B-17 Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine in Spokane

The vintage B-17 Flying Fortress believed to be the same one that visited Spokane in July as part of the “Wings of Freedom Tour” crashed during landing at Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn. around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Section:Gallery

Wed., Oct. 2, 2019

The nose art of the restored B-17 bomber called the "Nine-O-Nine" shows missions and fighters shot down. The B-17 Flying Fortress was in Spokane in 2010.

The Spokesman-Review Photo Archive Sr
Earnest “Mac” McCauley, then 74, works on one of the nine-cylinder radial engines on a B17 Flying Fortress bomber on display Monday, July 1, 2019 at the Spokane International Airport. McCauley, 75, was killed along with the co-pilot and five passengers on Wednesday during a crash landing at Bradley International Airport outside of Hartford, Conn.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
The sleek lines of the B-17 Flying Fortress can be seen by the gathered crowd, Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Spokane International Airport after the plane, owned by the Collings Foundation, arrives for a visit.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Atticus Heald, 11, and his mother, Amy Heald, crawl into the cramped bomb bay, with two dummy bombs at left, of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber Monday, July 1, 2019 at Signature Aviation at the Spokane International Airport. According to news reports, this B-17 crashed Wednesday outside of Hartford, Conn.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
The view from the top gunner’s position, looking toward the tail, on a B17 Flying Fortress which went on display at Signature Aviation at the Spokane International Airport, Monday, July 1, 2019.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Atticus Heald, 11, and his mother Amy Heald, from Coeur d’Alene, walk through the fuselage of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Monday, July 1, 2019, at Signature Aviation at the Spokane International Airport. According to news reports, this B-17 crashed Wednesday outside of Hartford, Conn.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Atticus Heald, 11, from Coeur d’Alene walks over the narrow catwalk in the bomb bay of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Monday, July 1, 2019, at Signature Aviation at the Spokane International Airport. According to news reports, this B-17 crashed Wednesday outside of Hartford, Conn.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Scott Sanderson of Spokane, Wash. , back left helps with a restored P-51 fighter named the Betty Jane and piloted by Pat McGarry of Phoenix at XN Air at Spokane International Airport, Monday June 28, 2010. The WWII fighter is framed under a B-17.

Christopher Anderson The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Rick Ziel, a flight engineer with The Wings of Freedom Tour's B-17 Flying Fortress, prepares the WWII vintage bomber for flight at Boeing Field in Seattle. Monday, June 25, 2007.

Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Chief Pilot Mac McCauley wipes down one of the 4 engines on a B-17 he flew into Spokane International Airport to XN Air, Monday, June 28, 2010.

The Spokesman-Review Archive Sr
In this April 2, 2002 photo, the Nine-O-Nine, a Collings Foundation B-17 Flying Fortress, flies over Thomasville, Ala., during its journey from Decatur, Ala., to Mobile, Ala. A B-17 vintage World War II-era bomber plane crashed Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, just outside New England's second-busiest airport, and a fire-and-rescue operation was underway, official said. Airport officials said the plane was associated with the Collings Foundation, an educational group that brought its "Wings of Freedom" vintage aircraft display to Bradley International Airport this week.

John David Mercer Press-Register
FILE - In this June 6, 2016 file photo, a World War II-era Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress airplane banks in the air as it comes in for a landing in Seattle on the anniversary of D-Day. A spokesman for Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said a B-17 plane crashed Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, just outside Bradley International Airport north of Hartford in Windsor Locks, Conn.

Ted S. Warren Associated Press
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2004, file photo, the Nine-O-Nine, a Collings Foundation B-17 Flying Fortress, flies over Bristol, Conn. A B-17 vintage World War II-era bomber plane crashed Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, just outside New England's second-busiest airport, and a fire-and-rescue operation was underway, official said. Airport officials said the plane was associated with the Collings Foundation, an educational group that brought its "Wings of Freedom" vintage aircraft display to Bradley International Airport this week.

Mike Orazzi The Bristol Press