In WWII, Robert McAdam flew in a Boeing B-17 on a mission. Thanks to The Liberty Foundation, he was able to climb aboard the plane once again.
On May 15, 2017, Robert McAdam was given the opportunity to climb aboard a Boeing B-17 for the first time in over 70 years. The World War II veteran, a resident of Highlands Ranch, took a trip back in history as he toured the aircraft, complete with replica .50-caliber machine guns. In July 0f 1944, McAdam, only 23 years old at the time, was on a mission out of Foggia, Italy. His mission was to bomb oil refineries in northern Germany, but the plane was attacked and its engines started to fail. McAdam told Castle Rock News,We dropped our bombs, though we didn't make it to the target, and were told to get everything else out of the plane ... There are two people I thank for my survival -- the person who packed my parachute, and a soldier who didn't shoot me on the ground when he could have."During that trip, McAdam was in the nose section of the B-17 in a jump seat, which was located behind the soldier who controlled the guns. The plane ended up being shot down and McAdam became a prisoner of war for 10 months, until the camp became liberated.
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photo courtesy of Clarke Reader (Castle Rock News Press)[/caption]
When McAdam stepped aboard the "Madras Maiden," a plane similar to the one that McAdam and the rest of the crew jumped from before it crashed into a mountain, he said he couldn't believe it. "I thought it was a dream."
Unfortunately, due to mechanical difficulties, the B-17 was unable to take off so McAdam was not able to take a flight in the aircraft.
The Liberty Foundation, which made all of this possible for the WWII veteran, specializes in restoring and taking passengers on flights in B-17s. It's a "flying museum" of sorts.
"Veterans are the reason we do what we do," said Scott Maher, director of flight operations at Liberty.
The restored B-17 was at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport in Broomfield, where it remained until May 21. During the weekend, members of the public had the opportunity to take a short flight in the aircraft.
Check out a video of Robert McAdam talking with Boulder Daily Camera about his experiences below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sP8gvgPKiM
Thank you, Robert McAdam, for your service.
Featured image courtesy of Colorado Aviation Photography (Jeff Hooten).
