B-17 on Tour

Rex and Ian Meyer, father and son from Harmon, IL, check out the B-17 Texas Raiders, one of 12 World War II flyable B-17s remaining today, on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at EAA AirVenture 2010 in Oshkosh, WI. Oshkosh Northwestern Photo by Shu-Ling Zhou

The EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) is gathering veterans from the Second World War to represent each of the B-17 bomber crew positions. There are 10 positions in total.Veterans from Wisconsin will take a local ride in the Aluminum Overcast Monday, which is a promotion for the B-17’s national tour.The ten positions include: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, a bombardier, flight engineer, radio operator and four gunners.

According to the EAA, it is becoming more difficult to gather a complete crew for the B-17 as the years go on and the veterans grow older. The B-17 was built while WWII was coming to a close, so it never got to see combat. The EAA has been in possession of the plane since 1981 and it is one of only airworthy B-17s.

The Washington Times reports the plane visits more than 40 cities every year. This year, the tour will kick off on April 18^th in Mississippi.