The Yankee Lady
The Yankee Lady, a Michigan-based Yankee Air Museum B-17 aircraft, flew into Rickenbacker Airport on July 17 as part of the bomber’s 70th anniversary tour. It was on display and in the air around Central Ohio offering flights and tours. More than 12,700 of the aircraft were built between 1936 and 1945 and over 5,000 were shot down over Europe during World War II. Yankee Lady is one of nine B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying today. “World War II veterans are passing rapidly, the youngest might be 86 or 87 years old. We work very hard to keep Yankee Lady in top flight condition to honor them,” said Ray Hunter, chairman of the Yankee Air Museum’s Board of Directors. “World War II veterans, their children and grandchildren all marvel at this craft and while it’s costly to operate a B-17, we believe it’s costlier not to fly her.”
