Wings of Freedom Tour returns to Hazleton airport – Citizens Voice

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ELLEN F. OCONNELL/Staff PhotographerThe P-25 Liberator Witchcraft taxis around the Hazleton Regional Airport Monday during the Wings of Freedom Tour . The planes will be on display until Wednesday.

ELLEN F. OCONNELL/Staff PhotographerShortly after 12 noon, the P-51 Mustang fighter plane is the first to fly over the Hazleton Regional Airport Monday as part of the Wings of Freedom Tour.

Four relics will fly into Hazleton Regional Airport this month telling significant stories which place a part of World War II in perspective.

The Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom Tour, now in its 28th year, will land and stay at the airport, 5175 Old Airport Road, Aug. 21 to 23.

The four airplanes the tour brings are a WWII Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell and North American P-51 Mustang.

The event will also feature a car show Aug. 22 displaying classic, military, custom or collectible street legal vehicles and Lady Lois, a WWII Stuart tank built in nearby Berwick.

The tour, touting rare and fully restored bomber and fighter aircraft, has stopped in Hazleton for more than two decades as part of its national tour which begins in Florida in January, said Hunter Chaney, director of marketing at the Collings Foundation, a nonprofit educational foundation.

Chaney said the tour loops its way through the United States, visiting 110 cities while flying into the lives of millions.

The B-17 is one of eight in flying condition in the U.S., according to the foundation, and the B-24 is the only plane of its type flying in the world, while the B-25 is best known for being used in the daring Doolittle raid. The trio were the backbone of the American effort during the war from 1942 to 1945 and were known for their ability to sustain damage and still accomplish the mission, the foundation states.

The P-51 Mustang was awarded grand champion for restoration at EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Oshkosh AirVenture and was affectionately known as the bombers Little Friend, saving countless crews from Axis fighters, according to information supplied by Chaney.

Though their history is rich and deep, many aircraft were scrapped for aluminum used to rebuild post-war America, making surviving planes rare and their roles in telling the story of World War II important, which is why the Collings Foundation continues to fly and display them, a press release states.

Its like an interactive flying memorial for our World War II vets, Chaney said during an interview.

People can get a good understanding of World War II-era aircraft by reading a history book, he said, but to see them in person is a totally different experience, engaging people in history and in the sacrifices made by veterans with something tangible.

The aircraft, he said, is a catalyst which honors veterans in a deep and lasting way. On a personal level, guests also remember their loved ones who served in the military when they peer into the pieces of history on display and hear veterans recall their duty. They reflect on the importance of serving in any war, he said.

Contact the writer:

achristman@standardspeaker

.com; 570-501-3584

If you go

The Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom Tour will visit Hazleton Regional Airport, 5175 Old Airport Road, Hazle Twp., from Aug. 21 to 23.

The schedule:

Aug. 21, noon to 8 p.m.

Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a car show from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Aug. 23, 9 a.m. to noon

Explore the aircraft:

World War II veterans are admitted free of charge.

Adults are admitted for $15 while children under 12 are admitted for $5 for up-close viewing and tours inside the planes.

Aircraft can also be viewed from the airport parking lot fence at no cost

Take a trip:

A 30-minute flight aboard the B-17 or B-24 are $450 per person, while P-51 flights are $2,200 for a half-hour and $3,200 for a full hour. B-25 flights are $400 per person.

For reservations and information on flight experiences call 800-568-8924.

Venue information:

The event features free parking, ADA-accessible portable toilets, hand-wash stations and baby-changing stations.

Hazle Twp. Fire and Rescue will serve food such as hot dogs, hamburgers and beverages. Vending machines are also available.

Smoking and vaping on the airport ramp or inside the fenced-in area is prohibited. Pets, drones, bicycles or alcohol are not permitted at the airport.

Get involved:

Visitors and those interested in sponsorships or entry to the car show can find out more about the tour and foundation by visiting http://www.collingsfoundation.org or facebook.com/wingsoverhazleton. All proceeds benefits the Collings Foundation.

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Wings of Freedom Tour returns to Hazleton airport - Citizens Voice