Will The Real Memphis Bell Co-Pilot Please Stand Up

[Django]

I didn't know there were two others that completed before the Belle. Interesting.

Threats over 60+ years of history?

[mustangdriver]

THere is alot of great knowledge in research in that book. The only problem I see is that they see the NMUSAF as the big bad monster that took their aircraft away. They fast forward by the facts that the NMUSAF worked hard to get them to keep the Belle, but there was no help from the community, the City of Memphis, and it could not be proven that the aircraft was indeed going to be restored, maintained and preserved in a manner that it deserves. They are also very rough on the veterans in my opinion for their lack of remembering exact details. They acuse Morgan of trying to erase the existance of Margaret Polk.
Something very interesting came up in the book though. THere are a ton of folks who got mad at the NMUSAF for asking if the Tallichet B-17 could have it's nose art changed so that it doesnot look exactly like the real one. Do you guys know that the MBMA also had the same concerns back in the 1990's and that there was an agreement that the nose art should be kept different to avoid confussion?
As for threats they should speak of the death threats that Linda Morgan recieved after she said that her and the late Robert Morgan supported moving the Belle to Dayton.
If it was not for the people of the MBMA the Belle would not be around today. That is a cold hard fact. But another fact is that it was not going to survive if it stayed in Memphis.

[bomberflight]

I've spent time trying to find a fitting answer to Randy's question about mission credits. I've been through a dozon or so books on the 8th AF and have not found anything that could be deemed offical policy.

In the Spring of 1943, General Ira Eaker issued a directive that 8th AF bomber crews were to fly a tour of 25 missions while fighter pilots were to fly either 150 missions or 200 combat hours.

So ~ in my opinion .........

For bomber crews, mission credit was based upon hitting either the primary target, or if that wasn't possible, the secondary or a target of opportunity.

A scrubbed or recalled mission where the bomb load was brought back could still be credited if fighters or flak was encountered.

[Warbird Kid]

Holy Thread Revival Batman!

Hey guys,
I'm looking for any 91st BG experts out there. I'm building a 1/72nd scale model of "Connecticut Yankee" (no surprise there) and am trying to see if the aircraft had any sort of "dark green mottling" like "Memphis Belle" had around the topside of the aircraft. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Wed Aug 10, 2022 8:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

[old iron]

Nice to see an old thread picked up again (after 14 years). Let's give this a new life!

[mike furline]

Hi all,

Looking for any 91st BG experts out there. I'm building a 72nd scale model of "Connecticut Yankee" (no surprise there) and am trying to see if the aircraft had any sort of "dark green mottling" like "Memphis Belle" had around the topside of the aircraft. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42- ... ut-yankee/

[Warbird Kid]

Thank you Mike for linking these shots! Its basically the only three I've found so far as well. I'm currently in contact with James Verinis (Jim's son) and he's supplied me with some additional photos, one with Captain Jim in the same location as the entire crew in front of "Connecticut Yankee" in the photo above, so it doesn't give me any more conclusions. I'm waiting to see if he has anymore pictures he could send me. I also have contacted the 91st BG Association to see if they have any other leads.

One thing I've just noticed that I overlooked on the model. The kit comes with the astrodome in the nose, so if I'm feeling ambitions I'll try to cut it off and drill out the additional windows. But I've already put the stars on! DOH!

[Steve Birdsall]

This Joe Harlick photo gives you a good look at the nose armament. Has anyone checked the Memhpis Belle raw footage for this aircraft?

[Jesse C.]

Wow, it is crazy to think that the Belle has been fully restored and placed on display since this thread was started!

[Warbird Kid]

This Joe Harlick photo gives you a good look at the nose armament. Has anyone checked the Memhpis Belle raw footage for this aircraft?

Thanks for the photo! This clears up what configuration the nose was in. And its funny you should ask that.. I watched The Cold Blue last night and caught one shot near the end at least that at least shows the tail of "Connecticut Yankee".



And wouldn't ya know it? It had the green "mottling" / "splotches"!

Now the only question is what was the overall scheme layout?!

[Steve Birdsall]

The raw footage gives you a wider view . . .

[mike furline]

FYI - Another random early B-17E https://www.ebay.com/itm/155107372132?h ... Sw5Sdi7coU

[Warbird Kid]

The raw footage gives you a wider view . . .

WOW! Thank you! This helps immensely! Question: is the raw footage available somewhere to view? Didn't know if it was publicly available.

[rcaf_100]

The raw footage gives you a wider view . . .

WOW! Thank you! This helps immensely! Question: is the raw footage available somewhere to view? Didn't know if it was publicly available.

It looks like they are on Youtube (at least some of it). Here's reel 1 of 34: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZMVfBvvafs

[Steve Birdsall]

Connecticut Yankee turns up in at least two other places, on reels 9 and 12 of those Memphis Belle outtakes on YouTube.