World War II plane makes stops in SWFL

NAPLES, Fla. A piece of American history is visiting Southwest Florida.

Lt. Col. Vernon “Bo” Sago, a World War II veteran, flew from Marathon to Naples on Thursday in a 1945 B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Collings Foundation’s “Wings of Freedom” tour.

“Seventy years later, it brought back memories,” he said.

Jamie Mitchell, the tour’s flight coordinator, said they will visiting over 100 cities this year to pay tribute to veterans.

“My family came from the Ukraine during the war, and they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t saved by others. Though I don’t have any family that served in the military, I wouldn’t be here today without them,” she said.

The Flying Fortress will be on display at Naples Airport through Sunday before taking off for Punta Gorda Airport on Monday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12.