"Tondelayo" B-25 Mitchell 44-28942 at Vandenberg Airport

Tondelayo and the B-17 Nine-O-Nine visited Vandenberg Airport February 4 - 6, 2008 as part of the "Wings of Freedom Tour."

Here is the press release describing the event:

The Wings of Freedom Tour of the WWII Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and North American B-25 Mitchell Announce Unique Display in Tampa at Vandenberg Airport from February 4 to February 6


The Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour Brings Both Rare Bomber Aircraft for Local Living History Display as Part of 130-city Nationwide Tour

WHAT: The Collings Foundation’s WINGS OF FREEDOM TOUR of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine” heavy bomber and the North American B-25 Mitchell mid range bomber will fly into Vandenberg Airport in Tampa, FL for a visit from February 4 to February 6 offering local citizens an opportunity to visit, explore, and learn more about these unique and rare treasures of aviation history. The B-17 is one of only 9 in flying condition in the United States, and the B-25 – well known for flying on the Doolittle Raid - is one of only a handful still flying in the United States. Visitors are invited to explore both aircraft both inside and out - $10 donation for adults and $5 donation for children under 12 gives is requested for access to up-close viewing and tours through the inside of the aircraft. Visitors may also experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually take a 30-minute flight aboard these rare aircraft. Flight experiences are a tax-deductible donation of $425 per person, per flight aboard the B-17 and $400 or $325 aboard the B-25. For reservations and information on flight experiences call 800-568-8924.

WHERE: The WINGS OF FREEDOM TOUR will be on display at Vandenberg Airport in Tampa located at Leading Edge Aviation, 6582 Eureka Springs Rd.

WHEN: The WINGS OF FREEDOM TOUR will arrive at Vandenberg Airport at 2:00 PM on February 4 and will be on display at Leading Edge Aviation at Vandenberg Airport until the aircraft departs February 6 at 12:00 PM. Hours of ground tours and display are: 2:00 PM through 5:00 PM on Monday, February 4; 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM on Tuesday, February 5; 9:00 AM through 12:00 PM on Wednesday, February 6. The 30-minute flight experiences are normally scheduled before and after the ground tour times above.

WHO: The Collings Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation devoted to making history come alive and making it available to citizens everywhere. The Nationwide WINGS OF FREEDOM TOUR is in its 19th year and visits an average of 120 cities in over 36 states annually. Since its start, tens of millions of people have seen the B-17 & B-25 display at locations everywhere, some in communities where it would be difficult to travel to visit a museum with a similar focus. The Wings of Freedom Tour is unique in the way it makes history come alive by allowing visitors to actually explore the interior of each aircraft as restored to 1944 standards or actually experience what it would have been like to be a crewmember by taking a flight aboard!

WHY: The WINGS OF FREEDOM TOUR tours the nation as flying tributes to the flight crews that flew them, the ground crews that maintained them, the workers that built them, the solders, sailors and airmen they helped protect; and the citizens and families that share the freedom that they helped preserve. Both the B-17 & B-25 were the backbones of the American effort during the war from 1942 to 1945 and were famous for their ability to sustain damage and still accomplish the mission. Despite the enormous odds and risks by anti-aircraft fire, attacking enemy fighters, vulnerability during low altitude strafing runs and the harrowing environments at high altitudes many B-17s and B-25s safely brought their crews home. After the war, many aircraft were scrapped for their raw metal to rebuild a nation in post-war prosperity and therefore very few were spared. The rarity of the B-17 & B-25 and their importance to telling the story of WWII is why the Collings Foundation continues to fly and display the aircraft nationwide. At each location we encourage local veterans and their families to visit and share their experiences and stories with the public. For aviation enthusiasts and general public, the tour provides opportunity for the museum to come to the visitor and not the other way around! Visitors can find out more by visiting our website at www.collingsfoundation.org.

For further information e-mail Hunter Chaney, Director of Marketing: hchaney@collingsfoundation.org

Media Site: http://www.collingsfoundation.org/media for further detailed information on the aircraft, Collings Foundation, and the tour as well as high-resolution photos for download.