CULLMAN – Cullman Mayor Max Townson announced last Thursday that the renowned World War II B-17 Bomber, Memphis Belle, will be flying into Cullman for this year’s Veterans Day Celebration.
The annual ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 7. Under the oversight of Cullman Elk’s Lodge #1609 member Colonel Ken Brown the event has grown in the past few years. Colonel Brown estimates that as many as 12-15 thousand people could show up to the event this year.
The Memphis Belle flew 25 missions over Nazi-occupied Europe where the loss rate for U.S. airborne excursions was 82% in 1943.
U.S. officials promised that any crew completing 25 missions could go home. The Memphis Belle and her crew were the first to achieve that goal.
On Saturday morning the Memphis Belle will fly riders over Cullman. Interior tours of the historic plane will be given on Saturday afternoon.
“The rides will be 45 minutes long,” said Colonel Ken Brown. “And people from all over will be coming to get a ride on it. I wanted to make sure local citizens had a chance to [take advantage of the opportunity to ride the plane] before tickets were sold out.”
Along with the aircraft itself, the 1990 film, The Memphis Belle, starring Harry Connick Jr., will be shown at Cullman’s Carmike 10 for the entire week leading up to the Veterans Day celebration.
“I hope every seat in the theater is full for that entire week,” the Mayor said.
The Mayor also praised the War Memorial at Sportsman Lake Park.
“We have the best Veterans Park in the state of Alabama,” the Mayor said. He also emphasized Cullman’s appreciation of all veterans, whether they faced combat or not.
To buy a $450 ride in the Memphis Belle call Colonel Ken Brown at 256-507-1121. All proceeds go to the Liberty Foundation to keep the Memphis Belle operable.
