World War II era bomber used for firefighting
Plane available for tours in Chico until Sunday
CHICO » One of only two of its kind, the B-17 aircraft flying this week out of the Chico Airport has seen the world at war and spent nearly two decades fighting fires.
After World War II the aircraft was purchased by Aero Union, an aircraft operation maintenance company which operated out of the Chico Airport from 1961 until 2011. For 18 years in the 1960s and ‘70s the airplane served as a Borate Bomber 17, helping fight fires for the organization now known as Cal Fire.
In 1974 the airplane was purchased by the Arizona wing of the Commemorative Air Force and converted back to its original World War II configuration.
The Commemorative Air Force is a private nonprofit organization which aims to preserve airplanes from 1938 to 1945 from all countries in World War II including the United States, Japan, England and Germany. The organization aims to preserve the purpose of the plans for educational purposes by touring them across the United States so people can experience, learn and remember what role these planes served in protecting America.
Deer Creek Broadcasting and Digital Interactive LLC general manager Dino Corbin toured the United States from 1985-1990 serving as a flight engineer on Sentimental Journey as part of the Commemorative Air Force. Corbin said there are currently two left of the specific model of the B-17 war plane coming to Chico. Many were taken apart and sold as scrap metal, before organizations such as the Commemorative Air Force began purchasing them to preserve the history.
Sentimental Journey is stationed in Mesa, Arizona. Another B-17 Flying Fortress bomber named Texas Raider is located at the Commemorative Air Force’s Texas unit. Texas Raider tours the central and east coast of the United States and Sentimental Journey tours the western and midwestern United States.
Corbin said the last time Sentimental Journey was in Chico was roughly four years ago.
“It’s like my baby coming home,” Corbin said about each time the plane comes to Chico.
The Commemorative Air Force is run by all volunteers at its 87 different units across the United States. A full list of planes owned by the Commemorative Air Force can be found by visiting https://commemorativeairforce.org/aircraft.
Sentimental Journey will be available for visitors from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday. Entrance to the Air Museum is free, and tours of the inside of the plane are available for $10 for an individual or $20 for one’s family. The museum is located at 165 Ryan Ave. in Chico.