World War Ii Airplanes

Colo. man pilot of WWII plane that caught fire

CENTENNIAL - On Monday, a vintage World War II bomber made a hard landing in a cornfield in Illinois. Everyone escaped without injuries thanks to quick thinking by a pilot from Centennial.

"We smelled an acrid burning odor, got our attention almost immediately," Lawrence "Bud" Sittig, the pilot, said. "A fellow B-17 pilot that was flying chase with us called us on the radio and said, 'Hey, you are on fire.'"

Sittig is a 25-year veteran of the Colorado Air National Guard and a long time pilot for Delta Airlines. He volunteers for the Liberty Foundation, a nonprofit trying to share the history of old planes like this B-17 bomber known as the "Liberty Belle."

He says the fire started four minutes after take off. Sittig and fellow pilot John Hess initially throught they could make it back to the airport. But, after a few moments, the pilot in the chase plane called again.

"And, he said, 'Put it in a field, you're really burning,'" Sittig said. "That changed the scenario dramatically."

Sittig says that pointed out how bad the fire must've looked to the pilot in the plane behind him. With a residential area between him and the airport, he says he had no choice but to look for a place to land.

"If we had continued, I am not sure we would've made it," Sittig said.

Including himself, there were seven people on board. Sittig says his training took over and he focused on landing. 

"I had a thoughtful moment about this, we were about to put this classic airplane into a field and what is going to be the outcome," Sittig said.

He spotted a cornfield about 2 miles away when something unexpected happened.

"The flaps are fully extended and the airplane begins to roll to the left," Sittig said. "That's probably the most critical moments that we had."

Sittig says the fire burned through one of the flaps causing the plane to fly asymmetrically. He and Hess fought through and landed the plane on a farm about 100 yards short of a grove of trees.

"We went into the flare and made a very smooth touchdown," Sittig said. 

All seven people on board exited without injuries. He says the plane was largely in tact, but the fire was still burning.

"We stepped away from the airplane and then my mind goes to: How are going to save this airplane?" Sittig said.

Famed WWII bomber joins modern attack plane for Olympic Air Show ...

IF YOU GO

What: 13th annual Olympic Air Show

When: Gates are open from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Opening ceremonies will be at noon each day. Aerobatic performances begin after opening ceremonies and continue until about 4 p.m.

Where: Olympia Regional Airport, 7637-A Old Highway 99 S.E., Olympia

Tickets: Daily pass (adults and children 7 and older) $12 online or $15 at the gate; ages 6 and younger get in free, weekend pass is $22 online and $25 at the gate, Olympic Flight Museum members get in free.

Information: 360-705-3925, www. olympicflight museum.com TIPS

Arrive early for the best parking. The show attracts 15,000-20,000 people and parking at the airport fills quickly. Overflow parking is at the south end of the airport on Old Highway 99 through Gate 15. Street parking is available in surrounding areas but likely will be a ways from the entrance.

Allow extra time to enter the grounds. All items brought to the airport will be searched.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. If it is sunny, bring sunglasses, sunscreen (reapply during the day) and a wide-brimmed hat.

Be prepared to walk, especially if you have to park a distance from the airport. Schedule time to sit and relax.

Pick out a spot on the spectator box, a triangular-shaped grassy area, to watch the aerial performances. Pitch camp chairs or use a blanket and bring a cooler of refreshments.

The B-25J Mitchell Maid In The Shade will visit the area for the first time. The medium bomber is part of the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Headlining the aerobatic portion of the show will be the U.S. Air Force A-10 West Demonstration Team showing off the ground support capabilities of this slow-flying but potent aircraft.

“We do an excellent job of balancing heritage aircraft with the latest military aircraft,” said Teri Thorning, executive director of the Olympic Flight Museum and show coordinator. “It’s a good way to see the advances in aircraft technology when you look at the cockpit, the shapes and the engines. That’s also appealing to families who visit the show for Father’s Day because both grandpa and grandkids have something to share.”

Of the Arizona Wing’s planes, Maid in the Shade is the only one with a combat record. In late 1944 during World War II, the B-25 flew from the Serraggia Airbase on Corsica. It flew 15 missions over Italy with the 57th Bomb Wing, 391st Bomb Group, 437th Squadron. After the war, the plane was used as an agricultural sprayer before being acquired by a series of private collectors.

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