ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, October 24, 1996             TAG: 9610250015
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                PAGE: N-10 EDITION: METRO 

WWII BOMBERS TO MAKE VISIT TO ROANOKE AIRPORT

Two vintage airplanes flown on combat missions during World War II will be on display at Roanoke Regional Airport Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.

The exhibition is part of the Collings Foundation's Celebration of Freedom Tour.

One of the featured planes is the world's only restored and working B-24J Liberator airplane, the "All American." The B-24 was used in every theater of operations during World War II and was flown by 15 Allied countries.

The plane is named after an aircraft of the 461st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, which shot down 14 enemy fighters over Linz, Austria.

The second plane is a B-17G Flying Fortress called the "Nine-O-Nine." The B-17 earned a reputation for durability and reliability during the war. The original "Nine-O-Nine" belonged to the 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force in Bassingbourn, England. Its pilots flew 140 combat missions without an abort or crew fatality.

The planes will fly into Roanoke's airport at 3 p.m. next Thursday. Adults can tour both aircraft at the old terminal for a donation of $7. The fee for children is $3. For more information, call 344-7000

LENGTH: Short :   32 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  The B-17G Flying Fortress (top) flew140 combat missions 
          without an abort or crew fatality. The B-24J is the world's only 
          restored and working aircraft of its kind.