Bomber To Descend On Peninsula Friday

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Look to the skies Friday afternoon, and be prepared to be transported back into time.

The unique growling sound at about 1:45 p.m. will mark a rare World War II bomber and other fighter aircraft flying to Moffett Federal Airfield as part of the national Wings of Freedom tour set to soar into 110 U.S. cities on its 30th anniversary.

The plane is expected to land around 2 p.m. and taxi to the main ramp in front of the control tower. Local WWII veterans will be accompanying the historic aircraft during its welcoming of the tour to the San Francisco Bay Area that runs in a special historic aviation display from May 17 to 25.

The Wings of Freedom Tour features five aircraft that are patriotic symbols of America's war against tyranny. They are: the WWII Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, North American B-25 Mitchell and P-51 Mustang.

The B-25 is the attack bomber best known for being used in the daring Doolittle raid. The P-51 Mustang was awarded the prestigious Grand Champion for restoration. New to the tour is the P-40 Warhawk, a fighter made famous by the Flying Tigers.

Visitors are invited to explore the planes inside and out. Tours on the aircraft situated under the control tower will be open from 2-5 p.m. on Friday. They'll start at 10 a.m. for the other days.

Admission prices are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Discounted rates are available for school groups. Visitors may also take a 30-minute flight aboard one of these rare aircraft. Flights on either the B-17 or B-24 are $450 per person. B-25 flights are $400 per person.

P-51 flight training is $2,400 for a half hour and $3,400 for a full hour. P-40 flight training is $2200 for half hour and $3200 for a full hour.

Reservations may be made by calling 800-568-8924.

The event is put on by the Collings Foundation, a nonprofit educational foundation dedicated to organizing living history events that promote the nation's heritage and history through direct participation.

Despite the risks of anti-aircraft fire, attacking enemy fighters, and the harrowing environment of sub-zero temperatures, many B-17s and B-24s safely brought their crews home. The P-51 Mustang was affectionately known as the bombers “Little Friend” – saving countless crews from attacking axis fighters. After the war, much of the aircraft was scrapped for raw aluminum to rebuild a nation in post-war prosperity.

More information can be found by visiting www.collingsfoundation.org.