B-17 "Piccadilly Lilly"

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Hi All,

Now, please excuse me this perhaps blatant brain phart....but does Planes of Fame own this one and (wait for the real dumb part of the question) is this the same aircraft used in the movie 12 OClock High ??

Paul

[Chris]

This may be an urban legend but it has a lot of credibility. I was on tour a few years ago with our B-17 Sentimental Journey in Cheyenne Wy. We went to a bar there called the Armory. Inside hanging from the ceiling was the front half of a B-17 with the outboard wing panel of a C-47 bolted on somehow. The cockpit was cut away on the left side and here is where the urban legend kicks in. We were told that this was the prop used for the close in shots of all cockpit filming. The cockpit was still very complete. I've many different stories about the Chino bird but I'm just happy to see those guys finally able to do something with it. I'm sure it will be a first class restoration when it's done.

[Dennis7423]

Chris-

That bird you speak of is actually here in Greeley, CO, at the State Armory, a local dance club and pub. I believe that your are correct, that it is a urban legend that this bird was used for filiming. From what I hear, the bird is in decent shape, and the holes have been cut in it in order to facilitate the fitting of dance and strobe lights. Wish this bird was in the air under a little different circumstances!

-Dennis S.
Greeley, CO

[bomberflight]

Dennis ~

It would be wrong to encourage you to hang around bars obviously
but ~ some pictures of this airplane would be much appreciated !

Peter

[aerovin]

For two photos, look here:
http://www.aerovintage.com/b17news.htm
under January 2004.

[Connery]

This directly from the POF Website

The Planes of Fame Museum Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, #44-83684, flew with the US Air Force until the mid 1950's. After her service, she was surplussed until her reintroduction as a movie star. She appeared in quite a few movies and TV productions including "The Thousand Plane Raid," "For Apache," and "Black Sheep Squadron." Her most famous role, however, was as 'Piccadilly Lilly' in "Twelve O'Clock High" (see images below). The plane was flown to the museum one last time in 1975 and has not flown since. It is expected that the restoration will cost approximately $1,000,000 to complete

[bdk]

They have recently stripped the plane to bare metal.

[Connery]

Also, I do have many photos of Lilly when she was still flying back in the early 70's. These were taken at the now non-existant Great Southwest Airport in Arlington, TX. This is also the location of where the last B-36 "City of Ft Worth" sat for many years. This is the B-36 that was partially restored before the Air Force stepped in and gave the plane to PIMA. If anyone is interested in the pics, I can scan them in and post them to the group.

[TimAPNY]

We all love pictures, the older the better.

[Connery]

I finally found the pictures of Lilly, Texas Raider, Diamond Lil, Scatterbrain Kid, and the Last B-36 from back in the early 70's. I have started to scan them all but it will take some time. They also need to be edited some as they have yellowed from age. Here is the first one that I have scanned so far.

[Rocketeer]

Photos, stories, and/or restoration insight regarding Piccadilly Lilly are welcome here!

[JohnB]

) is this the same aircraft used in the movie 12 OClock High ??Paul

Just to make it perfectly clear, not the movie, but the TV show.