WWII Fighters, Bombers and Armor Featured at Republic

The at will host “Wings, Wheels and Tracks," a gathering of the great fighters, bombers and armor of WWII.

The show offers an opportunity to tour the legendary B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-24 Liberator bomber and a P-51 Mustang fighter, beginning Friday and running through Labor Day, Sept. 3.

These aircraft will also offer once-in-a-lifetime flight experiences, museum organizers say.

The show also expects to have on display one of the most potent adversaries of Allied airpower during World War II, the revolutionary German Me 262 jet.

The B-17 and the B-24, mighty four engine bombers that pummeled America’s enemies during World War II, will offer flight experiences for a donation of $425 per person. The Mustang fighter is an extremely rare two seat version of the aircraft, including a full set of dual controls. It allows flight experiences for a $2,200 tax deductible donation.

These aircraft will share the ramp at the American Airpower Museum with AAM’s squadron including the Republic built P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, the Navy Corsair, the Grumman Avenger, the P-40 Warhawk, B-25, C-47 and the Soviet’s Cold War veteran, the L-39.

In addition, American World War II armor will be rumbling down the flight line including a Sherman tank, armored cars that liberated the Nazi death camps, a massive 155 mm Long Tom cannon and artillery tractor, a 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun and more.

The Collings bomber collection of aircraft has not been seen on Long Island for four years and it contains some of the finest restored “warbirds” in the United States.

“These aircraft, whether they represent friend or foe, have powerful stories to tell," said Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. "They speak of our need for extraordinary vigilance in the defense of freedom. They speak of the courage of those Americans asked to go into harm’s way. And they speak of our need to remember at a time when the `War on Terror’ remains a threat to our national security.”

For flight experience information that puts you on board the bombers or Mustang fighter, go to The Collings Foundation website.

Labor Day weekend adult admission at the museum is $20, Senior/Veteran (with ID) is $15, children are $5, children 3 and under are free.  

Advance sales are available at reduced prices by going online to www.americanairpowermuseum.org, Facebook or at the museum store at 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale.