Memphis Belle

Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:46 pm

Made my annual pilgrimage to the USAFM today for the behind the scenes tour. The Belle is completely apart in the center of the restoration hangar. They are still taking inventory of what they have and there is alot of work ahead of them. The airplane is a mess, lotsa corrosion, and missing bits. The interior was hosed with zinc chromate...which probably protected a good bit of it but it adds to the time to get it back up to dispay standards. It's pretty amazing to finally see her in person. I am posting shots on webshots as I type. I also included shots of the Beaufort, the XC-99, and the Fisher P-75. Other aircraft included a Mig-29, SU-22, YF-23, Jack, the XF-90, an Ercoupe, a Luscombe, Missles galore, and the JSF. Enjoy!!

Jim Harley

http://community.webshots.com/user/jfharley

Website · Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:17 pm

Nice shots! :lol:

Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:46 am

Hiya Jim, is it okay of I raid your albums once again?

Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:30 am

What went so wrong with the restoration done on the Memphis Belle years ago that it ended up in this bad a shape? It was 'restored" and put on display with lots of fanfare. Was it just a cosmetic restoration? I remember reading an article on the "extensive, painstaking restoration that returened the aircraft back to factory new". obviously, something went wrong.........

Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:47 am

The last group was working to correct many earlier sins committed by early restoration/move crews. They were also being directed to remove some components ( fuel tanks) by the USAFM. A lot of the work stopped when they were told to cease and desist by USAFM.

Sat Dec 10, 2005 9:25 am

Go for it Scott...whatever you need!!

JimH

Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:04 am

Probably the biggest factor in the deteriation of the Belle was that it was displayed in an outdoor envoirnment subject to the humid Memphis air. It was under a roof which kept it out of the rain but the sides of the structure where it was displayed were open.

Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:11 am

Thanks for the Belle photos Jim. Between the Belle and the XC-99 I would say the restoration dept. there will be very busy for many many years! I'm looking forward to touring the restoration area when I go to the museum in April to attend the Doolittle reunion.

Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:17 am

Jim, did you check out the new missle gallery? That is a very cool addition to the museum in my opinion.

Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:09 pm

The only time I saw her in Memphis the thing that struck me was that the structure she was under was open on the sides allowing for pigeons and other birds to roost under it and 'deposit' their leavings on the Belles upper surfaces.

On the other hand my brother volunteers at the NEAM and thats why the unrestored aircraft that will not fit in their very limited (and crammed tight) storage buildings are left out in the open and not under temporary shelters.

Keep the poop off.

Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:55 pm

The missle gallery is really impressive. The push is to get this gallery completed before any work is done elsewhere. The missile gallery will be really full judging by the amount of footpads set on the floor. The Beaufighter will be completed as far as they can then moved to the main WWII gallery. They are waiting on several parts from Australia, such as cowlings, and other small bits. The plan is to finish her while she sits in the main museum.

In looking at the Belle and the restoration that was completed before she arrived there are many shortcomings. One engine looks to have been "rattle can" painted silver and camoflage grey. Many of the stencils are hand painted. All of the woodwork was painted with a thick coating of zinc chromate. The plywood is visibly delamenating under the zinc. The cowlflaps looked to be painted firmly together. There is lots of visible corrosion on the floor skins. This is not being hypercritical, just observations and cosmetic details that need to be rectified. I'm sure once the stripping process starts things won't see so bad and easily corrected. Just takes time.

Jim

Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:17 am

APG85 wrote:What went so wrong with the restoration done on the Memphis Belle years ago that it ended up in this bad a shape? It was 'restored" and put on display with lots of fanfare. Was it just a cosmetic restoration? I remember reading an article on the "extensive, painstaking restoration that returened the aircraft back to factory new". obviously, something went wrong.........

A very valid question, you'd reckon with such a historic airframe, that all stops would be pulled out. Not being too bitchy but that's pretty disappointing really....

Sun Dec 11, 2005 5:29 am

I'm happy she is now at a home that will respect and care for her. The citizens of Memphis don't deserve her. My father-in-law flew her in WW2 as a TB-17 with 815th BS 483rd BG..

Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:46 am

What went wrong with the Belle is after she was "painstakingly" restored years ago, she was left essentially out in the elements with only a roof over her head. This kept the rain out, but not the pigeons. A major portion of the corrosion was due to bird crap. This stuff built up over years and did a lot of damage.

I saw the Belle in Memphis in November of 2004, She was disassembled inside a hangar at the former NAS Memphis (now the Millington Municipal Airport). Some restoration had taken place, but there was still a lot of work to do. I don't believe she was reassembled prior to her move to Dayton.

I have a number of photos taken at that time that I'll post a link to when I can get them up on Webshots.

Walt

Mon Dec 12, 2005 11:00 am

Hello Jim
What re the two fuselage sections from on your site? They are sitting in the snow and look to be in primer?

Memphis Belle

Memphis Belle

The Belle

fusleage sections on your site