Warbird Information Exchange

Yeah!! When I write for the Friend's Journal, I send my stuf to him. He then gets them edited and placed in the magazine. Great guy.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I have talked with Jerry the last 2 times we have been down to the museum. I have been a "Friend" of the museum for 21 years now and that's how I know him. The next time you see him, tell him I said hey!

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I will. I am working on an article on the interview I did with Bud Anderson. Next time I talk to him, I will tell him.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

To all interested parties who love B-17s:

On March 11, 2009 the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum asked us, Doug and Mary Jo Reed, to research and write the operational history for use in brochures, talks given by museum staff, waysides and by historians anything we could find concerning the B-17G the museum now owns as well as the original City of Savannah B-17G of WWII. The existing plane is 44-83814 and the WWII plane shot down March 5, 1944 (City of Sav) was 42-97542. My wife discovered the WIX forums and we received confirmation today of membership.

So far we have uncovered a large amount of information concerning the 44-83814. We have gathered over 20 historic photographs of the plane dating from as early as 1956 ( we hope soon to have one from 1945 or 46) up through the years of its fire fighting days. There are many more on the way. We have two folks located and are communicating with them. One is the pilot who initially purchased it from the military, himself a returning B-17 vet who was a POW for 601 days. He managed to get it to Hazen, ND. From there it went to a broker in Florida, purchased and was stationed in Canada and came back to the states in 1971. It flew in active use until 1981, was restored and then flown by father and son Kolb to Dulles and the Smithsonian took control. That 1981 flight was its last flight. Since the story has only started to unfold, we are still eager to get whatever we can to fill in many holes and add to the really incredible stories we have just started to uncover.

We have sent private email requests to a few who have posted information and comments concerning the 83814 as well as the original City of Savannah. However, it sounds to me like there has been a long, on-going discussion on these planes and since we are new to this forum, we are very eager to catch any information we can from anyone who would offer it. If you want to verify our credentials, get in touch with Marshall Brooks or Jerry McLaughlin who are in command of the research and restoration of the B-17 or Sheila Saxon, staff contact at the Mighty Eighth.

I thank all of you for your time and hope to hear from you. We will keep you posted as time moves forward on interesting details as they unfold.
Thanks for everything,

Doug Reed

douglasscreed@myactv.net

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Researching B-17 G City of Savannah 42-97542 shot down March 5, 1944 for Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. Any information appreciated.

Welcome to the forum! As you can see by the length of this particular thread, there is a lot of interest in B-17s! Your input will be quite welcome here in the Warbird community. There may be a few that gripe about A/C being caged and not allowed to fly, but to each his own. If it weren't for museums that "captured" some of these aircraft, I'm quite sure we would see fewer of them around these days.

I will be following with interest the development of the "City of Savannah" display and hope to make it up there to see her sometime.

Chris

Welcome aboard Doug. Now just make sure they don't paint the thing OD.

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

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Thanks django,

I am happy to be on board. I'll make the suggestion they not paint the plane. However, the good news is I don't think they are going to paint the plane anyway. The bird they are trying to mimmick is the downed City of Savannah which was a shinny skinned B-17G bird as well.

Hope that is good news.

Doug

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Researching B-17 G City of Savannah 42-97542 shot down March 5, 1944 for Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. Any information appreciated.

The way we have it in the combat gallery of the museum it would be extremely tough to paint it without disturbing allot of the surroundings. I think she will stay "shiny".

Any updates on the current status of the restoration? What is needed for the interior/exterior, etc.? Thanks...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

That's good. I was worried when someone in one of the press releases talked about painting it back to the original OD, when the "City of Savanah" was obviously NMF!

This will give you some inspiration then.
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=28772

It looks like her tail shined up pretty good, on the tail gunner area.
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=28821

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

Visit Django Studios online or Facebook!

We need the turrets. And the radio room equipment . I know there are more things but that is off the top of my head.