WWII bomber that visited Bremerton, crashes in Connecticut, fatalities reported

Aircraft was part of the Wings of Freedom Tour in Bremerton back in June

Seven people died and seven more were injured after a World War II-era, B-17 Flying Fortress — dubbed “Nine-O-Nine” — crashed at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut last week, according to reporting by the Hartford Courant.

“In the wake of a tragic accident involving our B-17, the Collings Foundation is currently suspending its flight operations and the Wings of Freedom Tour for the remainder of the 2019 season,” the Collings Foundation stated in a Facebook post Oct. 4. “We are in the process of issuing refunds for those who had reserved flights through December.”

The Collings Foundation is a nonprofit founded in 1979 with the purpose of preserving and exhibiting rare historical aircraft. The foundation hosts the Wings of Freedom tour across the country, showcasing rare war aircraft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress. The tour made a stop in Bremerton back in June.

The B-17 Flying Fortress is a heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps. The aircraft was used extensively for combat operations during World War II.