Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Chad Klassen

WAR PLANES

Take a trip through time as World War II planes star at Kamloops Airport

Jul 3, 2019 | 10:32 AM

KAMLOOPS — A pair of World War II planes are at the Kamloops Airport all this week, and the reception to the vintage aircraft has been significant. More than 400 people showed up to see the planes on Canada Day Monday, and hundreds more have taking in a piece of history since then.

The planes, B-17 and B-25 bombers, both flew during the war and helped in the Allies’ path to victory. They are in the city as part of the Flying Legends of Victory Tour, which is organized by volunteers with the Commemorative Air Force out of Arizona.

Kamloops is one of two stops on their Canadian tour. The other is Penticton.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

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It’s been nearly 75 years since the planes flew in action, but take a tour through the plane and it brings you back in time to the days it was in the midst of battle.

“The B-17 is very well-known as a long-range strategic bomber. It, along with the B-24, dropped most of the bombs that the Americans dropped on France and Germany during World War II,” said Mike Mueller, a crew member with the Commemorative Air Force out of Arizona. “The B-17 was famous for bringing its crews home with incredible amounts of battle damage. Noses missing, parts of wings missing, two engines running. The B-17 was a marvelous airplane.”

The B-17 is on display at the airport alongside the B-25 bomber, which also starred in the Second World War.

“Our B-25 is actually a World War II combat veteran. There are 15 bombs painted on the side of the airplane under the cockpit. Those stand for the 15 missions she flew out Corsica during November and December of 1944, mostly against railroad bridges and other railroad targets.”

Image Credit: CFJC Today

The Kamloops Flying Club has helped bring the planes to the city. The club has been working with the Commemorative Air Force to welcome the Flying Legends of Victory tour following a one-year hiatus.

“It’s very unique to have them here,” said President of the Kamloops Flying Club Monte Dauncey. “These are artifacts of history, so you never know how long these airplanes will be able to keep flying, so to have them come up here, and to be one of two stops in Canada, is a tremendous honour.”

The flying club says the planes are back in large part because of public support. Two years ago, they came out in numbers to see the B-25 “Maid in the Shade” bomber. Plane enthusiasts are revelling this week in the opportunity to get up close.

“I think they’re fantastic,” said visitor David Evans. “Quite a preservation of history. Pretty scary to think of what a young man felt when he was shipping out and never having flown in a plane before.”

The gate fee to come in and see the planes is $2. People can get a tour inside the planes for $15 each or $25 for a family. There’s also a unique opportunity to fly in the planes, but the experience won’t come cheap.

“For the B-17, to fly back in the waist compartment is $425 per person. We also have two seats up in the bombardier section. They’re $850 each. On the B-25, the waist compartment seats are $325 and on that airplane the jump seats in the front of the aircraft are $650.”

The flights run from Friday to Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. People interested in flying in the World War II planes can sign up on the Commemorative Air Force website or through the Kamloops Flying Club.

Image Credit: CFJC Today