Sac History Happenings: Vintage WWII aircraft visit Sacramento

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

May 29, 2012

Vintage WWII aircraft visit Sacramento

This weekend McClellan Field will host Wings of Freedom, a national tour of vintage World War II aircraft. The event features a B-17, B-24, P-51 and a special unannounced appearance by a German Messerschmit. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the fighters and bombers on the ground. Rides on the bombers are also available by reservation.

One special guest taking a ride on one of the bombers is Land Park resident John Kanelos, 88, who served as a B-24 radio operator during the war. Kanelos was recently profiled in a Valley Community Newspapers article by Lance Armstrong.

What: 2012 Wings of Freedom Tour
Where: McClellan Airfield near Coast Guard Hangar, Sacramento (map)
When: June 1-4. Walk-thru tour times (no reservations required): Friday 2-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9-5 p.m.; Sunday 9-12 p.m. Flight Experiences take place before and after tours.
Cost: Aircraft tours: $12 for adults; $6 for children 12 and under; free for WWII vets. B-17/B-24 rides: $425 per person. Call 978-562-9182 for flight reservations.
For more info: website

PHOTO CREDIT: B-17, B-24 and P-51 in formation. Courtesy The Collings Foundation

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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