BOCA RATON — The Collins Foundation will bring a display of World War II bombers called “The Wings of Freedom” to Boca Raton Airport from Jan. 27 to 31. Tours of the airplanes and rides will be available. Veterans will be there to talk with attendees about their experiences. Food and drinks available for purchase
Entrance fee: $12 for adults, $6 for children under 12; World War II vets free.
Civil Air Patrol Cadets get tour inside B-17 WWII Bomber.
Walk-through tour times (no reservations required) are:
1/27/11 2-4 p.m.
1/28/11 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1/29/11 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1/30/11 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1/31/11 9 a.m. to noon.
When the Wings of Freedom arrive, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the US Air Force Volunteer auxiliary, will be there as they have been every year when the Collins Foundation brings these “big birds” to town. Cadets and senior members of the Boca Raton Composite Squadron perform community service helping with crowd control and miscellaneous duties. A recruiting tent will be set up where visitors will have the opportunity to learn about Civil Air Patrol’s three missions of Emergency Service, Aerospace Education and Cadet Programs.
Everyone who attends will receive a special tour and firsthand account from World War II veterans, from men such as Civil Air Patrol members, Major Bill Bottle, a former pilot in the US Army Air Corps who personally flew the aircraft on display and Captain Ira Lotter, seasoned soldier who fought in most of the major European battles with the Army Tanker Division.
Also bombardier, ex- POW and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, Lt. Irwin Stovroff, whose mission now is to provide special assistance dogs for disabled veterans. He will bring his service dogs to the event.