Chicago Executive Airport plays host to historic WWII aircraft

There was some unusual traffic at Chicago Executive Airport over the weekend. On the one hand, hundreds of aviation and aviation-history enthusiasts came to the airport Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On the other hand, three rare and historic WWII aircraft flew into the airport for those enthusiasts to explore.

The event, known as the Wings of Freedom Tour, includes a B-17, B-24 and P-51 operated by The Collings Foundation. The B-17 and B-24, known, respectively, as the Flying Fortress and Liberator, were four-engine bombers that carried the air war to Germany, Italy and Japan during the Second World War. The P-51 is a single-engine fighter plane that escorted the bombers on their missions and played a major role in defeating the enemy air forces.

Visitors to the event ranged from young children to at least one gentleman in his 90s who flew 36 missions as the pilot of a B-17 during the war.

Jay Mazic of Glenview brought his son, five-year-old Luka, to view the planes, which included opportunities to go inside the two bombers.

“I just love the history of the airplanes,” Mazic said, adding that his grandfather fought in the war as a Yugoslavian partisan.

Matt and Kara Mlynski, twins from Arlington Heights who recently graduated from St. Viator High School, both expressed an interest in history.

“I just think it’s amazing that they still have these flying,” said Matt Mlynski, who indicated the B-17 was his favorite. “I like WWII flight simulators. I have a game for the B-17.”

Kara Mlynski expressed an appreciation for the opportunity to get up close to the historical airplanes. “I just think it’s so cool that this is a tangible piece of history,” she said. “You can imagine what it was like to fly in them.”

Her thoughts mirrored the statement from CEA Assistant Airport Manager Jamie Abbott, who said, “You don’t get this experience reading a history book or watching a program on the History Channel … It’s one of those rare opportunities you’ll remember all your life.”

This is the 24th year that The Collings Foundation has toured the country. The tour takes them close to 25,000 miles making stops at approximately 100 airfields across the country.

Hunter Chaney, the director of marketing for the Collings Foundation, said that some folks were able to go for flights in the planes, though cost $425 for a half-hour ride in one of the bombers or $2,200 for half an hour in the P-51. A full hour in the P-51 cost $3,200. For those who didn’t go for a flight, the cost was $12 and $6 for children. Veterans were allowed in at no cost.