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Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 10:54 AM

Collings Foundation WWII Wings of Freedom Tour visits Northern Nevada

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.

Photos by Joseph Maino
The Nerska family, Alex, Chris and Josie, stand in front of the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the same type of plane worked on by the girls' great grandfather during World War II.


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.

Chris Nerska tries out the B-17's machine gun.


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.

The B-17 Flying Fortress was a four engine, heavy bomber used by the United States Army Air Corp for strategic daylight bombing.


The B-24, known for its long range, fast cruising speed and ability to carry a large number of bombs, was used by every branch of the service during World War II.


Best known for taking part in the daring Doolittle raid on Japan after Pearl Harbor, the small, two engine B-25 Mitchell Bomber was the first such airplane to take off from an aircraft carrier.


The B-25, B-17 and B-24 WWII Bombers.


 

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