90-year-old ‘Rosie the Riveter’ reunited with B-24 Bomber

Photographer: Adam Melton Producer: Annie Richards
Published: Updated:

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Coleen Harden just turned 90, but back in the 1940s, she was building B-24 Bombers at Willow Run Airport in Michigan as a Rosie the Riveter.

Harden and her mom worked on assembling the B-24 Bomber aircraft, specifically the wings of the plane. During war time, Harden was never able to even see what a finished B-24 looked like, in fact she never saw a finished B-24 until the 1980s.

The Collins Foundation, Wings of Freedom Tour landed in Fort Myers with their B-17, B-24 and P-15 Mustang with the chance to show off these unique and historic aircraft, even reintroducing veterans and folks like Harden to them. The tour took a lucky few up for flight in the B-24 Wednesday morning, including Harden, who had never flown in the airplane she worked to build more than half a century ago.

“I am so blessed, I am, and I can’t say anything that would describe it any better. To be 90 years old and have the support that I have and for my family to make this happen,” said Harden as she stepped off the B-24 thanking her children and family who bought the plane ride for her as a birthday gift.

The Wings of Freedom tour departs from the Page Field Airport at noon on Thursday. Until then, visitors can explore the aircraft inside and out at $12 for adults and $6 for children. WWII veterans can tour the planes at no cost. For more information, click here.

Page Filed is located at 5200 Captain Channing Page Drive in Fort Myers.

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