"Liberty Belle" On Tour, Will Return to Orlando/Kissimmee In September

Liberty Belle, the most recently restored World War II Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress will be returning  "home" to Kissimmee Gateway Airport where she underwent a 14 year restoration to flying condition.  Liberty Belle will offer flights to the public over Orlando and Kissimmee on October 3rd and 4th.

The Liberty Foundation's B-17 "Liberty Belle" spent several decades parked where the Kissimmee Air Museum now stands undergoing a complete restoration, bringing her back to her former glory as one of only 14 B-17's that still fly today. The B-17 dubbed the "Flying Fortress" as a result of her defensive fire power saw action in every theater of operation during WWII. The majority of all WWII B-17's were operated by the 8th Airforce in Europe and participated in countless missions from bases in England deep into enemy territory. There were 12,732 B-17's produced between 1935 and 1945, of these 4,735 were lost in combat. Following WWII, the B-17 saw combat in three more wars, B-17's saw service in Korea, Israel used them in the war of 1948 and was even used during Vietnam.
 
"Liberty Belle" was built toward the end of the war and never saw any combat. It is painted in the colors and nose art of the original "Liberty Belle" B-17 that flew countless missions with the 390th bomb group of the 8th Airforce.

The Liberty Foundation's B-17G had an interesting post war history. Sold for scrap in 1947 to a mining company, in short order it was sold again to Pratt & Whitney for the sum of $2,700.00. Pratt & Whitney operated the B-17 until 1967, in which it was heavily modified test bed for their T-34 & T-64 turbo prop engines thus making it a five engine B-17. In 1968 the B-17 was then donated to the Connecticut Aeronautical Historic society. Unfortunately, in 1979 the B-17 was heavily damaged in a tornado that threw another airplane onto the B-17's mid-section breaking her back. The wreck was stored until 1987 when acquired by an aviation enthusiast in Florida with the intent to restore the aircraft. In 1992 the slow, labor intensive task of restoration began, and at the turn of the century the B-17 was sold again to Don Brooks of the Liberty Foundation. Mr. Brooks, whose father flew B-17's with the 390th bomb group during WWII, founded the Liberty Foundation; a non profit museum dedicated to preserving our aviation heritage, and funded the complete restoration of the B-17 back to her full wartime configuration as she appears today. He chose to paint the B-17 as the 'Liberty Belle" as a tribute to his father who was a Tail gunner and flew numerous combat missions in the original Liberty Belle, and all the brave aircrew of WWII. The B-17 following a fourteen year restoration at the Warbird Museum located at the Kissimmee Airport took to the skies again after 38 years on December 8th 2004.

The "Liberty Belle" provides visitors the opportunity to take a step back in time and gain respect for the men and women who gave so much to protect our freedoms. At each stop, flight "missions" are available in the airplane, which allow people to take flights in this historic aircraft. During flight operations, there will be a designated, secure area for those who would like to watch the bomber flight at no charge. For enthusiasts that choose to take a flight experience on this legendary aircraft, these participants receive a pre-flight safety briefing containing the historical significance of the aircraft and a spectacular scenic air tour around the city. During the flight, passengers enjoy the unique opportunity of moving about the aircraft to the different combat crew positions to see the viewpoint that thousands of our heroes saw in combat over 60 years ago.

The aircraft is currently on a tour that includes stops in Winston-Salem and Concord NC, Charleston SC, and then Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa FL before returning to the Orlando area.

FMI: www.libertyfoundation.org