Old friends reunite at Freedom Wing

  • Published
  • By Shawn J. Jones
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
For the first time in more than 50 years, Joseph Bentzel looked upon the B-17 Flying Fortress he flew during World War II.

The aircraft, which is known as the Chowhound, crashed in Normandy during the liberation of France, killing several of Bentzel's colleagues.

Bentzel, who was a B-17 engineer and top turret gunner, visited the wreckage here June 9, and said it was difficult to see the aircraft in its current condition after seeing fly so many successful missions in his youth.

Reserve Airmen of the 732nd Airlift Squadron retrieved the wreckage of the Chowhound in September 2011 after they more than 50 years of being stored in a French farmer's barn.

The wreckage is now stored in a warehouse shared by the 514th Air Mobility Wing and the 87th Air Base Wing, and there is hope that it will be displayed in a museum.