B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" visits Cape Girardeau

Ben Matthews

Monday, June 18, 2018

"Maid in the Shade," a B-25J Mitchell Bomber flown during World War II, arrives in Cape Girardeau on Monday, June 18, 2018, to kick-off a week-long public exhibition as part of the Flying Legends of Victory Tour. One of 34 World War II aircraft of its type still flying, the warplane will be on public exhibition at the airport Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. Tours of "Maid in the Shade" cost $10 per person and rides will be available Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., with waist gunner seats priced at $325 and jump seats in the nose of the plane priced at $650.

Residents from the Missouri Veterans Home sit in the shade awaiting the arrival of B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Army veteran Ron Prater looks out a window in the lobby of Cape Aviation as he waits for "Maid in the Shade" to land Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
A flag hangs from Gus Gockle's chair as he salutes Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Gockel served in the Marines from 1950 to 1954. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Dust trails behind a combine as B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" approaches the runway to land Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. The warplane is one of only 34 World War II aircraft of its type still flying, (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Thomas Richard, right, watches "Maid in the Shade" arrive Monday, June 18, 2018, for its week-long exhibition at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
"Maid in the Shade" crew member Bob Taylor describes the warplane's technical details to veterans from the Missouri Veterans Home on Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Army veteran Theodore Vangennip looks over B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veteran Lester Harris takes a look back at the airport before boarding B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Harris served in the Air Force from 1945 to 1946 and was onboard a boat preparing for an invasion of mainland Japan when the war ended. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Crew members and Missouri Veterans Home staff members help 101-year-old World War II veteran Robert Duckworth climb into "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Duckworth served in the Army from 1943 to 1945 as a mechanic. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" lifts off from the runway at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport on Monday, June 18, 2018, to embark on a flyover of Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veteran Lester Harris looks out the window of B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" as it flies Monday, June 18, 2018, in Cape Girardeau. Harris served in the 5th Air Force from 1945 to 1946 with gasoline maintenance personnel who maintained military aircraft. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veteran Robert Duckworth sits back while flying on-board B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" during it's first exhibition stop Monday, June 18, 2018, in Cape Girardeau. Duckworth served in Army from 1943 to 1945 as a mechanic. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
The Diversion Channel is seen from the tail gunner seat on-board the B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" during a flight Monday, June 18, 2018, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veterans Robert Duckworth, left, and Lester Harris, right, take in the details of B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018 in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veteran Lester Harris looks out the window of B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" as it flies Monday, June 18, 2018, in Cape Girardeau. Harris served in the 5th Air Force from 1945 to 1946 with gasoline maintenance personnel who maintained military aircraft. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veteran Robert Duckworth looks at a machine gun on-board B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" during it's first exhibition stop Monday, June 18, 2018, in Cape Girardeau. Duckworth served in Army from 1943 to 1945 as a mechanic. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veterans Robert Duckworth, left, and Lester Harris, right, man the machine guns aboard B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018 at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. One of 34 World War II aircraft of its type still flying, the warplane will be on public exhibition at the airport today through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. Tours of "Maid in the Shade" cost $10 per person and rides will be available Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., with waist gunner seats priced at $325 and jump seats in the nose of the plane priced at $650. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Flight crew member Diana LeSueur helps World War II veteran Robert Duckworth descend a ladder to exit B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Crew members and Missouri Veteran's Home staff members reach to guide World War II veteran Lester Harris down the ladder as he exits B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veteran Robert Duckworth hugs flight crew member Diana LeSueur after flying aboard B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veterans Lester Harris, front left, and Robert Duckworth, front right, pose for a photo with B-25J Mitchell Bomber flight crew members Diana LeSueur and Bob Taylor after flying on the warplane Monday, June 18, 2018, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
"Maid in the Shade" sits Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
"Maid in the Shade" sits Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
World War II veteran Robert Duckworth walks back to the shade after flying on-board B-25J Mitchell Bomber "Maid in the Shade" on Monday, June 18, 2018, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)