Memories take flight in B-17 bombers

With a steady hand, pilot John Bode pushes the big red throttles forward. Four radial engines roar in unison, and a living piece of World War II history takes flight.

Of the 12,732 iconic B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers built in the decade up to 1945, only about a dozen are still flying, and Aluminum Overcast is one of them.

Restored and maintained by the Experimental Aircraft Association, it crisscrosses the nation, offering aerial tours that provide a unique glimpse into military aviation's past.