Restored World War II B-17 and B-24 Bombers on Display at Norwood Airport-September 19, 1997

Aviation history came alive at Norwood Airport as two meticulously restored World War II heavy bombers—the B-17 Flying Fortress“Yucca Lady” and a rare B-24 Liberator—touched down to begin a weekend exhibition open to the local community.

Collings Foundation Exhibit and Historic Provenance

Organized by the Stow-based Collings Foundation, the weekend showcase invites the public to step back in time with walk-through tours of the vintage aircraft stationed at the Wiggins Terminal. Admission is set at $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12, with exhibition hours running Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

With thousands of B-17s and B-24s manufactured during World War II, only a small handful of airworthy specimens survive today, making the Collings Foundation’s touring fleet a rare living museum. The two featured aircraft carry remarkable preservation histories:

• The B-24 Liberator: Originally operated by the Royal Air Force in the Pacific Theater, the bomber ended up in a post-war graveyard in Khanpur, India. It was one of 36 B-24s rehabilitated by the Indian Air Force in 1948, remaining in active service until 1968. Foundation founder Robert F. Collings ultimately acquired the aircraft from a British collector, shipped it to Boston, and oversaw its complete restoration with the hands-on expertise of former B-24 crew members.
• The B-17 “Yucca Lady”: The iconic Flying Fortress was rescued from a military scrap pile in 1965 and painstakingly brought back to pristine flying condition.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger