POCATELLO — The Airbase Arizona Flying Museum is bringing one of the most iconic warplanes from World War II to visit Pocatello Regional Airport, July 12-18.

Rides and ground tours may be purchased for our B-17, "Sentimental Journey." The public can experience a Living History Flight in a fully restored B-17 bomber from July 16-18.

The aircraft will be open to the public for ground tours Tuesday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

To schedule a ride, book online at www.azcaf.org/tour or call 480-462-2992.

The B-17 Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is one of only five currently flying in the world out of over 12,000 manufactured for combat during WW II — and is the leading exhibition warbird in The Flying Legends of Victory Tour conducted by Commemorative Airbase Arizona, a non-profit flying museum.

The Boeing B-17G was most famous for operations in Europe but was used in every theater of war from 1941-45. The B-17 cruise speed was about 160 mph, and the maximum altitude was 36,000 feet.

At high bombing altitudes in unheated aircraft, extreme temperatures subjected many crew members to frostbite.

Sentimental Journey was originally manufactured and delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces for war service in 1944 — too late for European service but flew missions in the Pacific Theater.

After the war, it flew for training, testing and air-sea rescue missions and was eventually sold for surplus and used as a fire bomber.

In 1978 the aircraft was purchased by a Commemorative Air Force member and donated to the newly formed Arizona unit of the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona.

It was restored and is today kept in tip-top condition and operated by all-volunteer crews from the membership of CAF Airbase Arizona.

The Airbase Arizona Flying Museum, a unit of the Commemorative Air Force, has operated from the historic Falcon Field in Mesa, Ariuzona, for over 40 years providing inspiring and educational experiences to young and old alike.

Its annual aircraft touring programs, living history flights and its top-rated exhibition museum in Mesa, Arizona, are available to the public year-round.

Airbase Arizona is a not-for-profit educational organization and is affiliated with the Smithsonian.