Old Glory Experienced Mechanical Malfunction
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE
We are saddened to report that after experiencing a mechanical malfunction, our beloved B-25 Mitchell flying as Old Glory was forced to land in a field near Stockton, CA on Saturday, September 19th. The Prescott Foundation is working with the NTSB officials leading the investigation to determine the cause of the malfunction and will comment further when facts and details become available.
We are grateful there were no casualties. However, the two pilots and one crew member aboard the plane were taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Currently, one crew member has been released and the other two are being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The aircraft had recently returned from Hawaii where it had flown in the Legacy of Peace Aerial Parade for The 75th Commemoration of the End of WWII along with 14 other WWII aircraft. Old Glory was expected to spend the next few weeks in California preparing to return to its home base Albany, NY. The Prescott Foundation was in the process of planning the warbird’s route which included several stops across the country. The stops were intended to provide a more personable experience for WWII veterans unable to attend the Commemoration events due to the pandemic.
Please join the Prescott Foundation and The Hangar at 743 in our thoughts and prayers for those who were on the flight as we hope for their speedy recovery.
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Story and photo credit: The Hangar at 743 – Home of the Warbird Factory, http://hangar743.com/