The Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia has reported a major milestone in the restoration of their B-17 with both wings now attached to the fuselage.
This particular B-17G (S/N 44-83690) was originally delivered to the USAAF on May 9, 1945 and stored in Ohio before moving on to bases in Texas. In 1950 the machine was converted to a DB-17G with the addition of drone control equipment and in 1951 departed for the Marshall Islands to take part in Operation Greenhouse. In 1955, additional drone equipment was added and the aircraft was re-designated DB-17P. It went on to serve with 325th Drone Squadron from 1956-1959 before being removed from the USAF inventory in 1960 and transferred to Grissom AFB in Peru, Indiana, where it is seen above back in 2010.
After sitting on outdoor display for 54 years, the aircraft was moved to the Museum of Aviation in 2015 and became the subject of an extensive restoration that is still ongoing. The museum reports that they “still have much to restore,” but “she looks more like an airplane” with the wings now reunited with the fuselage.
Click below to check out recent photos.
(via Museum of Aviation Robins AFB, Warner Robins, GA Additional Information via Museum of Aviation Top Photo: Chris Light at English Wikipedia)
