bomberflight wrote:
See the PRESS RELEASE item in the middle of the page ) Its a Power Point document so I can't cut n paste the text here.
Comes up as a word document for me:
B17 FLYING FORTRESS ‘LIBERTY BELLE’ HEADS TO THE UK FOR FLYING LEGENDS AIR SHOW
Some 63 years after the Americans of the 390th Bomb Group left East Anglia, their work in Europe done, an original B17 Flying Fortress is heading back to the UK from Georgia, USA, to star in the Flying Legends Air Show at Duxford.
The challenge in 2008 is a major one, with the 1940’s built Boeing B17 Flying Fortress “Liberty Belle”, based in Douglas, Georgia, coming via the traditional WW2 delivery route of North East Canada, Greenland, Iceland and then finally into the UK under the watchful eye of Don Brooks. Don last flew this route in 1994 in his DC3 (C47) Dakota, bringing US veterans back to the D-Day beaches. He dropped them over Sainte-Mere-Eglise, a sight witnessed by thousands, including a host of dignitaries from around the world.
Now he is returning in memory of not just his father but all those who served in the US Army Air Corps’ Eighth Air Force. Often referred to as “the Mighty Eighth”, this Air Force was established in the UK in 1942, with bases throughout East Anglia and further across into Central England. Don Brooks’ father, Elton Brooks, was a tail gunner in a B17 based at Framlingham Airfield, a dozen or so miles North East of Ipswich. His B17 Flying Fortress was named The Liberty Belle, and Elton did some 34 missions before returning to his home town of Douglas.
From 1989 to 1992, Don was part of the Greenland Expedition Society project to find and recover the “Lost Squadron”, a group of six Lockheed P38 fighters and two Boeing B17 bombers that crash landed on the Greenland ice cap in 1942. The 25 airmen were rescued while the eight, new aircraft were left behind to be covered and eventually lost beneath 90 metres of ice and snow. A P38 Lightning was recovered in 1992 and after many years of meticulous restoration she took to the air in 2002, named “Glacier Girl”. In 2007 this P38 set out retracing this historical journey to participate at The Flying Legends Air show but sadly she encountered an engine problem just out of Goose Bay, Labrador and her journey was once again curtailed.
Don’s main motivation for joining the Greenland Expedition however was to find a B17. When they did find one, they discovered that it had suffered too much damage from the build up of snow and ice over the years. More recently Don has recovered another Flying Fortress from the bottom of Dyke Lake in Labrador, and this one will hopefully fly again in some 10 years time.
The goal this July - sixty five years to the month after the 390th Bomb Group first occupied Framlingham (also known as Parham) airfield in rural Suffolk and after flying the same route that Glacier Girl and the B17’s took in 1942 - is to fly over the control tower, which still remains intact. Thanks to the work of the local farmer and volunteer friends the Tower now serves as a museum commemorating the courage of those young Americans and the local community that they became an integral part of.
Liberty Belle will debut and star at The Flying Legends Air show on 12th and 13th July at Duxford’s historic airfield, now part of the Imperial War Museum. Flying Legends provides the air show public with an amazing, unrivalled line up of the great classic propeller driven combat aircraft of the bygone years. This year’s event promises another exciting line up with over 60 aircraft scheduled to take part, including the rarely seen sight of two B17’s gracing the Duxford skies once again. Both the Liberty Belle and Sally B will be available at Duxford for photographic opportunities and you will have the chance to walk through these iconic bombers.
Don Brook’s fascination for WW2 and the activity of the Mighty Eighth grew from the stories his father shared with him. Initially these stories were focused on the lighter moments – the practical jokes emerging amongst crew members and the “off duty” trips to Ipswich and London. As his father offered more, the insights shared turned to the dangers of air combat and the camaraderie of the closely knit aircrew of ten men.
After WW2 Elton Brooks returned to his car parts business and the success of this retailer has since continued under the leadership of his son.
This business success has enabled Don to pursue the desire to obtain and fly a Flying Fortress as a tribute to his father, and all Allied WW2 veterans. This dream was realised, when the Liberty Belle was purchased from Tom Reilly, a renowned restorer then based in central Florida. Since that purchase the Liberty Belle has toured throughout the USA, offering rides to veterans and enthusiasts. Experience gained on these lengthy trips has given Don and his team the confidence to now head to England. Whilst rides will not be available in the UK, it is likely that the Liberty Belle will be a major attraction wherever it goes. The UK schedule is still being enhanced but enthusiasts should head to Duxford, in Cambridgeshire, the weekend of 12th/13th July if they want the chance to walk through the Liberty Belle and meet the crew.
Notes to Editors:
The Imperial War Museum Duxford is Europe’s premier aviation Museum and a world-renowned aviation heritage site with over 6 hectares of indoor and outdoor displays. The Museum has just been recognised as the best Large Visitor Attraction in the UK (Enjoy England Awards for Excellence – the tourism Oscars). 2008 sees the Museum celebrating 90 years of this historic airfield with a number of special events. IWM Duxford is also home to The Fighter Collection, organisers of the Flying Legends air show.
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Wonder what else is going?? Would be nice to put my Cessna 140 in a FedEx tube and ship it there......
