A Look At A B-17 Bomber Plane Through A Veterans Eyes
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It was considered the enemy's favorite target during World War II. While the words B-17 might not mean anything to you, they certainly mean something special to World War II veterans.
Bob olsen is an eighty five year old veteran who spent 942 hours inside a plane just like this one.
"We ate, slept and everything inside the airplane. It got to be our second home. We flew everyday," said Olsen.
He came to see the plane to reminisce on all the years that have gone by.
"Well I wanted to go around and look inside to see if it looked the same here. It did," said Olsen.
With those words I knew it was important to experience my flight through this veterans eyes. I took my seat in the vintage plane and with a roar of the engines I knew we were ready to go.
The plane started speeding down the runway like so many did out of the Sioux City Air Force Base back in the war.
This B–17 was operated by a crew of ten men. While the pilot and co–pilot maneuvered the plane, eight other men would be firing these guns. Through the windows soldiers could pick their target and dump bombs at twenty or thirty thousand feet.
The sentimental journey will be flying out of Sioux City on Monday. The next stop will be Madison, Wisconsin and it will finally end its tour in Texas at the Commemorative Air Force Air Show.
Now, the B–17 will be available for air rides and ground tours until Sunday. The museum is located just north of the Sioux Gateway Airport.
