World War II Aircraft to Come to Ramona Airport

Imagine a flight in a WWII bomber or fighter. It's possible in Ramona next month. A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine O Nine" heavy bomber, Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" "Witchcraft" heavy bomber and a P-51 Mustang will arrive at Ramona Airport May 4 and visitors will not only be able to go inside the planes, but fly in them for an extra fee. The visit is part of the nationwide The Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour.

The foundation, based in Stow, Mass., restores historical aircraft, offers living history events and collects oral histories of those who flew the aircraft or were affected by them. This is the 22nd year of the nationwide tour, which takes in 35 states. The planes will stop in Long Beach and Carlsbad before heading to Ramona.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $6 for children. World War II veterans will be able to tour the aircraft at no cost and there will be discounts for school groups. Flights in the bombers will cost $425. The P-51 flights will be $2,200 for 30 minutes or $3,200 for an hour.

The planes will arrive at the airport at 2 p.m. May 4 and visitors can view them from 2 to 5 p.m. May 4, 9 a .m. to 5 p.m. May 5, and 9 a.m. to noon May 6.

"We are honored and thrilled," said Airport Manager Bo Donovan. "This is a great family event. We have retired veterans in this area who actually flew some of these aircraft and it's a special treat for them."

The B-17 and B-24s were "the backbone of the American effort" from 1942 to 1945, according to the foundation. Most of the WWII planes were scrapped after the war for the aluminum to rebuild the country, it states.

The B-17 carried nine machine guns and a 4,000-pound bomb load, according to the Boeing website. It was known for being able to stay in the air even with some of its fuselage torn off. This earned it the name "four engine fighter." Douglas and Lockheed collaborated to build nearly half the B-17s, according to the website.

The Collings Foundation reports that its B-24J is the only restored one in America that still flies. The aircraft named "Witchcraft" survived "an amazing 130 combat missions" and is a "testament to 1940s engineering," according to the foundation. The restoration cost millions of dollars, the group reports.

The P-51 is a veteran of both the Korean War and WWII, according to the Boeing site. It was named "the most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane in existence" in 1944 by the Truman Senate War Investigating Committee, Boeing states.

Several WWII veterans in their 80s and 90s live in the Ramona area.

Johnny Wilson a Mesa Grande resident who enjoys visiting the VFW Post 3783 on Kelly Street in Ramona served in the US Coast Guard long-range navigation unit, known as LORAN, stationed in South Pacific.  Secret signal device used in WWII.

"I know of at least four WWII vets in the Ramona area," Wilson said. "I'm 85. The others are older. They don't come to the VFW very often."

Wilson remembered seeing a few P-51 Mustangs while he was stationed in Guam. 

He said he would be interested in seeing the aircraft in the visiting display.

Ron Erbland of Classic Rotors Museum at Ramona Airport said there are many veterans among the museum's volunteers. One was a WWII pilot, he said.

"There aren't a lot of them around anymore. They're all getting up there in their 80s and 90s," he said.

Donovan said Ramona Airport also has several WWII trainer aircraft of its own, including the T-6, Skyraider and Corsair.

The airport is at 2926 Montecito Road. For general information, call 760-788-3366.

To reserve a flight on the Wings of Freedom Tour aircraft, call 800-568-8924.