Knoxville, Tenn (WVLT) - Today, some very special veterans took to the skies right here in Knoxville.

It was part of "Aluminum Overcast," a program that allows the public to take a tour in a WW II B-17 Bomber.

The B-17 is considered one of the greatest military planes ever built.

Not to mention one of the best-known aircrafts of the WWII era.

Pilot Sam Bass says the program started in 1994 to "Meet a lot of us WWII Veterans from the 8th Air Force that flew this airplane. And from the 15th Air Force. They had the most horrendous job in the 2nd World War."

Bass adds "You have to understand, the 8th Air Force lost more poeple that the whole Marine Corp did in the 2nd World War.

There were nearly 12,700 B-17 Bombers manufactured during WW II.

Today, only 14 still exist. Two of which, are in Britain.

Thanks to the Experimental Aircraft Association, the restored bombers are now available for the public to tour on.

Something WW II Veteran C.S. Needham says is so important.

"History is always good to know. This gets into a part of history that doesn't get written about much."

Watch us go for a ride, Monday night at 11 pm.

If you would like to tour in a B-17 Bomber, just log on to the Experimental Aircraft Association website at www.B17.org for more information.