When the Memphis Belle and its 10-man crew were recalled to the United States, they were big attraction. They went on a three-month-long war bond and morale-boosting tour. Altogether, they made stops at 33 cities, factories and military airfields, including the one at Patterson Airfield in Dayton.
Everyone wanted their autographs.
Restoration work on the Belle began in 2005. Persons signing up for the museum's 3-hour "Behind the Scenes Tour" offered on most Fridays can get a sneal look at it.
--GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Showing posts with label Memphis Belle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memphis Belle. Show all posts
Monday, July 7, 2014
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Memphis Belle at Air Force Museum-- Part 2
There have been two films made about the famous warbird. The was a 1944 documentary "the Memphis Belle" and a 1990 movie of the same name.
The Bel;le was part of the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group (Heavy) based at Bassingbourne, England, during the war. Its missions began in November 1942 and were often unescorted. on its 25 missions.
Of the 12,800 B-17s produced as part of the massive U.S. war effort, there are only a few more than fifty left in the world. The Air Force Museum has one on display, two under restoration and 13 on loan elsewhere.
The name "Memphis Belle" came from the girlfriend of Army Air Force Lt. and pilot, Robert Morgan, Margaret Polk of Memphis, Tennessee.
--GreGen
The Bel;le was part of the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group (Heavy) based at Bassingbourne, England, during the war. Its missions began in November 1942 and were often unescorted. on its 25 missions.
Of the 12,800 B-17s produced as part of the massive U.S. war effort, there are only a few more than fifty left in the world. The Air Force Museum has one on display, two under restoration and 13 on loan elsewhere.
The name "Memphis Belle" came from the girlfriend of Army Air Force Lt. and pilot, Robert Morgan, Margaret Polk of Memphis, Tennessee.
--GreGen
Memphis Belle At Air Force Museum-- Part 1
From the Feb. 2012 Springfield (OH) News-Sun "WWII bomber to be displayed at Air Force Museum" by Barrie Barber.
The Memphis Belle, a B-17F flew over France and Germany and is being restored. It is famous as being the first bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe before returning stateside.
The restoration crew at the National museum of the United States Air Force are working on it and have a tentative 2014 unveiling for it in the World War II gallery. (I visited the museum in November 2013 and didn't see it so that would explain why. Just something else to see in that vast museum.)
They are carefully cataloging every crew signature etched on the inside.
The Restoration Division has 20 full-time staff and 64 volunteers.
Restoration is not easy as the plane has been out of production for 70 years. Some of the parts had to be fabricated and others borrowed from other bombers.
--GreGen
The Memphis Belle, a B-17F flew over France and Germany and is being restored. It is famous as being the first bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe before returning stateside.
The restoration crew at the National museum of the United States Air Force are working on it and have a tentative 2014 unveiling for it in the World War II gallery. (I visited the museum in November 2013 and didn't see it so that would explain why. Just something else to see in that vast museum.)
They are carefully cataloging every crew signature etched on the inside.
The Restoration Division has 20 full-time staff and 64 volunteers.
Restoration is not easy as the plane has been out of production for 70 years. Some of the parts had to be fabricated and others borrowed from other bombers.
--GreGen
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