Collings Foundation WWII Wings of Freedom Tour visits Northern Nevada

Joseph Maino, The Fernley Reporter

Hearing the engine roar of three World War II bombers over their house, Minden residents Chris Nerska and his twin daughters, Alex and Josie knew the air show was in town.

The Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom tour is visiting Northern Nevada this weekend. The show began Friday at the Minden-Tahoe Airport in Minden.

In honor of our World War II Veterans, the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour brings extremely rare bomber and fighter aircraft for local living history display as part of a 110-city nationwide tour. Among the planes featured are a P-51 fighter plane and the B-17, B-24 and B-25 bombers.

The Nerska family has a special connection with the B-25 Mitchel bomber, because Nerska’s grandfather worked on the plane during World War II. Just four months after Pearl Harbor, the historic Doolittle raid used the B-25 Mitchel bomber to attack Japan. This daring attack restored America’s confidence and morale during the war’s early dark days.

Event goers may take pictures of the airplane’s exteriors and explore the cramped cockpits and gunner’s stations. Thirty-minute flight experiences are available starting at $450.

Hundreds of Northern Nevada residents are expected to attend the 3-day event, which runs through Sunday, June 19.