Scene on the Sound: B-17 bomber over Richmond Beach

Text and photo by Wayne Pridemore

The Silver Overcast B-17 bomber has flown over the Richmond Beach area of Shoreline several times this weekend. The flights originated from the Boeing Museum of Flight at Boeing Field and offered rides in the vintage plane.

The plane was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 18, 1945 but never saw combat action in World War II.  The first owner purchased the plane for $750 as surplus from military inventory.

The plane has flown more than one million miles to date. The B-17 was bought by the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1983 and then restored. The Aluminum Overcast moves on to the Victoria International Airport on June 16th.