WWII veterans recall memories during Wings of Freedom Tour in Billings – KTVQ Billings News

BILLINGS -

History took to the skies over Billings on Tuesdayas the "Wings of Freedom Tour" entertained from the sky and tarmac.

Theevent honors veterans of World War II and featuresvintageaircraft that requires upkeep 365 days a year..

The tour provided an experience to ride inand even take lessons in operating aircraft over 70 years old.

The experience was unbelievable," said Steve Olson, who is the nephew of a WWII tech sergeant. "My Uncle Fred worked on the B-17s over in England, he flew across the pond in it. I cannot imagine, but he did it and he loved it. Ive been living the memory ever since.

Fred Groff, who was alongside Olson for the tour,recalled the experience of repairing combat damaged aircraft.

Wed get them back in about a day and ready to start bombing again," Groff said.So it had to be an atomic bomb, that was small enough to put in those, and they thought that it would start exploding, they thought that it possibly go around the earth, and destroy all of our Earth.

The experience of standing next to the aircraft in which they defended our countrys freedom proved to be emotional for some.

It was such a treat to be able to fly for him today. Even at my old age, its pretty cool to be able to do something like that with him," Olson said.

Sights and sounds that most of us can only imagine, from history books, and movies.

Twice, I almost had to jump, because I came off the bomb run, and Im the nose, and I was looking straight at the ground. When I went in it, I remembered it all, said Kenneth Hall, a WWII gunner.

Families got to witness the camaraderie rekindled by the tour -- machineryand memories from a long time ago.

Its kinda nice that theyre still up and moving around arent they?

Yeah, its kinda nice that we are too.

For many, they are experiencing these planes as flying museums. But for a handful of men, it has been a trip down memory lane.

That was some ride, Hall said.

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WWII veterans recall memories during Wings of Freedom Tour in Billings - KTVQ Billings News