World War II Veteran Visits Plane He Repaired

A B-17 was on hand at Lewis Airport in Romeoville and Joliet resident Sandy Gerrettie took her father there to relive his memories.

Like many people who see a B-17 aircraft in person, Bernie Osterland thought the plane was quite large. But, unlike most people, his comparison was based on memory. "I can't imagine how we used to climb up on top of those things," Osterland said. "Of course, I'm much older now." The Joliet resident, who is 95 years old, ended up at Lewis Airport to see the B-17 after his daughter Sandy Gerrettie and her husband, Joe Gerrettie saw it flying in the sky. "We saw the plane in the sky, Joe and I and I said, 'dad would absolutely love this because he flew on one,'" Sandy Gerrettie said. "We called the airport and they said, 'bring him out.'" The B-17 was on hand at the airport on August 31 as part of the Salute to Veterans national tour. It …

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