Memphis Belle to USAFM

[Brian]

The Memphis Bells.....the REAL one, not Tallichet's.....will be coming to the National Museum Of The USAF after all. The Dayton Daily News reported today that the group who currently have the bomber have finally decided to no longer block the museum's attempts to get it. The museum has tried to get the famous plane off-and-on since 1986 and this time it's happening.
Though most of the aircraft will be trucked up, the fuselage will most likely be brought along in a C-5. The restoration is expected to take as long as ten years and will be made a center point of the restoration hangar tour.
The museum's current resident Fort----Shoo Shoo Baby----will be moved to another "quality" museum.

[tom d. friedman]

long over due & great news!!

[Pat Carry]

I would like to see the USAF Museum keep both B-17's there in Dayton. How cool would it be to see 2 combat veteran B-17's side by side!

[Owen Miller]

It's what Bob Morgan wanted.
Somewhere he is smiling today!

Owen

[Chris Brame]

...to another "quality" museum?

OK - "Memphis Belle" to the USAFM
"Shoo Shoo Baby" to the NASM
"Alexander the Swoose" to the USAFM to be RESTORED, at last

(Is there room in there for two B-17s?)

[CorsairFreak]

Hmm....a "quality musuem" .....I know one just a little north of dayton in AKron, OH.....

[Brian]

I wish they COULD keep both Forts in the museum, but if you've been there recently you know that it's a bit tight inside the galleries. To be honest, I'd rather see them move the JU-52 inside first. But, like I said....no room.
I'm sure MAPS would love to get the Baby, especially since it wouldn't take much t get it flying again. It DID fly into the USAFM after all, accompanied by two P-51s and two T-34s. I'm curious about how the USAFM people would feel about that. I can't remamber any time when a flyable warbird LEFT the museum and started flying again. Hmmmmmm...

[oscardeuce]

I'm ready, Let's go get it!

[TimAPNY]

There goes the only reason I would ever set in foot it that nasty city again. What an Arm pit! Right up there with NYC.

Now Boston, there is a city!

[Jack Cook]

Tim,
You must never have pulled into Dubai, UAE, Mombasa, Kenya or toured lovely Olongapo, PI

[/quote]There goes the only reason i'd ever set foot in that nasty city again. What an arm pit! Right uo there with NYC.[quote]

[TimAPNY]

I've been to Dubai 7 times, Bahrain once. Those are also Armpits but I guess I was thinking American arm pits, they seem to smell a bit better than the Arab counter parts.

Never went to PI or Africa

[Jack Cook]

Never went to PI or Africa

and you call yourself a navy man? Never tossed quarters into the sh*t river, dragged a little kid down the street while he's holding onto your leg yelling "new daddy-new daddy!!" or ate monkey on a stick???
Mombasa was so bad I was almost afraid to get of the boat but I heard there was a wix gathering! I was sadly mis-informed.
BTW the Memphisoanians have had their chance so TS. Be nice to see Shoo Shoo tour for a summer or 2 then trade her for the "Swoose".

[eric_stevens]

Maybe a bit out in left field, but use Shoo Shoo baby as the basis for a USAF memorial Flight.

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Maybe a bit out in left field, but use Shoo Shoo baby as the basis for a USAF memorial Flight.

Hi,

This wouldn't be out of line at all, I think it would be a great thing for the Air Force to do in allowing Shoo Shoo Baby to be flown as a "Memorial" flight. Since she is basically airworthy as she sits in the museum, having been flown there "post restoration" it would be a great thing to see happen. And they can always restore Memphis Belle to take Shoo Shoo's place inside.

Not a bad thought....hope the USAF would consider something like this.

Paul

[JBoyle]

With the Belle going to Dayton, I worry/wonder about the "Shoo Shoo Baby"'s fate.
I hope it doesn't get shuffeled off to some second/third rate museum like the NMUSAF did with their B-47E when the RB-47 was restored and put on display. Today the Stratojet a rare plane ang they put it in a little known Ohio museum (presumable because it was close) rather than putting it where people might actually see it. At least it's under cover.
Still, I wish it found a better home.

Also, I'd hate for the "SSB" to end up at a base museum...probably outdoors and left to typical airbase haphazard preservation standards (being repainted in water based paints for environmental concerns usually in unauthentic paint schemes) and lots of birds.

Hopefully the "Baby" will go to the NASM for display. It's a crime they don't have one restored and on display. Lord knows they have lots of other stuff...Concord...check, Boeing 307....check, Do335...check,...but still no B-17, arguably the most famous American bomber ever.