B-17 bomber crashes in Illinois; crew OK

OSWEGO, Ill., June 13 (UPI) -- A rare B-17 bomber from World War II was destroyed Monday when it crash-landed in an Illinois cornfield, firefighters said.

All seven people aboard the vintage warplane escaped injury, but aerial images from the crash site in Oswego showed the silver plane largely consumed by fire.

Sugar Grove Fire Chief Marty Kunkel told Chicago Sun-Times Media the pilot reported a fire on board shortly after takeoff from Aurora Airport.

"He attempted to make a return to the airport, but couldn't make it so he put it down in a cornfield," Kunkel said.

The Federal Aviation Administration was called to investigate. The agency said the Flying Fortress was built in 1944.