Miss Mitchell, a World War II-era B-25 Mitchell bomber, had a bit of a homecoming on Wednesday.
The Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing brought the plane to Kansas City for a reunion of the 310th bombardment group, then stopped at the Allen County Regional Airport to refuel en route to another event in Wichita.
Miss Mitchell was “born” at a factory in Kansas City in 1944. She flew primarily over North Africa and Italy, completing over 130 missions with no crew fatalities. She went into private service after 1957, then was donated to the Minnesota group in 1978 as a “flyable air frame.”
A massive restoration effort began in 1980, and she took flight again in 1992.
Flying the plane to the Kansas City bomber reunion meant a lot to pilot Chris Van Nostrand, who has a “day job” flying for an airline but spends his free time guiding Miss Mitchell at air shows and events throughout the country.
“The factory where she came from was just across the river” from the reunion, Van Nostrand said. 
“I got goosebumps as we flew over and realized she’s as close to home as the day she was made.”
A few veterans who had served aboard a B-25 attended the event, along with “Rosie the Riveter” workers, women who worked in factories to support the war effort.
“We met women who probably touched this aircraft because they worked in the factory during that time,” Van Nostrand said.
“Everywhere we go, we meet people who have a story about this plane. You’ll hear the stories they don’t usually tell. You can just take a step back, be silent and let them tell their stories.”
Piloting Miss Mitchell is a special experience, Van Nostrand said.
“Starting the engine is not just flipping a switch like it’s a jet engine. It’s more complicated. She does it on the ground,” Van Nostrand said.
“The steering wheel is not what most of us would call a steering wheel. You have to balance your brakes and the engine power to keep her where she needs to go, but once she’s airborne, she loves to fly.”
ONLY about 40 B-25 bombers are still flying, and about half are privately owned. The others are owned by nonprofits such as the Minnesota group and typically travel to air shows and fly-in events.
Van Nostrand believes those events offer an important opportunity to teach history to those from younger generations, such as himself.
