News on "Lady be Good"s Return?

[Shay]

I noticed in Air Pirates website they made note that negotiations are underway for her return and restoration. The update is current as of last December. Any one know where things stand right now? Says they're looking for sponsors so maybe plans are in the works.

http://www.airpirates.com/gallery/albums.php?set_albumListPage=4

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[bdk]

So how exactly do you restore this and how much original material is left?

Do you restore it to intact condition or do you replicate the as-found condition in a diorama?

[tom d. friedman]

what is the disposition of the portion of her thats on display at the usaf museum in dayton???

[CWBuff]

...and how much original material is left?

This may give you a rough idea...

http://www.tlc-exped.net/LadybeGood.html


Here are some images I found on a tourism website a couple years ago which show the wreckage in Tobruk...




Dunno where I found this one, but it was presumably taken at the same location...




Fade to Black...

[Shay]

what is the disposition of the portion of her thats on display at the usaf museum in dayton???

Tom

It's just one of her engines and one of her props displayed as they were found.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[TimAPNY]

I'll be very glad to see her come back to the states.

Either way it is restored will be fine with me. But I would like to see it as found, but part of me would love to see another complete and on its gear B-24. So I'll be very happy either way.

[gregv]

It would be great to see it set up in a "as-found & untouched" diorama, using the pictures in the ARCO book on the B24 as a guide; I guess Dayton would be the logical place? There would have to be some sheet metal repairs and parts scrounging to be done, to say the least, plus you's need a whole lot of sand... the bits of her that are on "The Strawberry Bitch" could be finally reunited as well. It looks like she has been well picked-over since the 60's; when did the cockpit get ripped open? Do you think Sheperd Paine still has his 1/48 diorama, and would donate it to the display?...

Interesting posibilities abound for this one.

cheers

greg v

[TimAPNY]

Doesn't Lone Star Musuem have a Diarome of LBG? I think that is where i saw that, it was incredable!

[tom d. friedman]

interesting..... i never new strawberry bitch had some lady be good components on her. do you know specifically what components?? yes it would be cool to re-attach those components back on the lady if she came to wright pat. it would almost be like a home coming for those parts!! i like the as found diorama idea, as it would be a tribute to the crew that perished in the crash. regards, tom

[gregv]

from what I remember, The Strawberry Bitch has a .50 or two and one of the props; I'm not sure where I read this, but I'm sure the book is buried on one of my shelves. I think they may have used some of the internal equipment/gear from the LBG as well. Perhaps someone out there has a better idea than I?

cheers

gv

[Shay]

I'm unaware that any peices of LBG were ever used in Strawberry Bitch. Strawberry was preserved immeadiatly following the war intact as a combat veteran. The LBG artifacts that the museum has , as far as I know, are preserved and displayed as they very found. Sand and all.

There was a rumor awhile back that after the recovery of LBG's parts, that a armrest found it's way into another aircraft. That aircraft reportedly disappeared over the Med with no trace. But the very same armrest washed ashore in Greece some time later. Sounds like Urban legend to me, but is the only story I've heard of where the parts of LBG were on another aircraft.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[baxter]

i actually read a recent article about that in the B-24 journal you can look at the magzine at Barnes and Noble.

[tom d. friedman]

start the earrie creepy music...... ooooh oooh..... aah us cheap aviation buffs reading the mags right on the shelf at the book store. i'm guilty as charged too!!!

[PJ]

I,too, have read where parts off of Lady were used on other aircraft with tragic results. Almost sounds like the things that happened to people who took parts of King Tut's treasure. I don't know if it's true...but I also don't know if I would want to fly an aircraft with some of her parts to find out.
PJ

[gregv]

I'm unaware that any peices of LBG were ever used in Strawberry Bitch. Strawberry was preserved immeadiatly following the war intact as a combat veteran. The LBG artifacts that the museum has , as far as I know, are preserved and displayed as they very found. Sand and all.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Shay, absolutely right you are; I just checked my ancient references which concur. I guess I read it wrong twenty years ago...

cheers

greg v