70-year-old warplanes celebrated at DuPage Airport
Three-year-old Max Sarra excitedly tugged at his father Rob's arm and asked questions about airplanes as the two stood beside a B-17 World War II heavy bomber Sunday at the DuPage Airport in West Chicago.
"I didn't know they were going to be here until I saw this fly over my home in Geneva," said Rob Sarra, also accompanied by his other son, 4-year-old Jake. "I've always loved aviation, so I wanted to get them involved in it early. It's important to keep the history going."
The aircraft was one of three on display over the weekend as part of the Wings of Freedom Tour, a traveling exhibit presented by the Collings Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to living history presentations.
The B-17 on display, built in 1945, was produced too late for combat in the war, but served in the Air/Sea 1st Rescue Squadron and the Military Air Transport Service. The restored plane is marked as the historic Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine, a similar model plane that completed 140 bombing missions before it was scrapped.
"It isn't as old as I am. That airplane is only 73 years old and I'm 94," said Basil Hackelman, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps who was one of the pilots to fly the original Nine-O-Nine.
Hackelman, who was stationed in Bassingbourn, England, said he logged 5,000 hours flying the B-17 to missions over Germany, France and Poland.
"But only 250 hours in combat," he said. "The rest of the time I was teaching other people to fly."
The plane, equipped with four propellers, flew from its last tour stop in Iowa a few days earlier, he said, adding that it is stored in Florida during the winter months.
Visitors could board the B17, the Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" heavy bomber and the P-51 Mustang fighter.
Short flights were available for $450.
Peering into the belly of the B-17 fuselage, Hackelman pointed out the plane's payload: several 500-pound, highly explosive, albeit deactivated, bombs. He said the plane could hold up to 20 such bombs. Visitors also could inspect the cockpit and the tail, ball turret and waist gunner positions.
Hackelman, who returned from the war on April 29, 1944, later became a commercial pilot for TWA and currently makes his home in Springfield, Missouri.
One of a dwindling number of surviving World War II pilots, he regaled a group of tour guests huddled under the B-17's wing with stories about how he became a pilot and what it was like to serve in the Army Air Corps.
He said he and his fellow airmen came under enemy fire during about 30 flying missions.
"For about 50 years, I couldn't talk about it," he said. "To see your buddies go up in a puff of smoke ... but now I can talk about it."
Greg Malkowski of Brookfield thanked Hackelman for his service and shook his hand. Earlier, Malkowski crossed the tarmac with his camera, looking in awe at the aircraft.
"I've always had a lot of interest in World War II stuff, especially airplanes," he said. "My great uncle was in the war. It's just an important part of history."