<b>Photos:</b> Flying Fortress Bomber

Retired Capt. Art Sherman, 90, of Encino shows a picture of himself as a first lieutenant during World War II poking a finger through the bullet hole on his helmet. A bombardier on 11 combat missions on B-24s, he was shot in the head on his last mission. Sherman participated in Tuesday’s “Salute to Veterans” media day by the Liberty Foundation, during which a restored WWII-era “Flying Fortress” bomber took to the skies over L.A.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A Norden bombsight in the nose of the Liberty Belle looks out over the L.A. suburbs during a media flight. The restored WWII-era Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber will be available to the public for tours and flights this weekend at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank as part of a “Saltue to Veterans” event by the Liberty Foundation.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The Liberty Belle, a restored World War II-era Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber, takes off from Bob Hope Airport in Burbank as part of the Liberty Foundation’s 2011 “Salute to Veterans” tour. It will be open to the public at the airport and available for flights March 26-27.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Four “bombs” lie in the bomb bay of the Liberty Belle, a restored World War II-era Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber that flew over L.A. with members of the media on board as part of the Liberty Foundation’s 2011 “Salute to Veterans” tour. The aircraft will be open to the public and available for flights at Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport on March 26 and 27.  (Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times)