Countywide : Restored B-17 Plane Makes Stop in O.C.
The Sentimental Journey, a restored B-17 bomber, has arrived at John Wayne Airport for a three-day stay, during which the World War II-era plane will be open for public viewing.
A volunteer pilot and crew are flying the plane around the West, giving $3 tours of the inside. Sentimental Journey is parked at the Sunrise Aviation ramp at the southeast end of the airport. It will remain on display through Sunday.
Paul Kelly, who flew a B-17 over Europe in World War II, said veteran crews have mixed, sentimental reactions to seeing the plane.
“Some people won’t get on the airplane,” said Kelly, 71, of Scottsdale, Ariz. “They say it has too many memories of lost friends.”
“We saw a lot of our buddies literally blown out of the sky,” Kelly said. “We used to see airplanes explode right next to us.”
The Sentimental Journey is part of a collection of World War II planes maintained by the Arizona Wing of the Confederate Air Force, a volunteer organization.
Rick Senffner, a member of the Arizona Wing, said the group spent thousands of hours restoring the plane, which has been touring for 10 years.
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