photos by Ron O’Brian
Boise (670 KBOI) – It was by far, the most famous bomber of World War II…the B-17 “Flying Fortress”, and this weekend, you can see one up close and have the opportunity to go for a flight over Boise, in the iconic aircraft.
The Liberty Foundation’s 2018 Salute to Veterans tour has brought the “Madras Maiden” B-17 to Boise, it’s one of just 12 B-17s in the world that still fly today.
There were just over 12,700 B-17s produced between 1935 and 1945, and of those…over 4,700 were lost in combat.
Pilot Ray Fowler says,”The story is really the aircraft, and of course the veterans that flew them. It’s just staggering to think of the loses…58,000 crew members of B-17s were shot down, killed in action, missing in action, or were prisoners of war.”
Tours of the historic B-17 are free at the Jackson Jet Center this Saturday and Sunday from 2:30pm until sunset. 30-minute flights will take place on the hour from 10am to 2pm both days, and are $450. The Liberty Foundation is a non-profit organization, and the money raised goes straight towards flying and maintaining the B-17s, and keeps them on tour, rather than being placed in a museum.
For reservations, call (918) 340-0243.
