June 02--We've all seen Hollywood movies about World War II where American bomber pilots suit up for their dangerous bombing missions over Europe and in the Pacific, returning in shot-up planes and landing on a wing and a prayer.
Others have heard stories first-hand from the family members who were bomber pilots and bombardiers and lived the history.
On Monday, one of America's most famous airplanes of World War II, the B-25, will arrive in Carlsbad for a week-long stay at the Cavern City Air Terminal, giving the public an opportunity to take a tour through the plane or, for a fee, take a 25 to 30 minute flight over Carlsbad.
The plane and is expected to arrive about noon.
The restored plane is owned by the nonprofit Arizona Airbase of the Commemorative Air Force, which is bringing the plane to Carlsbad on the first stop of its summer tour.
"This is a great way for people to connect with our living history," said Sharon Peterson, who is coordinating the tour. "We have a great crew that will be telling people what the plane represents and what it did during World War II. We think bringing the B-25 to Carlsbad is appropriate in that Carlsbad was home to the Army air field where bombardiers were trained."
Peterson said her organization is a flying museum staffed by volunteers who fly the planes every year on a summer tour.
"Our goal is to reconnect the public with their history and show our veterans we haven't forgotten their sacrifices," she said.
According to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force website, the B-25 medium bomber saw duty in every combat area and was flown by the U.S. as well as the Dutch, British, Chinese, Russians and Australians. Although the plane was originally intended for level bombing from medium altitudes, it was used extensively in the Pacific Theater for bombing Japanese airfields and beach emplacements from tree-top level and for strafing and skip bombing enemy ships.
Built by North American Aviation, the B-25 first flew on Aug. 19, 1940, and the U.S. Army Air Corps accepted the first five B-25s in February of 1941. During its long career, the B-25 experienced a number of modifications. With the B-25J version, the one that will be in Carlsbad, the aircraft returned to its initial arrangement as a level bomber, reverting to a transparent nose that included one flexible and two fixed .50 caliber guns. The J model could devastate vehicles and ships with up to 14 forward firing heavy machine guns.
Peterson said the Arizona CAF was founded to acquire, restore and preserve in flying condition a complete collection of combat aircraft which were flown by all military services of the United States, and aircraft of other nations.
While taking a flight in the historic aircraft sounds appealing, your checkbook needs to be healthy. Flights start at $395 for the waist gunner spot and $650 on the flight deck.
A spot can be reserved by calling (480) 322-5503 or emailing [email protected].
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