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A K-Loader carrying two wing flaps from a B-17 Flying Fortress pulls up to a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., while troops wait to unload the flaps onto the aircraft, May 14, 2013. The wing flaps, along with a “cherry blossom” rocket built in 1945 came from the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and the 459th ARW crew will transport both pieces of history to the National Museum of the United States of Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer)

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Members from the 69th Aerial Port Squadron load two wing flaps from a B-17 Flying Fortress into a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., May 14, 2013. The wing flaps, along with a “cherry blossom” rocket built in 1945 came from the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and the 459th ARW crew will transport both pieces of history to the National Museum of the United States of Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer)

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U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Frankie Rollins, 756th Air Refueling Squadron, secures two wing flaps from a B-17 Flying Fortress in a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., May 14, 2013. The wing flaps, along with a “cherry blossom” rocket built in 1945 came from the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and the 459th ARW crew will transport both pieces of history to the National Museum of the United States of Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer)

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A Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka or “cherry blossom” rocket sits in a box waiting to be loaded into a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., May 14, 2013. The Japanese rocket was built in 1945 and was used to accelerate Kamikaze attack planes in their final strikes. The rocket along with two wing flaps from a B-17 Flying Fortress came from the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and the 459th ARW crew will transport both pieces of history to the National Museum of the United States of Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (Photo/ Smithsonian Institution)

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Wing transports historical artifacts

Published May 15, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer
459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- The 459th Air Refueling Wing transported two wing flaps from a B-17 Flying Fortress and a Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka or "cherry blossom" rocket, to the National Museum of the United States of Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 14.

Both historical artifacts were used in World War II and were enemies of each other.

The wing flaps were used on a bomber aircraft which was used to bomb factories of the enemies and the rocket was used to accelerate Kamikaze attack planes in their final strikes against U.S. Navy warships.

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