B-17 Departure

B-17 Movie Memphis Belle leaving the Fighter Factory/ Military Aviation Museum Airport For the Langley Airshow

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• B-17
• Flying
• Fortress
• Bomber
• aircraft
• airplane
• warbird
• Fighter
• Factory
• WW2
• WWII

[bulletman100]

what plane is this, painted as the Memphis Belle?

[juslooking101]

A former firebomber B-17G-85-DL was converted into a B-17F configuration by installing a Sperry top turret, early-style tail gunner's compartment and waist gunner's positions, and omitting the chin turret. It subsequently appeared in the 1990 fictionalized version of the Memphis Belle story and continues to make air show appearances in that guise. Originally painted with the movie version of the nose art and markings, the B-17 now carries the historic markings found on the actual Memphis Belle.

[bulletman100]

I see. I have always lived in Memphis and we had the Belle here for many years. It was at the Gaurd Armory when I was a kid, then neglected at the airport after that, then on Mud Island, and now it is in Ohio I believe, permanently displayed by the Air Force. I miss seeing it, but it was always neglected when it was in Memphis, so it has a better home noe I am sure. I wondered if this plane was the one in the movie. thanks!

[Ezra91020]

awesome sound. great vid.

[madcitymcflyer]

The B-17 currently on display at the NMUSAF at Wright-Patterson is the 'Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby', a combat veteran B-17G (earlier model G) which was flown to neutral Sweden after a bombing mission and interned there for the remainder of the war. It was later sold to the Danish Air Force, who in turn sold it to the French Geological Institute, who donated it to the NMUSAF in 1971. The museum had it restored at Dover AFB and it was flown to the museum in the 1980's.

[madcitymcflyer]

The 'real' B-17F 'Memphis Belle' was always on loan to the City of Memphis, TN by the USAF. After the Belle was cosmetically restored locally and moved to the Mud Island complex, a USAF survey found that it had undergone a poor preservation, so it was decided to recover it back to the Museum of the United States Air Force for a full and correct restoration. Completion and display is set for 2014. It will stay permanently at the NMUSAF.

[thanatos0446]

The actual B-17 "Memphis Belle" is now at Wright-Patterson AFB, the Air Force/Army Air Corp museum (Columbus OH). It has received a full functional and cosmetic restoration, and carries all historically accurate markings. It sits aside the 'Strawberry Bitch' B-24, and a B-29 Stratofortress.

[NHfiddle]

I saw this old girl and "909" at an air show at Nashua, NH's Boire Field. They are more impressive up close and personal then they are in the movies. A MILLION thank yous for posting this girl, she's a beauty.

[me875]

I've flown on a B-17 before. It was the Wings of Freedom Tour that stops throughout several places in the U.S. It was an awesome experience. I'll try to upload the videos from it.

[Flatpro01]

keep them comming.......