Kansas WWII vets will fly Wednesday to Washington, D.C.

Forty-five World War II veterans will fly out of Wichita on Wednesday to visit their memorial and other sights in Washington, D.C.

The veterans will leave on a Southwest Airlines flight from Mid-Continent Airport at 6:10 a.m. and will return Friday at 1:45 p.m. The nine other veterans who are part of the trip will fly out of Kansas City International.

The trip is sponsored by Hutchinson-based Kansas Honor Flight. Southwest is donating 50 free tickets for the veterans, whose fare is usually paid from donations to the honor flight group, for this trip and another 50 for the one scheduled for July 17-19.

In addition to the WWII memorial, the veterans will visit Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and other memorials.

This will be Kansas Honor Flight’s third trip this year. In addition to the July trip, at least one flight is set for September and another for October, said Mike VanCampen, president of the group.

Each veteran is accompanied by another person, or guardian, who must pay the $700 cost for the trip.

WWII veterans who are interested in taking an honor flight should go to kansashonorflight.org or call 620-546-2400.

This story was originally published June 18, 2013 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Kansas WWII vets will fly Wednesday to Washington, D.C.."