Warbird Information Exchange

This just in today from the email newsletter of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force ( NMUSAF )

Quote

B-17F Memphis Belle: The volunteer staff is restoring the radial engines. The aft tail section has been stripped of interior parts, and sheet metal repairs were started. The outside of the aft tail section has been stripped of paint, and the staff discovered names that had been scratched into the metal during the Memphis Belle war bond tour. The upper turret was dismantled and cleaned, and reassembly has started with the missing items that have been obtained. The vertical stabilizer has been stripped of paint and needed repairs have been noted

Unqoute

Blue Skies ......

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Blue Skies .....

Peter

Consolidated by US state ~ see if there's a heavy bomber tour stop coming to an airport near you ...... http://www.bomberflight.info

Warbirdapps on facebook ~ every day a new image from my personal journey thru the world of warbirds ..... https://www.facebook.com/Warbirdapps

The guys at Memphis had the vertical off of the airframe two years ago and were making repairs in a room seperate from the main hangar. This is news ? They act like they just discovered the damage.

Since the museam at WPAFB just got the Memphis Belle, does anyone know what there gonna do with "Shoo Shoo baby"?

From what I've read, the museum will keep and display both of them...

The well-known restaurant in Greeley Colorado that had the B-17 center section hanging from the ceiling donated a ball turret and other parts to the "Belle".

A great gesture for this historic aircraft.

Derek
www.buffiesbest.com

What was wrong with the original turret?

Whats the restraunt called?

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The conquest of space is worth the risk of life. - Gus Grissom

Whats the restraunt called?[/quote]

The restaurant is the Armory - a bar / student hang-out on Main Street near the University in Greeley, CO. They have the center section of a B-17 - from the cockpit to just behind where the ball turret was.

This was probably the most complete ball turret - still will all the fix'ns inside as well as the drive motors. (The story goes that the plane was purchased surplus and flown in to Greeley, dismantled and then placed into this big building via taking down the back wall - but others may know more).

The building was not wide enough for the B-17 wings so they grafted on the outer wing panels to a DC-3. Still very cool to see hanging over your head when your eating a buffalo burger.

They also had a top turret and the seats donated.

Derek
www.buffiesbest.com