Boeing Bee on temporary outdoor display as of today

[p51]

I don’t recall the year, but I think 1999 might be right for the last time she was outside. I know I was still on active duty at the time.
The Museum of Flight in Seattle has asked my living history group to provide re-enactors for an event with that bird on July 16. We should have a 10-man crew and other "strap hangers" in WW2 uniform most of the day, and they want us in "first person" mode (acting like we're in 1944). They also want us to hang around for the “hangar dance” afterward so I’ll have to take my War Correspondent class As for that as well. Gonna be a long day that day: http://www.museumofflight.org/heroes-of-the-homefront
The photos below are from the last time we did this, a much smaller event in 2003 for a “60th birthday” commemoration at Renton:


I’m far right on the bottom photo.

[whistlingdeath77]

very nice shots. Guys look great next to that 17

[michaelharadon]

Has anyone in the NW Geiger countered that rain? It just might be giving new meaning to the term "nuclear family"...

[The Inspector]

No, but every path is well lit, no one needs a night light or reading lamp in bed, and the local dwarf bunny population can jump over the Space Needle
And I've heard reports of giant Ants or scorpions

Last edited by The Inspector on Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[whistlingdeath77]

please no rain please no rain please please........

[Dan Johnson II]

Has it ever been explained how they so completely missed on the OD/Gray paint job on Boeing Bee? You'd think they'd have the best chance to get it right

[Randy Haskin]

Has it ever been explained how they so completely missed on the OD/Gray paint job on Boeing Bee? You'd think they'd have the best chance to get it right

I highly doubt that the guys in the commercial airplane group paint shop during the 1990s had any idea.

[mustangdriver]

I always asked the same thing. I seem to recall reading somewhere that it is actually correct as some of the early F models were painted this way at the plant. That a little later the demarcation lines were changed. Not sure if there is any truth to that or just some BS, but like I said I do remember reading it some where. I always want to go and add some inches of OD.

[Chris Brame]

I'd like to see her training field codes and name Patricia reapplied - it'd be the only trainer-marked B-17 on display if they did.

[The Inspector]

But, that's not the way the restoration sponsor wanted it done, which is why the FG-1 fished out of Lake Washington after a post war midair is painted inaccurately, because that's what the sponsor wanted.

"my name is Edith Anne and I'm four years old.." mentality

[Steve Nelson]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that it is actually correct as some of the early F models were painted this way at the plant. That a little later the demarcation lines were changed

I'm not saying it never happened, but every pic I've ever seen of a factory OD/NG paint job on a B-17 from the E forward had the OD wrapping around the lower cowl lip.* Boeing Bee also has completely bogus interior colors..but again, when she was restored nobody was really much concerned about that sort of thing. Back then, everybody "knew" that all US aircraft were painted "interior green" nose to tail inside. I remember being a little disappointed by the paint job when I first saw pictures of her, as they had been promoting her as the most accurate B-17 restoration ever.

I know I'm a bit of a "Paint Job Nazi," which can be frowned upon on this forum, so I try not to be too obnoxious. BB is still a lot better than some B-17s still languishing on outdoor display with far less accurate markings.

SN

*I notice the "Movie Memphis Belle" has sort of approximated this by painting the entire cowls OD. I doesn't look quite right to me, but I suppose for an operational warbird it has the advantage of making the cowl panels interchangable.

[Mudge]

I'll bring youse troops some rain from the UK. WX report says it's gonna' rain every day we're there. I know rain in the UK isn't that unusual, but EVERY DAY. BUMMER

Mudge the disappointed

[Mudge]

I don’t recall the year, but I think 1999 might be right for the last time she was outside. I know I was still on active duty at the time.
The Museum of Flight in Seattle has asked my living history group to provide re-enactors for an event with that bird on July 16. We should have a 10-man crew and other "strap hangers" in WW2 uniform most of the day, and they want us in "first person" mode (acting like we're in 1944). They also want us to hang around for the “hangar dance” afterward so I’ll have to take my War Correspondent class As for that as well. Gonna be a long day that day: http://www.museumofflight.org/heroes-of-the-homefront
The photos below are from the last time we did this, a much smaller event in 2003 for a “60th birthday” commemoration at Renton:


I’m far right on the bottom photo.

There are those here who will slam you as "posers".

Mudge the "Poser" (and proud of it.)

[Steve Nelson]

Well..they are posing in front of the airplane...

[b17engineer]

I'm extremely surprised that they even had covers made, given their intention to never fly the plane again. Rick