FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WWII BOMBER TO MAKE MIDNIGHT MOVE

TEXAS RAIDERS, a Rare B17 Bomber, to be Moved Across Hobby Runways

Houston, Texas - August 23, 2006 - Reenacting images during WWII, a vintage B17 Bomber will make a precarious move in the dark hours of night while the city sleeps. This move will take the aircraft across the runways at Houston’s Hobby Airport between 1200 midnight and 530am Monday, August 28, 2006. Preparations begin on Sunday evening by the volunteer crew and maintenance officers of the Commemorative Air Force (C.A.F.), Gulf Coast Wing. Strategic movements across active runways at busy Hobby Airport require coordinated efforts by airport officials and the Gulf Coast Wing, and can only be conducted during non-peak-flight time.

This movement is an important element in the restoration process, which has taken four years of volunteer and contract labor efforts for TEXAS RAIDERS. A few WWII veterans will be on hand to view this delicate movement into a new hanger at Hobby Airport for the final stage of restoration. TEXAS RAIDERS was built in 1945 and is painted in the colors of the 381st Bombardment Group of the U.S. 8th Air Force. To date over $300,000 has been spent in restoration costs garnered from donations and sponsorships. The Gulf Coast Wing is a unit of the C.A.F. whose mission is to restore to flying condition U.S. military aircraft used in combat and reconnaissance dating back to WWII. More information and photos may be found on the wing web site at www.gulfcoastwing.org.