Return of the "Cursive" Memphis Belle

[Robbie Roberts]

Don't ya just love revisionist history?
Blarf.

At least she is still flying...

And every B-17 is beautiful...

Robbie

[Matt Gunsch]

Notice on the recent photos below posted by Dave (Ontario-Warbird) that the "Airshow" Memphis Belle has had it's name re-applied as it was in the movie. After it's most recent paint job of 5 or so years ago, they had applied the name with the actual small block-lettering of the original. It appears that they've gone back to the cursive style that was in the movie.
Looks like the girl has been repainted also. Notice that her left arm is down now (which is wrong), whereas it was up and behind her before (which was correct to the original).

Personally, I can think of so many "F" models to honor, that they should just change the noseart/markings to something like "Hells Angels" or "Wabash Cannonball" or any number of others. Would put the whole real vs. fake "Memphis Belle" arguement to rest once and for all!

What argument ? there is one retired AF general who has his panties in a wad because he thinks that the AF owns the name Memphis bell, well they own it as much as boeing thinks they own the name Flying Fortress, sorry guys, it is public domain. The AF museum and the owners of the flying Memphis belle should work together and help promote the others endevour.
I am one of the type that thinks of a dozen lawyers at the bottom of a pool is a darn good start, we need more pools to hold more lawyers.

[rwdfresno]

[/quote]

What argument ? there is one retired AF general who has his panties in a wad because he thinks that the AF owns the name Memphis bell, well they own it as much as boeing thinks they own the name Flying Fortress, sorry guys, it is public domain. The AF museum and the owners of the flying Memphis belle should work together and help promote the others endevour.
I am one of the type that thinks of a dozen lawyers at the bottom of a pool is a darn good start, we need more pools to hold more lawyers.[/quote]

You think the NMUSAF would sponsor the Memphis Belle impersonator. They could create a whole display for them to take around to shows that has information about the real Belle and where to find it. The Belle impersonator goes a lot of places and can teach and inspire those who either can't or won't make it to the museum and may even encourage some to go see the real thing.

I wouldn't doubt if the repaint has something to do with the controversy which would be ironic since in a goal to set the record straight it may have caused history to be further blurred. Whatever the reason I liked it better with the more realistic Belle artwork.

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

Why not ask the General who owns the US AIR FORCE??

I bet his answer is as convoluted as his thought train.

[Matt Gunsch]

Why not ask the General who owns the US AIR FORCE??

I bet his answer is as convoluted as his thought train.

UMMM, I thought WE owned the air force, last time I checked it was that way, he runs it on OUR behalf.

[k5083]

We can only hope that our profound historical understanding of the momentous events that shook the world between 1937 and 1945 will somehow survive being blurred or revisionized by the style in which a name and a girl are painted on an airplane.

August

[kzollitsch]

I wouldn't doubt if the repaint has something to do with the controversy which would be ironic since in a goal to set the record straight it may have caused history to be further blurred. Whatever the reason I liked it better with the more realistic Belle artwork.

Bingo! The repaint was due to the whole controversy, you can see in small print between the girl and the script "Memphis Belle" the words "The Movie"

What's better than the repaint is the fact that they now display two boards next to the aircraft, one describing the history of the movie Memphis Belle, and one describing the real Memphis Belle and its current location at Dayton. I find this much more important than how the nose art looks since 99% of the people viewing the B-17 won't know that the script lettering is not the way it originally looked in WWII.

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

Why not ask the General who owns the US AIR FORCE??

I bet his answer is as convoluted as his thought train.

UMMM, I thought WE owned the air force, last time I checked it was that way, he runs it on OUR behalf.

BINGO! You are correct sir! Its the General who needs a C-5A for his ego.

[Jack Cook]

That would be cool or one of the Pacific birds who did 25 before any of them! One thing I've never understood the in the everlasting fame of the Belle crew. One waist gunner flew only 1 mission of her but got all the glory while another gunner flew 24 but got left behind because he didn't have 25 missions. Did anyone of the "Belle" crew fly 25 missions on her??
If not what did they fly on and who actually did fly the missions???

[k5083]

Jack, what it shows is the persistence of propaganda. The only unique distinction of the Belle was that it featured in a propaganda tour and documentary film. In this and many other cases in WWII, the people, machines, places and events that were chosen to be the subject of propaganda campaigns have gained lasting fame and a place in history (at least as the semi-informed understand history) while equally or more deserving people, machines, places and events are left out or deemphasized.

It makes me wonder whether this phenomenon is unique to WWII, by which time the instruments of propaganda had become relatively highly developed, or whether our understandings of wars more distant in time (WWI? War of 1812? The Crusades? Peloponnesian Wars?) are also so influenced by what the participants (especially the victors) chose to emphasize for their own purposes.

August

[kzollitsch]

Well, thanks for enlightening us. Your power...er...uh...knowledge of this subject has enabled us underlings to better understand, having not seen the story-boards you speak of.

Wow, I don't know what you read into my response but I didn't intend to come off as being smarter/above anyone here. I was just giving my opinion and telling everyone what is displayed with the B-17 now.

The only points I was trying to make were:

A. The effort of the Air Force to change the way the nose art and style of the name on the flying B-17 is pointless since in my opinion most of the general public viewing this B-17 won't know that the name and nose art aren't in the original WWII style since in my opinion the general public only knows the aircraft by name, not by markings, noseart, etc.

B. In my opinion and what I believe is more effective/helpful is that they now display two boards near the B-17. One explaining where the real Memphis Belle is and the history behind it, and the other providing information on the flying B-17.

If you need to discuss anything further Sasnak, please PM me as I don't want to sidetrack this thread.

[mustangdriver]

My personal take? It's a matter of respect.

[bomberflight]

For the sake of comparison, this is how the "other" side of Sally B looks in the UK .....





The squadron codes and tail number are worn on both sides.

[CH2Tdriver]

Why not ask the General who owns the US AIR FORCE??

I bet his answer is as convoluted as his thought train.

It's funny......they're all over whats painted on the side of an old civilian Boeing, but totally missed what was slung under the wings of one of their own Boeing's.

[mustangdriver]

If you don't like it then when the restoration is finished, and she is placed on display, don't go see it. It's that easy. It sucks here on the Wix when some thing you fought to save and have moved and restored is put down at every turn. People here don't like the Gen. Fine. THere are alot worse out there in the warbirds world. The General might not be liked, but he is what that museum needs. He got several buildings built, more on the way, and saved several aircraft. He has added to the class of the museum. He has added numerous aircraft to the collection. YOu think real die hard people here would be happy about the Belle Being saved, yet all they want to do is bitch. Having the Belle's paint job reserved for only her is no different that retiring a sports legend's number. Hey whay can't there be another #3 for the Yankees or #21 for the pirates? Oh that's right, they are legends. Just like this aircraft.
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