WWII Flying Fortress and other aircraft headed June 24-26 to Tri-Cities

Aviation buffs will have a chance to investigate vintage World War II aircraft during the Wings of Freedom Tour this weekend at the Tri-Cities Airport.

The “Wings of Freedom Tour” will deliver a B-17 Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine” heavy bomber, a B-24 Liberator “Witchcraft” heavy bomber and a P-51 Mustang fighter to Bergstrom Aircraft on the airport’s east side, 4102 Stearman Ave., Pasco.

The squadron is due to land at 2 p.m. June 24, and will remain on display until 5 p.m. June 26.

Visitors can tour the aircraft for a requested donation of $12 for adults and $6 for kids. Enthusiasts can take a 30-minute flight on the B-17 or B-24 for $450 per person.

The nonprofit Collings Foundation provides living history events. The Wings of Freedom Tour is a flying tribute to the flight crews who flew the aircraft, the ground crews that maintained them and all the others who supported the war effort.

The B-17 is of particular interest to the Tri-Cities, where 51,000 Hanford workers donated $300,000, a “Day’s Pay,” to pay for a Flying Fortress for the war effort. “Day’s Pay” was christened July 23, 1944.

This story was originally published June 23, 2016 at 2:40 PM with the headline "WWII Flying Fortress and other aircraft headed June 24-26 to Tri-Cities."