B-17 "Memphis Belle" has been restored.

[JamesArthur60]

For those WWll aircraft buffs, after 13 years the Memphis Belle restoration has been completed. She's going on permanent hanger display at the Dayton, OH AF Museum on May 17, 2018.


Memphis Belle™ Exhibit May 2018

 

[Watchdog]

Wow! That's great...should be an interesting event for those fortunate enough to attend.

 

[Lee Barner]

back in the 50s and 60s it was just a few blocks from my uncle's house in Memphis. I played all over it as a kid. a shame it got it some terrible shape. lee

 

[Targets Guy]

Good to see they are keeping her.

 

[JayFramer]

"Tat tat tat!!! Tat tat tat tat!!!"

Machine gun noises FTW. Had lots of half-inch bore freedom dispensers to wipe out the japs and krauts!!!

 

[chief38]

About 14 years ago I accidentally wound up at a Memorial Day Air Show and one of the planes there was the Memphis Belle. Yes, I know it was an original WWll B17 that was used to make a duplicate MB to honor her and even though it was not the original it DID fly! My son and I took a full tour of her and after getting off we then saw a line in front of a table. So we wondered over and there was Col. Robert Morgan who was the real deal Pilot for the 25 missions over Europe. We chatted for at least 20 minutes and he autographed his book that we bought. We also took photos with him, the plane and he gave us an autographed picture of himself with the original crew after the last mission. Needles so say it was a GREAT DAY! Till this day I have the entire collage of photos and autographed picture hanging in my home. BTW his book is actually quite good and it also tells his life story - he was quite a character!

 

[Abbynormal]

I'm glad to see it restored and being viewed at the USAFM, rather than rotting on a pedestal on Mud Island in Memphis.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Here's my B -17 story . As a youngster I was close to the airport that the aircrews used flying / fighting forest fires . We had B 17 , a B-25 and TBM's stationed there during fire season. I rode my bicycle out to the airport and played volleyball with the air crews . They took me through the different planes . I got to climb in the B-17 through the nose hatch , grab the hatch opening and swing up and in .
Years later I took my young son to a fly in about 125 miles away . They had a B-17 there . We flew in , in my Taylorcraft BC-12 D1 . When the show was over we were number 2 behind the B-17 on takeoff . It was a grand sight watching that ole girl take off . We both still remember that day very well . Regards Paul

 

[Grayfox]

I remember as a kid that for many years she sat on a large concrete pedestal out in front of the National Guard Armory near the fairgrounds. Put there as a monument and left to rot with little to no care. Even in that run down condition, she was still impressive.
I think it was in the 1990s that they gave her a fresh coat of paint and moved her to Mud Island as a tourist attraction. And again, she got little to no care and slowly faded. Its a shame that the city that she bears the name of treated her so badly.
I'm glad to see her finally getting the care and recognition she deserves.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

What she looks like with her clothes off.....

click to enlarge

 

[TomkinsSP]

It is truly wonderful that the Belle has been restored and will grace the Air force Museum and educate coming generations about the sacrifices and feats of the 8th USAAF and all those who served during the Big One Double U Double U Two.

She wasn't the first. B-24 41-23728 'Hot Stuff' 330th Sqd 93 Bombardment Wing completed 25 missions 2/7/43. And was sent home after her 30th on 5/3. 5 of her crew were bumped so Leutenant General Frank Andrews (for whom Andrews AFB was named) could return to receive a promotion to General and Command of the European Theater of Operations.

Neither 'Hot Stuff' nor General Andrews nor 6 of her 7 remaining crew saw the USA again, crashing into a mountain in Iceland. General Dwight Eisenhower recieved the ETO command in place of General Andrews. Memphis Belle returned to the USA to campaign for War Bonds.

 

[GoHogs]

I remember seeing the Memphis Belle and eating at the then popular "91st Bomb Group (H) Restaurant" next to it in Memphis before it went to Mud Island.

 

[Vegetaman]

WPAFB is always fun to go through; glad to see they're still expanding!

 

[Rustyt1953]

My brother, son-in-law and I have been planning to take all the grandkids to the Museum this summer to see my dad's chopper.

The "Belle" will be a happy bonus.

 

[sheepdawg]

Ive passed by The Belle thousands of times though my dad, who was in the Wehrmacht didnt care to drive past it. The city of Memphis pretty much left it to rot, they had other, more important thing to do like tear down statues. Glad the Air Force Museum stepped in and brought it back to its full glory.

 

[Bill Raby]

The Collins Foundation was nice enough to let me and some friends borrow their their B-24 and B-17 for a little while to do some skydiving a few years ago. Asking politely goes a long way, but a rather large donation goes a lot further! Those are amazing airplanes. Broke both my legs jumping from the B-17. That was a great day!

 

[chopshopcop]

I remember seeing the Memphis Belle and eating at the then popular "91st Bomb Group (H) Restaurant" next to it in Memphis before it went to Mud Island.

I remember that place well. Ate there several times and worked security there when they started hosting private parties for some fraternities from Memphis State. The problems that came with that was a factor in their closing, along with the airport buyouts along Airways and Democrat Rd.

 

[chief38]

I have been reading about the newly restored Belle and while I am VERY HAPPY about it, it seems they stopped short on the restoration of her ability to fly. It would have been fitting to see her fly once a year or so..........