Warbird Information Exchange

Wings of Dreams will host B25-J

BY: JAMES WILLIAMS Monitor Editor August 11, 2009

The Wings of Dreams Museum and Warbird Restoration Center has received its first prize exhibit-a World War II era B25-J bomber. The aircraft has been seen at weekend area displays over the last three years, but now-for a while, at least-the 66-year-old, revered bomber will live at the Keystone Heights Airport year round.

Wings of Dreams Co-Directors Bob Oehl and Susan King said they received a call from the Collings Foundation at the end of last week, to confirm the extended loan.

The foundation will continue to own and insure the bomber, but made it available to the museum to help get its own program up and running.

"(Collings Foundation Director) Bob Collings called to say that he was loaning us the aircraft to recognize our efforts on behalf of his foundation and as a way to say 'thank you' to the people at the Keystone Heights Airpark, and local volunteers and organizations, like AMVETS." Oehl said last Tuesday. "The aircraft will be on loan to the museum until at least 2011."

Local aircraft technicians like Joe Davis and Johnny Arpen are qualified to work on classic "round engine" technology, King said, but major maintenance and repairs will continue to be done at the Collings Foundation's American Arrow Center in New Smyrna.

Oehl and King flew the warbird into Keystone Heights last Tuesday from New Smyrna, where the bomb bay had just been restored.

Oehl said a Gainesville flight controller was skeptical and a bit taken aback when, over the radio, Oehl told him he was overhead in the flight path in a World War II bomber.

A small crowd of airpark personnel and personal friends of Oehl and King gathered to see the bomber land.

Oehl said the B25 will be housed in the former Aquila Aviation hangar for now. King said permanent spaces for the museum are already in planning.
Oehl and King also have on hand a collection of memorabilia donated by former members of the Women Air Service Program, commonly called the WASP.

The bomber will be used to generate publicity and funds for the museum. Oehl said rides, training and tours would be available at a cost.

Asked if the aircraft was still flight-worthy and in good shape, Col. Phil. Newman, a World War II B-17 pilot now well into his 80s, said emphatically that the bomber was in "damned good shape."