B-17 Flying Fortress at Sellersburg

By: 
Editor Stephanie Ferriell

It was the most important bomber of World War II. The B-17 Flying Fortress, so named because of its many machine-gun mounts, earned a deadly reputation with the Japanese. The B-17s were renowned for their ability to remain in flight after taking brutal poundings.
There were more than 12,000 built during the war. Today, only 12 remain in flight.
You can see this piece of history this weekend at the Clark County Regional Airport in Sellersburg. The B-17 will be there through Sunday.
You can even experience what it was like to be a crew member. Flights are available for $475 per person.
Ground tours are available by making a free-will donation.
All proceeds go toward keeping this plane, the Ye Olde Pub airworthy and on tour. The operating cost is over $5,000 per flight hour.
The Ye Olde Pub pays tribute to the story of a young crew on a bombing mission into Germany. The plane was heavily damaged and half the crew was wounded or dead.
In an amazing act of compassion, a German pilot escorted the plane to safety. The pilots of the planes met more than 40 years later.
The story is detailed in the best-selling book, “A Higher Call” by Adam Makos.
For more information, visit www.libertyfoundation.org

Don't miss my story of my B-17 flight in Tuesday's Salem Leader.

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