WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - A group of Wichita veterans and retired aircraft workers is bringing a piece of World War I history back to life. The group is restoring a 1918 biplane like the one flown by Lt. Erwin R. Bleckley, the Wichita native awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in 1918.

The aircraft was purchased in the spring of 2021 and arrived in Wichita just after Memorial Day that year. Since then, the volunteers have been meeting every Monday and Thursday to carefully rebuild the plane using period-accurate methods and parts.

See Full Page