer Flying Legends of Victory Tour across U.S. and Canada. Built in 1944, the B-17 “Sentimental Journey” is only one of 10 B-17s in the world that is still flying out of almost 13,000 produced from 1936 to 1945. 8,000 of them were lost in combat. The aircraft, developed by Boeing, was used in every theater of war from 1941 to 1945. The “Sentimental Journey” was originally manufactured and delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces for war service in 1944 where she flew missions in the Pacific Theater. After the war she flew for training, testing and at-sea rescue missions and was eventually sold for surplus and used as a fire bomber. In 1978, the aircraft was purchased by a Commemorative Air Force (CAF) member and donated to the newly formed Arizona unit of the world-famous CAF. She was meticulously restored, maintained in tip-top condition, and is operated by all-volunteer crews from the membership of the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum.
AZCAF was founded in 1977 and is the 10th chapter of the Commemorative Air Force. It’s comprised of 500 member volunteers and seven flyable warbirds that offer Living History rides. The fully-restored and rare B-17 and B-25 Bombers and C-47/DC-3 Combat Legend conduct the Flying Legends of Victory Summer tour and visit approximately 50 cities throughout the United States and Canada. The AZCAF has 55,000 square feet of historical airplanes, relics, and educational exhibits, in addition to a working mechanics hangar. A Trip-Advisor Winner of Excellence, it’s one of the top-rated adventure attractions in Phoenix and regularly conducts tours for schools, businesses, and youth groups. www.azcaf.org
Joining the B-17 Bomber is the P-51 Mustang from the CAF Great Plains Squadron. The tour, made possible by the volunteers of the non-profit 501(c)3 Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, includes three restored WWII combat aircraft: C-47/DC-3 Combat Legend “Old Number 30;” B-17 Bomber “Sentimental Journey;” and B-25 Bomber “Maid in the Shade.” These warbirds and their crew will visit approximately 50 cities from June through October 2017 to fulfill their mission of educating all generations about the role of aviation in combat.
The public will have the opportunity to climb aboard the B-17 Bomber to soak in the breathtaking stories of courage and service by Americans during one of the most important periods in U.S. history. The B-17 is an exceptionally rare aircraft, as it’s one of 10 in the world that is still flying. Nicknamed the “Flying Fortress,” the B-17 was a strategic weapon in WWII because of its ability to suffer extensive battle damage and still return home. The public can book a ride in advance using the link below under pricing.
The P-51 “Gunfighter” will be available for rides Friday through Sunday. The Gunfighter was built in the Inglewood, California North American plant and accepted into the USAAF in March 1945. That month, it was shipped to England, where it was assigned to the famous ‘Mighty Eighth’ Air Force. In July of 1945, after the War ended in Europe, it was returned to the U.S. and assigned to Olmstead Field in Pennsylvania. In 1947, it was transferred to the Air National Guard and it thereafter served with units in Wyoming, New Mexico, Illinois, and Kentucky. In 1956, it was declared surplus and sold on the civilian market.
Information about the Hays, Kansas B-17 tour stop is as follows:
Dates and times:
• May 30 – June 5, 2017
• Tour Hours: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 – Sunday, June 4, 2017: 2 pm – 6 pm
• Ride Hours: Friday, June 2, 2017 – Sunday, June 4, 2017: 10 am – 1 pm
Pricing:
• Tours cost $10 per person and $20 for a family of four.
• Seats in the B-17 Bomber are $425 USD per waist compartment seat and $850 USD for bombardier/navigator seats in the nose and are limited to 8 passengers per flight.
• Seats in the P-51 “Gunfighter” are $1,795.
• Ride reservations required. To reserve your seat, visit, https://www.azcaf.org/location/hays-ks-tour-stop/