St. Ansgar's Doug Roll, right, talks with Dave Bender after Roll took a ride in the Sentimental Journey B-17 Monday at the Mason City Municipal Airport. Bender is the CAF tour director. (Press-News photos by Jeff Heinz)

St. Ansgar man takes "Sentimental Journey"

Doug Roll of St. Ansgar relived an event of 63 years ago when he got out of a B-17 bomber this past Monday (July 21) and kissed the ground at Mason City Municipal Airport.

Roll, 86, got a ride in the bomber, aptly named "Sentimental Journey," as part of festivities marking the beginning of the plane being on display through Thursday at the airport.

Roll rode near the nose of the plane Monday, the same position he had in August of 1945 when his bomber came home from England and landed at Bradley Field in Connnecticut. He kissed the ground then and a photo of him appeared in Life magazine.

He kissed the ground in Mason City this time, admitting that getting on the ground and getting back up was a little harder Monday than it was 63 years ago.

"That was really something," he said as he emerged from the plane. "It was a sentimental journey, I'll tell you that. I thought I'd cry but I didn't."

Then he flashed a "thumbs up" to family and friends who had gathered to watch the flight.

Roll was in the Army Air Corps during World War II and took specialized bomb training in Great Falls, Mont.

He was in the 390th Bomb Group, 571st Squad, which went to England to service bombers and prepare bombs.

The exhibit of the plane is sponsored by the Commemorative Air Force, a group of 175 Air Force veterans who volunteer their time to take vintage aircraft around the country so the public can see them.

Dave Bender, tour director for the Commemorative Air Force, greeted Roll before the flight and asked him where he lived.

"St. Ansgar - the only one in the world," said Roll.

Asked if he was ready to fly, he replied, "I'm excited - 63 years is a long time. I'm getting kind of antsy."

Bill Kasik of Clear Lake rode with Roll. He spent three years in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Kasik said he had ridden in B-17s before, "but this was wonderful; the best ride I've had."

The B-17 "Flying Fortress," as it was called, was famous for daylight bombing raids over Germany during World War II. Only about 10 restored and airworthy examples remain of the 12,731 that were built.

The public can tour the plane today through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the airport. A $5 donation is requested.