Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum to host 2nd Annual “Flying Fortress 5K”
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 - 4:22pm
POOLER, Ga. – The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is pleased to announce that the 2nd Annual “Flying Fortress 5K” will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at 8:30 am. The run/walk will benefit the restoration of the Museum’s B-17, the City of Savannah.
Runners will begin the 5K course at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum and wind their way through the sprawling campus of fellow neighbor JCB, ending back at the Museum. Early Registration is now available at a discounted rate of $20 for those who register by August 31st.
In 2009, the Museum received its very own World War II B-17 Flying Fortress. This B-17 is undergoing a complete restoration and is on display now inside the Museum’s Combat Gallery. "The goal, at the conclusion of the restoration is to have the finest static-display B-17 in the world." said Museum President/CEO Henry Skipper.
The Museum is restoring its B-17 in honor of the “City of Savannah”. On December 3, 1944 it was the 5000th airplane to have been processed through Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA during World War II; it was christened prior to its take off to England to fly combat missions with the 388th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force.
The “Flying Fortress 5K” is sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports Savannah, located at 3405 Waters Avenue. Runners can register at www.fleetfeetsavannah.com/flying-fortress-5k. Additional sponsors and donations are welcome. For information on how to become a sponsor or to make a donation, please contact Jane Harper at jharper@mightyeighth.org or 912-748-8888 ext 107.
In the month after the attack on Pearl Harbor the US Army 8th Air Force was established in Savannah, Georgia. The Eighth Air Force was a critical strike element in World War II and remains an active force today. The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is one of the word’s most powerful Museum experiences as it honors the Mighty Eighth’s proud legacy by preserving the stories of courage, character and patriotism displayed by the men and women of the Eighth Air Force from World War II to present. Just minutes from Historic Savannah the Museum is located at 175 Bourne Avenue in Pooler, right off of I-95 at Exit 102. The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is open daily from 9 AM until 5 PM. For more information, please visit http://www.mightyeighth.org or call 912-748-8888.
