Rare WWII plane touches down in Oak Island

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — A view of the past is in focus this weekend in Oak Island.

Dozens of people gathered at the Cape Fear Regional Jetport Friday for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The B-17 Aluminum Overcast is one of only a few airworthy Boeing B-17 Bombers remaining in the world.

Developed in the 1930’s, the planes were used in World War II by the United States Army Air Forces against Germany.

B-17 Bomber (Photo: WWAY)

After the war, most B-17’s were retired or destroyed which is why so few remain today.

Nick Gilbert, whose father was a B-17 mechanic in World War II, got to ride in the aluminum overcast and said it was an amazing experience.

“It’s hard to believe that people were, you know, fighting a war in that thing, because it was noisy and cramped, and crowded, but I appreciate every one of them,” Gilbert said.

Flights and tours of the plane run all weekend.

There will be a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m Saturday and a big band performing at 3 p.m.