ScottWashburn  | 14 Jun 2011 3:37 a.m. PST |
Another of the gallant veterans has passed away. link It is a treat to see them flying, but there is always the risk of losing them. |
| 45thdiv | 14 Jun 2011 5:44 a.m. PST |
That is a shame. I had the fortune of going inside one for a while back in 1995. It was as I was leaving the air show that I saw they were offering rides later that evening. I had other commitments so I had to pass. It's always puzzled me about why the Smithsonian does not have a B-17. The Memphis Belle is in private hands. After all they did keep the Enola Gay B-29. That's just down the street from me. Matthew |
Monkey Hanger  | 14 Jun 2011 7:47 a.m. PST |
A sad loss but at least there were no fatalities to the crew. RIP Liberty Belle
:-) |
| GuyG13 | 14 Jun 2011 7:54 a.m. PST |
Memphis Belle now belongs to the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB and is currently under restoration. link |
| 45thdiv | 14 Jun 2011 9:30 a.m. PST |
GuyG13 – Thanks for the info and link. I stand corrected as to the location of the true "Belle" – I am glad it is being restored Matthew |
| GuyG13 | 14 Jun 2011 11:02 a.m. PST |
No worries. Love to give plugs to the Air Force Museum. Much better than the Smithsonian IMHO. |
| Saginaw | 14 Jun 2011 12:27 p.m. PST |
Thank God that no one was killed in the accident, but I'm sorry to see that the ol' Fort was lost. And she was a beauty, too. 
|
| rallypoint | 15 Jun 2011 1:20 p.m. PST |
It's always puzzled me about why the Smithsonian does not have a B-17. The Memphis Belle is in private hands. After all they did keep the Enola Gay B-29. That's just down the street from me. It's my understanding when the Memphis Belle goes on display at the NMAF, the B-17G "Shoo Shoo Baby" currently on display, goes to the Smithsonian. The NMAF also has the B-17D "The Swoose". Originally named "Ole Betsy", it was badly damaged in combat near Australia. "Betsy" had the back half of its fuselage replaced with a spare from another B-17D. The new pilot, Capt. Weldon Smith, gave it a new nickname after a then-popular song about a half-swan, half-goose called the "Swoose." Later, a Capt. Frank Kurtz took over The Swoose. You would know him better as the father of actress Swoosie Kurtz. To check out how the restorations are going, see link |
| Andrew Walters | 16 Jun 2011 8:40 a.m. PST |
That is a bummer. I'm going to watch a B-17 training film DVD today to commemorate the loss. The pilot did a good job keeping everyone alive, and he definitely has a story to tell. We need to be careful with the last few. After all, there are only two flying and 17 static B-24s left. There are a few more B-17s – 9 that can fly – but still… Andrew |
| Old Slow Trot | 17 Jun 2011 5:40 a.m. PST |
Glad to hear they all got out safely. Bummer about the plane. |
| Doom of the DawgHaus Deathlord | 16 Oct 2011 2:50 p.m. PST |
Not too many of them left. It had been well over 15 years since I had seen one around here. One flew over my house just today. |
