Compared to 21st century standards, World War II bombers were noisy, drafty and really cramped.

But not for Zane Huston, 3.

"Don't be afraid, it's not hard," Zane said to his 6-foot plus father Mike Huston as they made their way along the narrow catwalk through the bomb bay of the world's only flying B-24 Liberator on Sunday.

Roland Carlson, a Korean War era veteran who served in Germany, also admired the heavy bomber B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Witchcraft," the medium bomber B-25J Mitchell nicknamed "Tondelayo," and the heavy bomber B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Nine O Nine."

"I just like planes, especially bombers because they played such a vital role in winning the war," Carlson said.

The Hustons and Carlsons were among the 1,000 to 1,200 visitors of the third annual visit of the Wings of Freedom tour of the Stow, Mass.-based Collings Foundation this weekend at the Natrona County International Airport, said local event coordinator Louie Fichtner.

Some of the visitors even ponied up the $425 tax deductible fee to take a trip in history.

The B-17 flew five tourist missions, the B-24 flew three times and the B-25 flew twice, Fichtner said.

He and his brother, sons of a Korean War vet, grew up making model airplanes.

In 1998, Fichtner took the opportunity to fly in a B-24 and became the nonprofit Collings Foundations local liaison.

As a mechanic, he appreciates the foundation's work - often hand-crafting parts long out of stock - required to keep the bombers aloft.

As a Casper resident, he also recognizes the history of the air base that first occupied the land where the airport now handles commercial flights.

"This whole thing is to help people try to remember," Fichtner said.

Fichtner is glad visitors appreciate the ability to touch the steel, smell the canvas, trace the conduit and hydraulic lines, grasp the handles of the .50-caliber machine guns, and navigate the tight interiors like the Hustons.

But he also appreciates the comments of those who endured the horrors of combat whether on the ground or 25,000 feet above.

World War II veterans sometimes share their stories with children, and give them a perspective only those who have been there can relate, Fichtner said.

"'They're not "cool planes," they're war planes,'" he said of the veterans' remembrances.

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at Tom.Morton@casperstartribune.net