PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. (Sept. 21, 2017) - A restored B-17 Flying Fortress, “Aluminum Overcast”, operated by the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA), will arrive in Atlanta for the fourth annual Atlanta Warbird Weekend at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport, Oct. 7-8. Ground tours will be available, and rides can be purchased for flights Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 5-8. The aircraft will join the Tuskegee Airmen program for the weekend, which is fitting because The Tuskegee Airmen gained their reputation escorting the Flying Fortress over Europe.
EAA’s B-17G-VE, serial number 44-85740, was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945. Although delivered too late to see action in World War II, the airplane has has flown more than one million miles as a cargo hauler, an aerial mapping platform and in pest control and forest dusting applications. The airplane was donated to EAA in 1983. Memorable B-17 rides can be purchased HERE.
To honor the Tuskegee Airmen, every type of aircraft flown by them, from training to front line, will be present except for the P-39. The flight line will include a PT-17 Stearman, BT-13, T-6 Texan, P-40, P-47, P-51C, P-51D and the B-25 Mitchell bomber.
While known primarily as fighter pilots, many Tuskegee Airmen flewB-25s with the 477th Bombardment Group, and the beautiful B-25 'Killer B" will appear to honor that history. The B-25J-30-NC SN 44-86697, now flying as "Killer B", was delivered in1945. Surplus to U.S. military needs, she served with the Royal Canadian Air Force until 1962, when she was sold to a commercial operator in Montana. The aircraft was then sold to the Fuerzas Aereas Venezolanas and later to the Bolivian Air Force. After many civilian owners, she was acquired by Tom Reilly in 1992. This aircraft also served as the camera ship for the filming of “Battle of Britain” in 1968.
The Dixie Wing is hosting the annual Atlanta Warbird Weekend, and will bring five of its aircraft from its home base in Peachtree City, all available for rides. The aircraft include the P-51 Mustang, the SBD Dauntless dive bomber, and three trainer planes – the T-34, T-6 and PT-19. Rides can be booked HERE.
About Atlanta Warbird Weekend
The Atlanta Warbird Weekend (AWW) is an annual event now in its fourth year, dedicated to the remembrance and celebration of the men, women and machines of The Greatest Generation. In metro Atlanta, there are significant historical resources and AWW is the catalyst to bring together the organizations, aircraft and people that keep this history alive and engage families and businesses that want to keep this spirit alive. Our goal is to elevate awareness of historical organizations in Metro Atlanta, raise funds to “Keep ‘em Flying”, and promote the sponsors and the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport - who make the event possible. Visit http://atlantawarbirdweekend.com/
About the CAF Dixie Wing Warbird Museum The CAF Dixie Wing, based in Peachtree City, Ga., was founded in 1987. One of largest units of the Commemorative Air Force, the unit maintains and flies seven WWII aircraft including a P-51 Mustang, FG-1D Corsair and rare types such as the SBD Dauntless dive bomber and P-63A Kingcobra. The Dixie Wing organizes two large events a year; WWII Heritage Days and the Atlanta Warbird Weekend. The unit, composed of 300 volunteers, is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. http://www.dixiewing.org/.
