June 28th, 2006
Vintage bombers
Flying the skies of Skagit County the week of June 26 were two World War II vintage bombers, the B-24 and the B-17, both featured aircraft in the 2006 Wings of Freedom Tour sponsored by the Collings Foundation. Pictured here is the B-24 Liberator nicknamed “Witchcraft.” Also pictured is the control panel of the B-17; a calendar and a short clip of machine gun rounds; both planes as viewed from the upper level of the Crosswinds Restaurant. B-24s were produced by Consolidated in San Diego, CA. The B-17 “Flying Fortress” was built at Long Beach, CA by the Douglas Aircraft Company under contract from Boeing. This particular aircraft came off the assembly line too late for combat, but she did serve as part of the Air/Sea Rescue Squadron, and later in the Military Air Transport Service.