World War II Bombers Battle with Nature | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.05.25

Airborne-NextGen-05.06.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.07.25

Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.02.25

Thu, Apr 10, 2003

World War II Bombers Battle with Nature

Help Keep These Monuments Flying

On the evening of Saturday, April 5th 2003, a storm producing golf ball-sized hail pummeled the Collings Foundation's B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator in Dallas (TX), during a visit of the Wings of Freedom Tour to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum at the Addison Airport. The fabric control surfaces on both aircraft were shredded and the sheet metal and paint also sustained damage.

Through the generosity of the Lone Star Flight Museum of Galveston (TX) and the Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wing in Houston, the Foundation has borrowed some of the required control surfaces for temporary use, until the Foundation's own components can be repaired and replaced. The cosmetic sheet metal and paint repairs do not impact the airworthiness of the aircraft, and will be addressed during the annual maintenance at the end of the year.

Once they covered the sky from horizon to horizon. Now, they are but a handful...

The Foundation, already faced with increased insurance and fuel costs, is initiating a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs involved in recovering of the control surfaces, cosmetic restoration and repainting.

The Foundation says, "In the spirit of 'making lemonade out of lemons,' we are offering a limited edition series of framed 8x10 displays, one each for the B-17 and B-24, which includes a framed picture of the aircraft, its individual history, and a swatch of fabric from the plane's control surface."

Individual displays can be obtained for a donation of $150 per unit and the pair can be ordered for $275. Any and all support is appreciated to help "keep 'em flying." Individual donations are also appreciated to help defray the cost of the needed repairs. The Wings of Freedom Tour is currently touring the Southwest and West Coast.

FMI: help: info@collingsfoundation.org; (978) 562-9182; www.collingsfoundation.org

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.05.25): Circle To Runway (Runway Number)

Circle To Runway (Runway Number) Used by ATC to inform the pilot that he/she must circle to land because the runway in use is other than the runway aligned with the instrument appr>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.05.25)

Aero Linx: National Aviation Safety Foundation (NASF) The National Aviation Safety Foundation is a support group whose objective is to enhance aviation safety through educational p>[...]

NTSB Prelim: De Havilland DHC-1

At Altitude Of About 250-300 Ft Agl, The Airplane Experienced A Total Loss Of Engine Power On November 6, 2024, at 1600 central standard time, a De Havilland DHC-1, N420TD, was inv>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: The Boeing Dreamliner -- Historic First Flight Coverage

From 2009 (YouTube Edition): Three Hour Flight Was 'Flawless' -- At Least, Until Mother Nature Intervened For anyone who loves the aviation business, this was a VERY good day. Afte>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 05.06.25: AF Uncrewed Fighters, Drones v Planes, Joby Crew Test

Also: AMA Names Tyler Dobbs, More Falcon 9 Ops, Firefly Launch Unsuccessful, Autonomous F-16s The Air Force has begun ground testing a future uncrewed jet design in a milestone tow>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC