WINNIPEG – The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is welcoming back two historic aircraft credited with helping win the Second World War. The planes, a B-17 Flying Fortress and a B-25 Mitchell, will be showcased at the museum until Sunday.
The Flying Fortress visiting Winnipeg, nicknamed “Sentimental Journey,” flew in the Pacific theatre during the Second World War. Of the 1.5 million tons of bombs dropped in Europe by U.S. aircraft during this time, 640,000 tons came from B-17s.
Mitchell bombers led the first U.S. response to the attack on Pearl Harbour, when several of the aircraft were launched from the deck of an aircraft carrier to make a surprise attack on Japan in 1942. The aircraft visiting Winnipeg, “Maid in the Shade,” flew 15 combat missions over Italy in 1944.
Both aircraft were used by Canadians troops in Europe for training and flying letters home.
The planes are permanently housed at the Arizona wing of the Commemorative Air Force in the U.S.
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Aviation buffs can see the planes starting Monday at 1 p.m. at the Royal Aviation Museum on Ferry Road. Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for students, children and seniors.
For an extra $5 per plane, visitors can go inside the bombers and see first-hand the small and exposed spaces of the gunners’ positions.
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