Syracuse, NY - Howard Hart of Mattydale celebrated his 80th birthday today by taking a ride on a B-17 Flying Fortress - the same aircraft that his late brother flew on during World War II. Sixty-seven years ago, on July 26, 1943, German troops shot down a B-17 jet with tailgunner William Hart aboard, killing five Army soldiers. William...
Kathleen Hart, of North Syracuse, and her father, Howard Hart, of Mattydale, took a ride on a B-17 Flying Fortress jet on July 25, 2010 at Hancock Airport to celebrate Howard Hart's 80th birthday and pay tribute to his late brother, William Hart. William Hart, a Syracuse resident, served in the Army during World War II. He was in a B-17 that was shot down over Germany July 26, 1943. He survived, but became a prisoner of war for two years. William Hart died in 1973 of a heart attack. Syracuse, NY - Howard Hart of Mattydale celebrated his 80th birthday today by taking a ride on a B-17 Flying Fortress - the same aircraft that his late brother flew on during World War II.
Sixty-seven years ago, on July 26, 1943, German troops shot down a B-17 jet with tailgunner William Hart aboard, killing five Army soldiers. William Hart, a Syracuse resident, survived but became a prisoner of war for almost two years. Hart, who received a Purple Heart, died in 1973 of a heart attack.
Today at Hancock Airport, Howard Hart and two of William's sons, Gerald and Ronnie Hart, plus six other relatives, took a ride on the Liberty Belle, one of only 14 B-17 bombers still flying.
Liberty Foundation founder Ron Brooks bought the plane in 2000, restored it and re-christened it the Liberty Belle after the Flying Fortress in which his father served as a tail gunner over Europe during World War II.
Kathleen Hart, who arranged the family outing, said, "It's a lifetime experience." She said the family was celebrating her dad's 80th birthday and paying tribute to his brother.
Contact Mike McAndrew at mmcandrew@syracuse.com or 470-3016.
Gerry Hart, son of the late William Hart, and his cousin, Kathleen Hart, of North Syracuse, sit in a B-17 Flying Fortress at Hancock Airport. They were among 9 relatives who took a 30-minute flight on the World War II era bomber.