B-17 bomber ready to take flight in Lethbridge

It’s not everyday that you get the opportunity to view an important piece of World War II history. The folks from the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona made the trek up to Lethbridge to showcase a B-17 bomber that saw action during the war. A second B-25 aircraft will make its way to our city on Thursday and there will be a chance for air enthusiasts to take a ride. BCN’s Micah Quinn caught up with staff from the group to chat about the B-17 bomber and the Flying Legends of Victory Tour.

The B-17 bomber named Sentimental Journey is ready to take flight this upcoming weekend.

Michael Shepherd, the ground operations coordinator with CAF Airbase Arizona, told us the aircraft was built in 1944.

Shepherd says the 40,000-pound bomber is 74 feet long with a wingspan of about 100 feet.

After the second world war was over, the bomber stayed in storage in Japan for eight years. Following the war it came back to North America, making its way to Chico, California, eventually becoming a water bomber. 

For more information on the Flying Legends of Victory Tour and how you can catch a ride on one of these aircraft, you can visit https://www.azcaf.org/