After more than six decades, Rogers will fly again. The Youngtown resident has been chosen to accompany a Daily New-Sun reporter and photographer on a flight of “Liberty Belle,” a newly restored World War II bomber, Monday in Phoenix.

“Liberty Belle” was built toward the end of the war and never saw combat. It’s painted in colors and nose art of the original B-17 that flew countless missions with the 390th bomb group of the 8th U.S. Army Air Corps.

“I’m so excited because I didn’t ever think I’d fly on another one again,” he said.

More than 15 people responded to the contest through phone calls and e-mail, sharing their memories of being aboard the historic plane.

Bill Gill, an 83-year-old Sun Citian, was a pilot on a B-17 in 1944 and served in the U.S. Air Force 3rd Division of the 728th Squadron in England. He remembered when his plane was hit by a bomb and his crew parachuted to safety.

“I thought I was the last person to get out of the plane and seconds later it blew up,” he said. “I was told later that our tailgunner didn’t make it.” Hazel Jaworski, a Sun City Grand resident, didn’t fly on a B-17 but helped manufacture parts for the plane. She built de-icers for the wings by hand with rubber cement strips.

“We used hypodermic needles to get the air bubbles out,” she said. “It was very exacting and precise work but enjoyable.” Rogers, a retired major, flew on a B-17 as a tailgunner in 1944. He had several stories about his experiences.

Some of his tales can soon be found on a Web site that’s being developed by his nephew.

Rogers remembers when his crew had to parachute out of their plane after German fighters shot it down in Germany. He said he landed in a cow pasture when two French men hid him in the woods from the opposition.

In the following weeks, Rogers and two crew members hid in different homes until they were flown back to London. They finally bought a boat and sailed back to their camp.

Since the war, Rogers has only toured on a B-17.

“You don’t know how much this means to some of us,” he said. “I loved flying on those planes, and I’m sure it’ll bring back even more memories.”