Residents of Omaha, Nebraska, were treated to a special show on Friday afternoon when the Wings of Freedom Tour made a stop at Eppley Airfield to honor World War II veterans. The tour's purpose is to honor the soldiers that flew the aircraft and the other personnel who built and maintained the planes. In the 23 years that the tour has been in operation, it has visited nearly 3,000 airports across the country.
This year, the Wings of Freedom showcased refurbished WWII planes like the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and the P-51 Mustang. These three models are some of the only planes of their kind still flying. Veterans of WWII were granted free admission to explore the planes and remember their time in the military.
"As a way to get the stories to come to life, we bring these airplanes in for the families and for the veterans to tell what they did during the war and to pass it along to future generations, "Brian Keough, a flight coordinator for the tour, told KETV,
Visitors to the Wings of Freedom tour are encouraged to explore the aircrafts, and if they can, participate in the flight experience. The Collings Foundation, the non-profit organization behind the tour, hopes that this will honor and preserve the legacy of WWII veterans.