Resident enjoys high-flying quest
PENN TWP — William Morrow Sr. was a tail-gunner on a B-24J Liberator in North Africa during World War II.
More than 70 years later, his son Dick Morrow saw the sky through the same type of aircraft in memory of his father.
Dick Morrow, 64, of Fenelton was one of many who took a flight on one of four different aircraft Tuesday at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport as part of Bomber Week.
“It was like going back in time in that thing,” Morrow said. “Then (the pilot) powered those engines and we took off, and there was nothing like it.”
A week before, Morrow, himself a Vietnam-era veteran, asked his employers at Cory Fox Trucking in Cabot for the day off so he could tour the aircraft, and possibly pay the $450 fee to fly in it for a half-hour.
Shannon Odomaitis, an administrative assistant at the company, had the idea to raise the money for Morrow's fee to fly in the plane.
“Dick is a supernice gentleman,” she said. “He's very soft-spoken, a very kind-hearted man.”
American Legion Post 117 of Butler, Maxim Crane of Pittsburgh, Fox's Water Service, Richard and Jeanne Fox, and Cory Fox Trucking combined to pay for his fee, and Morrow was able to take flight Tuesday.
Morrow rode in the plane — the sole remaining example of its kind in the world still flying — over Moraine State Park and back.
Morrow said he thought of his father “the whole trip.” He also commented on what the aircraft symbolizes to him.
“Our freedom, and what (the soldiers) went through to keep America free over there when the Germans were on the march,” he said.
When he landed, he had some perspective of what it must have been like for those who came before him.
“When the tires were landing and you smelled that burned rubber you had to think of what the guys were thinking, that they were home safe again,” he said.
Morrow was one of many who enjoyed the second day of Bomber Week, which held its final day this morning at the airport.
The event is held by the Collings Foundation as part of its 27th annual Wings of Freedom Tour.
In addition to the B-24J Liberator, there is a World War II Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a North American B-25 Mitchell and a P-51 Mustang.
Ben Hoffman of Monroeville also was there to see the B-24J Liberator.His great uncle, Lt. John Glunt of Pittsburgh, was killed in action during World War II while flying one of the B-24J Liberators.The death of Glunt had a heavy impact on his family, and Hoffman was eager to see the plane.“It was neat to see one of those planes in person,” he said.Scot Kaillmeyer, 57, of Butler also had a family member who served on a B-24J Liberator. His father, Fred Kaillmeyer, served in Germany during World War II.“Me and my father were the best of friends,” he said. “Fathers and sons have a different bond than, say, mothers and sons.”Ken Whitlinger of Penn Township is Vietnam veteran who was there to see the B-25 Mitchell, the same kind his brother flew during the Korean War.His brother's plane was shot down twice, though he and his crew were able to survive both times.Whitlinger was thrilled by the site of the aircraft. He looked up admiringly as one flew over his head.“Look at that,” he said. “You're looking at history.”
