At the end of World War II Dr. L.B. Severance flew his 21st and final mission as a navigator on a B-17 bomber. Sixty-five years later Dr. Severance took another flight as part of a Salute to Veterans national tour.

Area residents could buy a ride, but World War II veterans like Dr. Severance had a chance to fly free. The B-17 brought back many memories before, during and after the flight taken by Dr. Severance.

Doc recalled the bombing missions over eastern Germany and Berlin during the four years he was in the Air Force. One tidbit he recalled was that on the mornings they were to fly on missions the flight crew was fed fresh eggs and on the non-fly days it was powdered eggs. So there was at least one advantage to flying a mission!

As navigator it was Doc’s responsibility to guide the plane over the target and to return home safely. Did they ever get lost? “Of course we did,” he said. “If there is a navigator out there who said he never got them lost he is lying.”

The toughest part of a mission was flying through the flak (fire from the ground). Doc compared flak to the grand finale fireworks display at the end of a 4th of July celebration.

On one return trip from a bombing mission the plane was hit by enemy fire. They looked to land in enemy territory, but decided to limp along and fly over Holland and the North Sea. They flew “wounded” four-and-a-half hours and finally reached a dark British air strip that was closed. Once the British realized what was happening they lit up the airfield.

The B-17 normally lands at 75 miles per hour and they landed at 200 miles per hour, breaking the landing gear and tearing the plane in two. He climbed out an open window in front for fear the plane was going to explode. Firemen arrived and prevented the plane from bursting into flames. A gunner was killed on the initial air attack, but the other eight were able to walk (run) away from the crash unhurt.

In another incident they flew the plane back to England where another crew was to take the B-17 to Texas. They fueled and apparently fuel was spilled on the wing. Just after takeoff, as the plane’s wheels lifted off the ground, it burst into flames and all nine crew members were killed.

The Aluminum Overcast, an Experimental Aircraft Association restored B-17, made one of its 60 stops in Rochester last weekend. After the half hour ride, climbing out of the hatch, Doc Severance had an even bigger grin than when he went in. “That was a good ride”, he said.

There were many aspects of the plane’s interior that brought back more memories as a 22-year-old navigator. “We were kids,” said Doc. “We did what we had to do.”

There were nearly 13,000 B-17 bombers built and only about a dozen are in operation today. The plane was called the “flying fortress”.

Moving to Dodge County Doc set up his dental practice in Kasson. Dodge County is the only one of the 87 counties that did not have a lake and that is where he wanted to be. After flying over the ocean for so many missions the last thing he wanted to see was water!