Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Inclement weather in the Bangor area kept the Liberty Belle, a restored B-17 “Flying Fortress,” from landing in the Star City Monday as previously planned.
Photo courtesy of Paul Cyr/NorthernMainePhotos.com
THOUGH THE PUBLIC APPEARANCE of the Liberty Belle, a restored B-17 “Flying Fortress,” was officially cancelled Monday, the plane was able to fly over the Star City once the weather in Bangor cleared that afternoon. Mapleton pilot Gene Lynch II was able to take photographer Paul Cyr up in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk and take pictures of the Liberty Belle, which was to reenact the flight of the 390th Bomb Group that left the Presque Isle Army Air Field July 4, 1943, destined for Europe, in support of World War II. Here, facing south over Presque Isle, the Liberty Belle passes over the city.
Ironically, however, the plane did a flyover after the event was officially cancelled.
“We talked to the general aviation in Bangor several times Monday to see when they’d arrive in Presque Isle, but they weren’t able to get here mid-morning as we had thought because there was fog in Bangor,” said Nate Grass, a member of the Presque Isle Air Museum board. “They thought maybe they’d get out of there at 10 a.m., but it ended up more like 1:30 p.m. when they took off from Bangor.
“To make matters worse, there was a front coming into Goose Bay, Labrador, the pilots’ first stop,” he said, “so they decided to cancel the public appearance in Presque Isle. Those things sometimes happen when you’re dealing with the weather.”
Much to Grass’ chagrin, he received word from The Liberty Foundation of Tulsa, Okla., owners of the airplane, that the crew would, in fact, be able to do a flyover en route to Labrador.
“They did a flyover around 2:30 p.m.,” said Grass. “Unfortunately, we found out about it after everyone was told it was cancelled, so not a lot of people were aware the Liberty Belle even made it to Presque Isle. They were up about 4,000 feet, so you could see it and hear it if you happened to be outside at the time.”
However, Mapleton pilot Gene Lynch II was able to take photographer Paul Cyr up in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk and take pictures of the Liberty Belle, which was to reenact the flight of the 390th Bomb Group that left the Presque Isle Army Air Field July 4, 1943 destined for Europe, in support of World War II.
“Gene was able to persuade them to come down from 7,000 feet to just below the clouds at 5,000 feet where his incredible piloting skills put us alongside the Belle so I could take a few pictures of her over Presque Isle,” said Cyr. “As they pulled away continuing their mission to Labrador, we thanked them for dropping out of the clouds and slowing down to our speed for the photos.”
Though disappointed the plane didn’t land in Presque Isle, Grass said he appreciates the support from local residents.
“There was a good crowd that came out, but were then told the event was cancelled,” he said. “A lot of people also called the airport asking for updates. They must have received more than 60 calls, so the interest was definitely there. It’s unfortunate, but there was nothing we could do.”
Grass has been told, however, that Liberty Belle representatives have expressed an interest in coming back to the Star City.
“There’s talk that they might come some weekend when they’re in the New England area,” he said, “so you never know.”
Another famous airplane may make a return appearance to Presque Isle during the city’s 2009 sesquicentennial.
The Glacier Girl, a Lockheed P-38 Lightning World War II fighter plane that was recently restored to operable condition after being buried beneath ice on a remote Greenland ice cap for nearly 50 years, is expected to return to Presque Isle in June 2009. The plane was last here in 2007 as the Glacier Girl flew across the Atlantic Ocean to Duxford, England in order to complete the flight it had begun 65 years earlier.
Photo courtesy of Paul Cyr/ NorthernMainePhotos.com
THIS PATRIOTIC EMBLEM adorns the front of the Liberty Belle, one of the few remaining B-17 bombers in flying condition, which flew over Presque Isle Monday afternoon.
