A sad milestone in aviation history this past week on the outskirts of Chicago.
    WWII veterans and historians alike lost a priceless artifact, with the forced landing and destruction by fire of the Liberty Foundation’s B-17 Flying Fortress Liberty Belle.
    A veritable flying museum the European air war, the Belle existed solely to educate generations of aviation enthusiasts on the pride and perils of air combat against the Axis powers on the Continent.
    Flying from Aurora Ill. to Indianapolis Ind., the Belle suffered a serious engine fire, forcing pilot Capt. John Hess to bring her in for an emergency, off-airport landing. In under two minutes, Hess spotted a farmer’s field and brought the struggling warbird in, saving the lives of all seven souls aboard. Unquestionably, the landing was a heroic feat for any pilot, let alone one flying a 60-year-old-plus aircraft under duress.
    Unfortunately for the Belle, getting fire trucks close enough to extinguish the flames took nearly 30 minutes, half of which the fire crews spent locating her position. During the delay, the aircraft burned to the ground, a total loss.
    You might remember the Belle from a story I wrote last month, “For Whom the Belle Tolls,” when I flew aboard her with WWII veteran pilot Wayne Whitlock. That flight, with local TV news crews in attendance, was an effort to draw attention to the foundation’s fundraising mission, the sole source of support for the foundation’s aircraft.
    The future of the foundation is in jeopardy, and that is a shame for all of us, especially those with a taste for WWII history. Restored following a hurricane in 1979 that nearly destroyed her, the Liberty Belle rose from the ashes to glory once already, a testament to her fortitude and that of those who rebuilt her. Now she languishes again, perhaps grounded forever, like her 12,700 sisters lost or retired since the war.
    The Liberty Foundation, understandably at a loss regarding their future, needs public support more than ever. If you would like to help, or simply stay abreast of the story, visit www.libertyfoundation.org for the rest of the story.