Tag: B-17

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USAF Museum’s Memphis Belle Unveiling Festivities Begin With B-17, P-51 Flyover [Video]

Earlier today, three B-17s and five P-51s flew over the USAF Museum in Dayton as festivities get underway for the unveiling of the historic B-17F “Memphis Belle” on Thursday.

The aircraft, which included B-17Gs “Yankee Lady” and “Aluminum Overcast” and B-17G/F “Movie Memphis Belle,” were prevented from landing at the museum due to weather conditions and instead performed as mass flyover which can be seen in the videos below.

As previously reported, the main focus of the three-day celebratory event (May 17-19, 2018) will be the debut of the newly restored Memphis Belle in the museum’s WW2 gallery. In addition, more than 160 WW2 reenactors are expected as well as historic vehicles, memorabilia and artifact displays, music from the era, guest speakers, book signings and films. Continue reading USAF Museum’s Memphis Belle Unveiling Festivities Begin With B-17, P-51 Flyover [Video]

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Newly Restored B-17 “Preston’s Pride” Unveiled [Video]

Following an exterior restoration, B-17 “Preston’s Pride” was unveiled on Saturday in a ceremony at Mefford Field in Tulare, California.

As previously reported, the machine (S/N 44-85738) was originally constructed as a B-17G and delivered to the USAAF in May 1945. It was placed in storage before participating in “Operation Crossroads,” a pair of atomic weapons tests conducted at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in 1946. From there it moved on to Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio and then the Air Proving Grounds at Eglin AFB in Florida before being struck off charge in August 1958.

Since then it has been on outdoor display in California, serving as a memorial to the 379th Bomb Group. Over the years it was vandalized and damaged in a collision with a runaway truck and was in desperate need of attention. B-17 Archaeology stepped in and not only worked to return the exterior to a factory fresh appearance, but have also been compiling the history of the aircraft, which is the last surviving B-17 from Operation Crossroads. Continue reading Newly Restored B-17 “Preston’s Pride” Unveiled [Video]

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Number of WW2-Era Aircraft Attending “Memphis Belle” Unveiling Rises to 12

Numerous additional aircraft will reportedly be in attendance for the upcoming unveiling of the newly restored B-17F “Memphis Belle” at the USAF Museum in Dayton on May 17.

B-17Gs “Yankee Lady” and “Aluminum Overcast” will now be joined by the B-17G/F “Movie Memphis Belle” as well as six P-51 Mustangs and three WWII-era trainer aircraft – all of which will reportedly take to the skies over the museum on May 16 as part of the opening of the event.

Plans call for 11 of the WWII-era aircraft to land at the museum on May 16 between 8-9 a.m. (One P-51 will be part of the initial flyover but not land at the museum.) The aircraft will then be available for viewing on static display May 17-18 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. On May 18 at approximately 4:30 p.m., visitors in the museum’s Memorial Park may view the aircraft as they take-off and depart the grounds. (Note: Outdoor events are weather dependent and subject to change.)

Continue reading Number of WW2-Era Aircraft Attending “Memphis Belle” Unveiling Rises to 12

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B-17 “Preston’s Pride” Receives Exterior Restoration, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Planned [Video]

An all-volunteer group dubbed “B-17 Archaeology” has been working to carry out a cosmetic restoration on a B-17 that has been on outdoor display at Mefford Field in Tulare, California since 1958.

Originally constructed as a B-17G, the aircraft (S/N 44-85738) was delivered to the USAAF in May 1945 and placed in storage before participating in “Operation Crossroads,” a pair of atomic weapons tests conducted at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in 1946. From there it moved on to Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio and then the Air Proving Grounds at Eglin AFB in Florida before being struck off charge in August 1958. Continue reading B-17 “Preston’s Pride” Receives Exterior Restoration, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Planned [Video]

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First Look: Brickmania’s Upcoming B-17G LEGO Model Kit [Video]

Brickmania is offering the first look at their upcoming, limited edition B-17G Flying Fortress LEGO model kit.

