It’s a busy morning at Santa Barbara Airport, as a United Airlines jetliner takes off with a roar. While people are coming and going at the airport’s terminal, on the opposite side of the field, near the tower, people are getting a closeup look at aviation history.
Five World War II vintage warplanes are lined up on the tarmac, as visitors snap pictures, and actually climb into some of them.
World War Two Navy veteran Glen Cook is a bit overwhelmed. The 94 year old Santa Barbara man served on ships in the Pacific Theater during the war. He says seeing the planes brings back a flood of memories from his service in the 1940's.
The planes are part of the “Wings Of Freedom" Tour, operated as an educational event by a non-profit Collings Foundation. It’s an effort to bring a slice of history to people around the country. The three decade old tour used to be a special, and often emotional event for many World War II veterans, but with old age claiming many of them, it now attracts a younger crowd learning about our history.
The planes left Santa Barbara Monday morning, and are at Camarillo Airport through midday Thursday. The non-profit foundation charges an entrance fee to help cover some of the tour’s costs. People can also book flights on the World War II era vintage planes, which is another fundraiser for the tour.
