Even if only a few yards off the ground.

Good to see a piece of history restored.

Restored WWII bomber Memphis Belle makes public debut | Stuff.co.nz

I guess the restoration was good, but I would have preferred to keep it in it's original, end of the battle condition. But, that's just me. Now it's just a new plane.

And before it was restored it was just another old, weather beaten and vandalized airplane.

Restored and in the AF museum seems better to me.

There was an old "gate guardian" F-84 near me for years. It had been painted several times over that time. A week or so ago I noticed it was gone. I miss it. They left the pedestal in place so I hope they've carried it off for some kind restoration work, but I fear it's off to the smelter.

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John 3:16 .

It sat outside in Memphis for 40 something years. It was vandalized, birds built nests in it and used it as a target for well, you know. During the last years in Memphis perhaps 10% of the people that drove by it or walked around it knew her story. A fund raising was attempted to try and save her and keep her in Memphis, it fell woefully short. Today's Memphians would rather tear down statues and ignore history. The Belle is in a much better place owned by people that will take far better care of her and it now can be enjoyed by people that will appreciate what an important part of American history she is.

For her first 30 years here she stood on a concrete pedestal in front of the National Guard Armory at Hollywood and Central, two fairly busy streets. My dad fought for the Wehrmacht in WWII. He was one of the ones that got drafted when things started going downhill for the Germans. Fortunately he went to France where he was captured near Metz, October 1944. He came over here in 1952. He would cut a wide detour of Hollywood and Central, seems he'd seen enough B-17s.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

B-17 was and is a marvelous machine.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Margaret Polk, the 'Memphis Belle'

Attached Images

margaret-polk.jpg (60.1 KB, 85 views)

I'm truly glad to see they have finished the restoration work on her and that the plane is now being taken care of properly. It will have a much better future with the museum than in an uncaring city that would rather tear down statues than preserve history.

Memphis was "the City" for many of us in the Mississippi Delta. I remember seeing the Memphis Belle for the first time at the National Guard armory site. It was in the summer of either 1962 or 1963. Sadly, like so many other cities, Memphis is no longer the city it once was. I am sorry she is no longer in Memphis, but it is good to see that the Memphis Belle has been restored and is at a place where it is appreciated.

Watched it live from the Museum, truly a beautiful Acft, it took them 12 years to restore it!

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USAF/RET. 1966-1990

It's great to finally see this wonderful old girl restored to her former beauty.

There is a sleekness of line and an inherent dignity to these old planes that can't be matched by today's modern military aircraft.

Like the people who flew them in the war, we'll never see the like of them again...except in museums and at special events.

What a beautiful airplane.

I am so glad this famous old plane has been restored. Here in Arizona, we have the "Sentimental Journey," which has been completely restored to flying condition. It's proudly flown overhead at most of our Veterans Day parades, and displayed at airshows. Here's a few pics I've taken of it close up. Just beautiful. I remember B-17s flying when I was a kid during WWII.

John





The ORIGINAL "belly gun"!

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I did't know it had been treated like that in the past. Shame on them for not taking care of it before. Memphis definitely is not what it once was.

Sentimental Journey made a stop in Hastings , Nebraska many years ago. it made a low pass over the airport. it is without a doubt the best low pass made by any airplane I have ever seen.

I spent Tuesday at the Air Force Museum with Old Bear (Fred) and LtJL (John).

As luck would have it, the Belle was behind curtains.

It was a wonderful day with two awesome guys. When we gather all the pics we will share them.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

It is difficult for me to believe that the "Memphis Belle" was not more appreciated in Memphis! I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Is it on display at Wright Patterson AFB? If so, I went there about 20 years ago. It is a fantastic and emotional place to visit.
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

No, you shouldn't be surprised.

In 2018, we are seemingly far removed from WWII and the events that the Memphis Belle participated in, even though in history, it's just the blink of an eye.

People are losing their respect for the people and things that got us where we are today, the things that made us what we are now.

It's sad, but at least Belle has been saved from further deterioration. Since she will no longer fly, she is where she needs to be.

To my parents generation, the Silent generation who lived through WWII, it was something that they had experienced.

As a Baby Boomer it was something we had heard grownups talk about while we grew up (if not the experiences of my father who served then at least the stories of my mother and aunt whose father was absent in the Pacific. (He was too old to serve on the frontlines but volunteered for support duty).

To successive generations the Memphis Belle became just another structure to get into to hide, to deface and damage. They forgot about the sacrifices people made so they can live their lives the way they do.

For the current generation, history began fifteen minutes ago.

Although we didn't see the Belle they did have this on display.




A-1 lifeboat - Wikipedia

Whoda thunk?

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Its a shame todays youth know more about the Mario Brothers than the Wright Brothers..

Rob

Great to see they brought her back. I love touring air museums. People don’t realize that the reason so few are around is that they were designed to have a 4-7 year life in a war. Many survived the war but due to high maintenance and fuel costs were neglected. I understand the air force is requiring new restorations be kept inside to prevent oxidation and lengthen the life of the exhibit. They are restoring another B-17 at the Warner Robins, museum in Macon, GA. If interested in the restoration process they are downing it in the open at the museum.

My son was at Wright-Pat for the event. He's been a fan since he was a pup. Naturally he's a pilot; nothing else would do...

He's flown in Yankee Lady, and my wife and I in "909". GREAT memories.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress - The Collings Foundation

Why all the negative talk about Memphis? If you want your suspension torn up on your car, shot while changing a flat tire, mugged while at the mall, your car stolen while at a movie, or dodging bullets that come through your home in the middle of the night it's the place to be. And just think you want have to look at those awful statues of Civil War raceist Generals. And oh yes, you can blame the sorry arse mayor and city council for the condition of the Belle because there wasn't any money in it for them. But then again the bar-b-que ain't bad and Jerry Lawler is still the King.

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SSG Ret.
TN & TX ARNG 66-06