The representation of the iconic WW2 bomber includes 3,074 LEGO, and BrickArms elements, 10 custom-printed minifigures, 10 .50 caliber BrickArms machine guns mounted on moving turrets, moving flaps, ailerons, and rudder, retractable landing gear, four bombs with opening bomb bay doors, spinning propellers, a detailed interior, printed elements and a high-quality sticker sheet.

The kit is reportedly set for release in the second week of May, although it is now available for pre-order. All kits ordered during the pre-order period will reportedly come with boxes and a Certificate of Authentication signed by the model’s designer, Cody Osell.

Click below to check out a video overview of the model, as well as additional details about availability.

Continue reading First Look: Brickmania’s Upcoming B-17G LEGO Model Kit [Video]

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Watch B-17F “Memphis Belle” Take its Place at the USAF Museum [Video]

Last week a private event was held to transport the newly restored B-17F “Memphis Belle” from the USAF Museum’s restoration hangar to its World War II. In the process, the legendary bomber was positioned nose-to-nose with B-17G “Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby,” which will be moving on to a new home.

As previously reported, the Memphis Belle (S/N 41-24485) became the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions and return to the U.S., where it flew across the country to promote war bonds and boost morale. The bomber will be officially unveiled at the museum on May 17th during an event that will reportedly include visiting B-17s and over 100 WW2 reenactors.

Shoo, Shoo, Shoo Baby will be moved to the museum’s restoration area and placed in storage until it is transferred to the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum at a date to be determined by the Smithsonian.

Click below to check out video of the event.

Continue reading Watch B-17F “Memphis Belle” Take its Place at the USAF Museum [Video]

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B-17s, 130 Reenactors to Attend Memphis Belle Unveiling

The highly anticipated unveiling of the restored B-17F “Memphis Belle” at the USAF Museum on May 17th will reportedly be attended by two B-17s and over 130 WW2 reenactors.

B-17Gs “Yankee Lady” from the Yankee Air Museum in Belleville, Michigan and “Aluminum Overcast” from the EAA in Oshkosh, Wisconsin are scheduled to be on hand for the event. They will reportedly arrive around 9 am on May 16th and will be on static display on the 17th and 18th from 9 am to 4 pm, departing around 4:30 pm on the 18th.

More than 130 WW2 reenactors are also scheduled to take part in the event, representing period airmen, ground crew, infantrymen, nurses and more. Additional attractions will reportedly include historic vehicles, memorabilia and artifact displays, music from the era, guest speakers, book signings and films. Continue reading B-17s, 130 Reenactors to Attend Memphis Belle Unveiling

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New Video Shows How USAF Museum is Making Room For “Memphis Belle” Display

The USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio is currently in the final stages of restoring the iconic B-17F “Memphis Belle,” which became the U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions and return to the U.S.

The machine is scheduled to debut in the museum’s WW2 gallery on May 17th, and in preparation for the event, restoration crews have been working to make room. Recent work included the delicate task of removing the collection’s Fieseler Fi-156C-1 Storch and Culver PQ-14B from the gallery’s ceiling, a process that was captured in the newly released video seen below.

The B-17 currently on display at the USAF Museum, “Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby”, will be moved out of the facility and eventually transferred to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. When complete, the Memphis Belle exhibit will reportedly include interactive displays, rare archival film footage and many personal artifacts which have never before been on display at the museum.

Continue reading New Video Shows How USAF Museum is Making Room For “Memphis Belle” Display

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Memphis Belle Restoration Progress Captured in New 360 Degree Images

The USAF Museum in Dayton is in the final stages of restoring the iconic B-17F “Memphis Belle” and has recently released two 360 degree images capturing the progress.

As previously reported, the machine is scheduled to make its public debut in the museum’s WW2 gallery on May 17, 2018, where it will reportedly be surrounded by interactive displays, rare archival film footage and many personal artifacts which have never before been on display at the museum.

The Memphis Belle (S/N 41-24485) became the first the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions and return to the U.S., where it flew across the country to promote war bonds and boost morale. Further attention was directed toward the aircraft when it became the focus of a 1944 William Wyler documentary and later a 1990 feature film.

Click below to check out the new images.

Continue reading Memphis Belle Restoration Progress Captured in New 360 Degree Images