Time to explain the thinking behind the chosen paint scheme ......
The final decision on the paint scheme for the B-17G in the American Air Museum at Duxford evolved from many hours of research and many meetings.
It was vital to achieve a result that will tell the human story of conflict and explain the importance of the 8th Air Force contribution to winning victory
in the European theater in WW2 to future generations
44-83735 has been painted to represent a B-17 that originally left the factory in natural metal finish ......
but was painted in the UK prior to entry into combat flying.
Roger Freeman's letter to the Imperial War Museum back in the1980's refers to two B-17G-95-DL's that he identified that went through this process.
One of these was in fact "Mary Alice" ~ the previous scheme worn by this aircraft.
The reasons cited for Bomb Groups doing this in WW2 was these were some of the first aircraft to arrive in England in a natural metal finish and it was considered
necessary to stop them standing out against all the other Olive Drab B-17's that were then in service.
Given it was war-time ~ the aircraft would have been painted using whatever paint was available from stores on the airfield.
Olive Drab mixed with anything else that was around to make up the volume needed.
I like to think the process at the time would be something like the movie "Operation Petticoat". Only we didn't mix red lead and white lead paint that resulted in a pink submarine.
The USAAF would have used whatever ground personnel were available ( certainly not specialist painters ) and it's also likely the task would have been done outside.
They would have done minimal masking ( not the 4 weeks we spent on the fuselage alone ) because the overriding priority was to get it painted and get the B-17 into combat ~ flying missions.
Another consideration with painting was to reflect that many large sub-sections of the aircraft are interchangeable. If they became damaged ~ replacement parts could be sourced from from another aircraft.
By painting the aircraft in this manner ~ it represents not only the bravery of a single crew / Squadron / Bomb group ~ it can be the "vehicle" to tell a multitude of different stories over time.
And this should include the unsung ground staff on airfields or at repair depots and even the "rosie the riveters" in the factories.
I admit when I first heard about the final choice I was a little phased ..... what no unit markings nor nose art ?
But over a few days I came to realize just how right this decision will be for education of future generations.
When it comes to young volunteer American airmen paying the ultimate sacrifice ~ they should be treated with equal respect
The memorial walk up to the entrance of the American Air Museum represents the loss of 6,346 aircraft from the Mighty 8th flying from England in WW2.
In many ways ~ it would be easy to pick one and leave it at that ~ but the hard choice ( and I now firmly believe ~ the right choice ) is to ask visitors
to stop and think for a moment about all of them. Every one of the glass panels reflects the combat losses for specific Bomb Groups.
As the number of surviving WW2 veterans steadily diminishes "735" has an increasingly important job to do .....
It has to represent the blood ~ sweat ~ sacrifice and tears of all of the airmen and women that served in England in WW2.
When the last pieces are refitted and the B-17 is once again complete ~ I hope you will agree that this Flying Fortress will be ready to meet the assigned mission.
_________________
Blue Skies .....
Peter
Consolidated by US state ~ see if there's a heavy bomber tour stop coming to an airport near you ......
http://www.bomberflight.infoWarbirdapps on facebook ~ every day a new image from my personal journey thru the world of warbirds .....
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