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Honor Flight Bringing WWII-Era Plane, Rides to Kentucky Veterans This Weekend

Honor Flight Bluegrass

Some of Kentucky’s last remaining World War II veterans will do some reminiscing in the skies this weekend. 

The non-profit Honor Flight Bluegrassis bringing a B-25 Bomber to Paducah, Somerset, Morehead, Leitchfield, and Frankfort.

The plane was built in 1944 and is owned by the Commemorative Air Force out of St. Louis.

The Kentucky Veterans Program Trust Fund is sponsoring the flights at no cost to 35 veterans, the oldest being 103.

Jeff Thoke, board chairman for Honor Flight Bluegrass based in Louisville, says Kentucky only has about 2,000 living WWII veterans.

“When you think about it, an 18-year-old in 1945 who would have gone in late war in the Pacific, they’d be 94, and so legally, that’s your youngest," Thoke told WKU Public Radio. "There are those who went in as a 17-year-old, so time is running out to honor our WWII veterans.”

Credit Honor Flight Bluegrass

The barnstorming tour begins Friday and ends Sunday with stops in Somerset, Leitchfield, Paducah, Morehead, and Frankfort. 

In addition to events like the one this weekend, Honor Flight flies WWII, Korean, and Vietnam war veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entrance into WWII.

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