Memphis Belle

[street]

Last week end we had a visit from a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress named the Memphis Belle. It was flying out of Roanoke, VA. I got a few shots of her but the light wasn’t the best for picture taking but I thought I would share them with you anyway. Again sorry for the bad pictures but her she is.

 

[john guedry]

Beautiful thank you for posting.

 

[WendyZXZ]

Those are nice pictures!

 

[Tinman931]

Awesome pic. I love WWII planes. I think they have the most character.

 

[Zeus]

She was here in June. I so saw her about a year ago fly over my office for a show about 20 minutes South if us. Very cool to see it up and flying.

 

[J Miller]

Very Beautiful. The Memphis Bell has not been to Springfield, IL so far. I'm hoping she does come here.

Now, a question.

The original Memphis Bell is a B-17 F. Is this one a real F model, or a converted G model?

Joe

 

[Claims Rep.]

Great pics. I got to fly once on the "Aluminum Overcast" and it was incredible. B-17's are amazing aircraft, and the men who flew them were even more so.

 

[pyth0n]

Very Beautiful. The Memphis Bell has not been to Springfield, IL so far. I'm hoping she does come here.

Now, a question.

The original Memphis Bell is a B-17 F. Is this one a real F model, or a converted G model?

Joe

Shes a G converted to the F. It's also the plane used in the movie.
Civilian History:
44-83546 was purchased by National Metals Co. of Phoenix, Arizona for the sum of $2,687.00 and then sold to Fast Way Air of Long Beach, California. 44-83546 became N3703G on the US civil register. In 1960 she was converted to a water bomber and operated as Tanker 78. In 1978 N3703G was sold to TBM Inc. of Tulare, California who continued to operate her as a tanker until the late 1970s. N3703G was purchased by the Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC) in 1982. MARC, owned by David Tallichet was a wartime B-17 pilot with the 100th bomb group. He and his staff restored the B-17G to resemble a B-17F. The restoration included reinstallation of power turrets, early tail gunners compartment, early sperry dorsal turret recovered from a south Pacific wreck and adding a 94th BG paint scheme

In 1989, N3703G was hired for use in the filming of the Memphis Belle movie in England. In July 1989 she crossed the Atlantic with another B-17 to participate in the filming of the movie. Since returning to the U.S., N3703G has continued in the paint scheme of the "Memphis Belle" and continues to fly today to honor our veterans, educate current and future generations as to the high price of freedom and to preserve our aviation heritage.
http://www.libertyfoundation.org/b17history.html

 

[J Miller]

pyth0n,

Thanks for the info.

Joe

 

[pyth0n]

pyth0n,

Thanks for the info.

Joe

You're welcome.

 

[Bob Wright]

I remember seeing the original Memphis Belle coming into Memphis during WW II, also sometime after the War.

I am reminded that prior to leaving England, her crew stood in review at her left wing for review by the king of England. While on display in Memphis, Robert Morgan was married in the same position at the left wing. Best man in the wedding was Paul Tibbets, pilot of the Enola Gay.

Bob Wright