Warbird Information Exchange

I haven't been around WIX as much lately as I'd like to have been, so excuse me if this has been covered. My January edition of Aeroplane arrived in the mail today and there is an article describing a trade whereby B-17D 'Swoose' will go to Dayton in exchange for B-17G 'Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby'. Its the first I've heard of the move. Has this been in the works for a while?

Cheers

Edward

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http://www.harvards.com

Here ya go: http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... +shoo+shoo

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thanks!

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http://www.harvards.com

I have not heard that the Shoo Shoo baby is going to the NASM. I know that the memphis Belle is not going anywhere as it was Robert Morgasn's wish for it to go to Dayton. I have heard that the Swoose is coming to the NMUSAF. I wonder if we are going to do the restoration and give it back?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Since when does Robert Morgan decide who gets what?



Hmm...let me try:

"I wish I wish The Swoose would appear in my driveway."

*poof*

whoa...

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Because it was his plane, and it was a big deal for us to get to be able to get that aircraft and grant a wish.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

In other words, it wasn't Robert Morgan's decision, was it.

By the way, did you ever ask Memphis Belle's crew chief whose plane it was?

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

not the taxpayers

who be "us"

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Don't touch my junk!!

Dan- As I stated before it was Robert Morgan's wish to get the plane moved. He did not decided it, he wished it. The NMUSAF was interested in saving the plane, and moved it to Dayton. The Morgans were consulted about it, and the move took place after Capt Morgan had passed away. Mrs. Morgan was thrilled to see the plane moved, and was fighting the city of Memphis on getting it moved. She even recieved death threats from Memphis.
Jack the "Us" I spoke of is the NMUSAF".

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I was just curious about who or what would prevent Memphis Belle from ever being moved from Dayton to wherever the USAF would see fit to move it, and Bob Morgan wasn't registering as part of the equation.

Go figure that someone like Mrs. Morgan would receive flak over the last move. Memphis had its chance.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

I know the museum gets some flack here, but they really try to do some cool stuff for veterans. I woon't say that Robert Morgan's interest is the only reason it was moved, but it is part of it. Mrs. Morgan did a ton of fighting to help the museum get the aircraft after Memphis tried to get city politicians involved who didn't care about the plane, but votes. It has already been decisded that the NMUSAF will be the final resting place for the memphis Belle by the USAFA. if you think about it, having the Belle in Dayton is like haveing Babe Ruth in the baseball Hall of Fame. It just belongs there.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

OK, I admit I'm confused now!

and

so who's deciding what has opposed to whom? So who actually has title?
The taxpayers who payed for her then and are paying for the restoration now? The AF, Memphis, or the AFA which you also mention??? Saying "us" makes it all the more confusing.
Can we just repaint it has H*ll's Angel" and move on????

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Don't touch my junk!!

It is a shame that the city that was the namesake of the airplane couldn't generate enough interest to maintain it there. It is very unfortunate that this is a regular occurrence around the world. I am glad the Belle is in the hands of a group that is more concerned about its preservation than the City of Memphis. I would hazard a guess that this is going to be a continuing set of circumstances for war memorials around the country as the people for whom the memorials were originally created pass away. Just a little over 25 years ago, where I grew up, there was a small Revolutionary War graveyard. At the time, there was a large effort to preserve the small plots, and they were given an overhaul and new iron gate for the courtyard where they were located. When I drove past it a year ago, it had fallen into disrepair like before. It is on my list of things to go help preserve, as a cousin was documented to have helped inter the soldier's there. But I am sure that the audience I seek to help me will be the same people who have let it fall into present condition. So I'm just planning to do some arm twisting on some friends to write checks. Money is, after all, what it takes.

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REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

Good idea Jack. Apparently there's already another one flying around painted as Memphis Belle. It's all very confusing.

Well since the Memphis Belle is more famous, and the one painted as the Belle is not the real airraft I am going to say no. The taxpayers in 1942 paid for that aircraft . It is property of the USAF and still is. At one time the plane was bought by the city of Memphis. The city of Memphis then decided to give it back to the NMUSAF back in the 70's. The NMUSAF agreed to leave the plane in Memphis as long as they took care of it. The group of volunteers did a good job with what they had, but could not keep the Belle in good condition, so it was moved. No taxpayer money is going into rebuilding the Memphis Belle as we are not funded by the Air Force. The AFA funds the museum through the donations to the museum, cafe sales, store sales, Simulator rides and membership to the museum. No admission is charged. I am usually cool about cracking jokes, but when it comes to working on the restoration of the most famous B-17, I take it serious. I very rough G model pretending to be the Belle doesn't get it. I say "Us" because I am a member of the museum, and work on different projects for the museum.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director