One of the last remaining B-25 bombers is at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport this week. The B-25 known as “The Maid in the Shade” is on hand forthis weekend’s air festival.
The Maid in the Shade was based in Corsica during World War II and flew 15 missions in Italy and Yugoslavia. After the war, it was used in utility and transport duties, and later as a fire ant sprayer in Texas.
Pilot Russ Gilmore said there are only twenty B-25’s that can still fly.
“It’s got about six or seven repaired bullet holes that the Germans put in it,” Gilmore said. “It’s pretty rare that any of the World War II veterans flying today are real combat veterans, and this is one of the few.”
Gilmore took reporters on a quick flight around CapeGirardeauearlier this week, to show off the newly-rebuilt plane. They’re loud and a little shaky, but it’s worth it to see a piece of living history like this in action.
The plane was donated to the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force in 1981, who spent 28 years restoring the plane.
“We got it before it got scrapped out and took it all apart, rebuilt everything. Everything is new. All the fasteners are new. A lot of the skin is new. All the wiring is new. Engines. Props. Everything is new on it,” Gilmore said.
There are only about twenty B-25’s that can still fly.
More information about booking a flight is at the Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force website.
The CapeGirardeauRegional Air Festival is this Friday and Saturday.
Copyright 2013 KRCU Public Radio
