WWII planes land in Chesapeake

CHEASPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - Although it was just a replica, the B-17 Memphis Belle brought back plenty of memories for World War II veterans in Hampton Roads Monday.

"We bombed Berlin six times," said former B-17 pilot Bill Greenwell, watching the Memphis Belle fly. "It's almost impossible to explain what it was like over Berlin. They had 600 guns shooting up at us."

The Memphis Belle is in town through next weekend through the Liberty Foundation's Salute to Vetarans. The Memphis Belle shown is a replica used in a 1990 movie.

"We take it around from city to city, share the stories of our air crews during World War II, and then use all the proceeds from our endeavors here to keep the airplanes flying," Liberty Foundation's John Shuttleworth said.

More than 12,000 of planes like it were built during the war. Lost in combat were 4,300 of them, along with 43,000 airmen.

"If it wasn't for their sacrifice and contribution, our way of life wouldn't survive and and it would be a completely different country, so they really are real American heroes," Shuttleworth said.