VENICE – It’s like a scene from a Steven Spielberg movie said a guest at the event. Airplanes from that era are showcased at the Venice Municipal Airport.
It’s your chance to tour or take flight in a rare collection of World War II aircraft. The Wings of Freedom Tour by the Collings Foundation present a B-24 Liberator and a P-51 Mustang.
Chief Pilot, Robert Pinkston says the P-51 Mustang is known as the Cadillac of the skies assisting bombers in Europe.
“It went from basically being designed to flying in 125 days,” said chief pilot, Robert Pinkston. “One of the best kill ratios of any World War II fighter, especially the American one in Europe. And the B-24 behind us is the last flying, real B-24 Liberator in the World, and it’s the most mass-produced U.S. Military aircraft in U.S. history.”
Both of these together helped win World War II.
For those that don’t know, The B in B-24 stands for Bomber and the ‘P’ in P-51 stands for pursuit.
“It was made to pursue enemy fighters while they were attacking bombers,” said Pinkston.
Venice resident, Anthony Woods, decided to come out after hearing the sounds of the engines fly over his house these last few years. He thinks it’s amazing what the pilots did during that era
“It’s the closest I’ve ever been to a military craft, I suppose,” said Anthony Woods. “So, it just be good to see them up close. And, it’s what you see in the movies, isn’t it?”
Another resident, Steve Pinney, had a friend named Nigel come into town for this. Nigel’s father used to fly in Bomber-command in England during the war.
“Nigel is having a nostalgia trip here to look at the bombers remembering his father who was tail-end, Charlie, on the Lancaster Bombers in England during the war which is probably the most dangerous position,” said guest, Steve Pinney.
The tour will go through to Sunday, January 26. Tickets range in price, but World War 2 veterans come in for free.
For more information, you can visit the Collings Foundation’s website.
