World War 2 B-17 Lands in Chattanooga for Four Day Visit

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – The last B-17 bomber was built in 1945, and there are only about 11 still flying in the world.
And one of them is in Chattanooga this week.
A group of Chattanoogans gathered at Wilson Air this afternoon to welcome one of the famed "Flying Fortresses".
You don’t have to be a World War Two expert to know about the B-17 Bomber.
It was called "the Flying Fortress" and twelve thousand of them were built during the 1939 to 1945.
Almost half of them were destroyed in battle.
Historians will tell you that their concentrated attacks shortened the War against Nazi Germany.
A B-17 G model named Texas Raiders arrived to a warm welcome at Wilson Air…with an all-volunteer crew from the Houston area.

VICKIE THOMAS, MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE "Its the Commemorative Air Force…they own all of the planes. it’s a non profit ..its a 501-C3 charitable organization."

The Texas Raiders B-17 never saw combat, but that didn’t detract from then novelty of seeing the the legendary plane up close. One of the pilots was also a novelty, he’s 26 years old.

BEN BAGGETT, B-17 PILOT "Most people never really learn anything about World War Two…That’s why we’re here to teach people about World War Two…because we don’t feel like they are getting it in the classroom."

The plane will be at Wilson Air until Thursday with Chattanooga being the 4th stop on a two week tour.
Visitors can climb aboard and look it over at 10 dollars for adults and 5-dollars for children. The crew is there to answer questions…things like how fast does it go? Answer: 150 knots, about 175 miles an hour. And: how much gas does it use? about 200 gallons an hour. Its range is 1700 miles.

BEN BAGGETT, B-17 PILOT "The B-17,for whatever reason was way overbuilt. And, there was a number of cases ..There was one where a Messerschmidt…BF109 German fighter flew into the tail…and the airplane returned."

Didn’t get to fly on it..but just getting to visit was a thrill form those of us who love these old birds.
Good luck and clear skies to crew of Texas Raiders.

Some folks did get to ride on the "Texas Raiders".
Seats were 475-dollars for back in the fuselage, and 750-if you want to sit up in the navigators compartment.
There was only one seat left at noon Monday.