Bob Collins
I have an online acquaintance over in Oshkosh, Wis., who may have one of the most rewarding jobs in the country: He searches for World War II B-17 veterans and arranges a ride for them on one of the few flying B-17s left — the one owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Time has claimed most World War II veterans. Of the thousands of bomber crews who served during the war, none is still intact. So Chris Henry assembled one yesterday — a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radioman, gunner, bombardier. They were all there — all of them from Wisconsin — for yesterday’s flight.
The weather, however, did not cooperate. They weren’t able to fly far.
But, they didn’t need to.
It was a lousy day to stand by the side of the road. But people did anyway.
From the archive: A flight on a B-17.
