"‘It took my breath away’: Memphis Belle unveiled...." Topic

…. at AF museum.

"The reborn Memphis Belle was unveiled Wednesday night before hundreds including the families of crewmen who flew the famed Army Air Forces bomber into history.

Under theatrical lighting and uplifted above the ground by three metal poles, the Memphis Belle was surrounded by a strategic bombing exhibit with cases filled with artifacts, many personal items of the crewmen who flew aboard the four-engine bomber on the perilous journeys.

Robert K. Morgan Jr., 72, of San Francisco, son of the late pilot Robert K. Morgan who died in 2004, wore his father's silver wings and a bracelet he kept during the war…"
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Amicalement
Armand

I drove past The Belle every day for 4 years when I attended Memphis State back in the late 60's and early 70's. It's wonderful to see the proud old lady get the care she deserves.

I was there today, enjoyed it. They had WW2 re-enactors,
vehicles and flew in two B-17's and a P-51. If the weather holds out I'll be back tomorrow

She's still as beautiful as ever.

You are lucky my friend… (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Was there yesterday. It was great to see such a piece of living history. In fact if you like Air Force history I can't recommend the AF National Museum enough. It's lousy with history; a B2, SR71, Bocks Car, AF One and sooo much more.

I got within about two hundred yards of the Belle years ago when it was on display in a park in Memphis. I was there on a Monday with some friends waiting for our flight home after a weekend Civil War reenactment at Shiloh. We wanted to see the Belle so we drove up to the gate, but the guard there said: "Sorry, we're closed on Mondays." We could see the plane from the gate and asked if he could just let us in for a minute for a closer look. He said: "Sorry, I can't. But it's a shame you weren't here last week. The park was still closed for the winter and I could have let you in." We said: "So you are telling us that if we'd been here when the park was closed you could have let us in. But now that the park is open, you can't?" He said: "Yup."

Bureaucracy at work! :)

I stopped by the museum to see the Belle yesterday. It was much less crowded than it was last week. She is a thing of beauty.

I last saw the Belle in 2009 when it was in the restoration hangar. She was in pieces and had been stripped of most of her paint. The restoration crew did an amazing job!