Its been over 75 years since the B-17 ‘Flying Fortress, Texas Raiders’ lifted into the skies over Europe—protecting this nation.
This air armada holding up to 6,000 lbs. of artillery and a crew of only 10, represents a freedom that didn’t come so easy.
“To see these planes that actually preserved our freedom that’s just a remarkable feeling”, Mayor Tony Paulk.
That feeling being made possible by the Commemorative Air Force. They travel across the country to give this experience to communities.
“We fly them so that we can go to communities instead of being stuck in a museum where people would have to come to us. But we take the B-17 to the people,” said Len Root, Pilot/Trainer for the Texas Radiers,”To experience things by crawling through and seeing how rudimentary things were for . I think it opens peoples’ eyes.”
Douglas is a special place for the Warbirds to visit. Being the home of a WWII training base. Carl McDonald plays a huge role in airbase preservation within the city and is excited to showcase all aspects of this rich history to his community.
” trained at this base somewhere between 5-8 or 9 thousand cadets here who flew during WWII so this is a historic place,” said McDonald.
With great history, comes the responsibility to remember.
“I felt the veterans. I felt the airman. I knew they were there. I could hear their voices. You know. I can tell their experience and it brings it home. In a way that nothing in a book or a video ever can ” Nancy Kwiecien, Executive Officer for the Gulf Coast Wing, Commemorative Airforce
The Warbird Expo will continue through June 2nd.
