http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat/sets/72157616315172700/
Detail photos of the Museum of Flight ongoing restoration work.
Thank you very much for sharing that with us, I really do appreciate that.
From reading the B-17’s history on that page I think a mystery has been solved for me. When I was a kid (I was born in 79) my dad took me and my brothers to the airshow in geneseo NY, used to have 3-5 B-17’s there every year. Two of them where based out of there year round, B-17G Fuddy Duddy and B-17F Kathleen. The F models owner was at that time, “Bomber” Bob Richardson, I knew that much and that she was in the movie memphis belle. I remember reading that Bob died a few years after the movie came out and that the museum was fighting with his family because he wanted the museum to have the airplane but his family wanted to sell it, and they did. This was in 91 or 92 maybe? After she was sold, I didnt know to where she went and always wondered what happened to her, I believe this is her, this is Kathleen.
Are they going to be flying her? How bout the B-29?
Some good photos there… Some bad ones too though… That B-17 tailgunner’s canopy has a “bandaid” on it…
Bookmarked it though… Thanks, man…
Hello fellow B17 addicts!
Has anyone heard of/viewed the film COMBAT AMERICA?
It is what Clark Gable was working on between combat missions during WWII. Very Hokey/propagandaish but some really good footage of B17s and interviews with enlisted guys not officers. . .though they refer to him as “Captain” and he was a LT at the time? Anyway, good stuff as well as the original Memphis Belle, not the remake.
Interesting aside; when Morgan asked the film maker what would have happened if Memphis Belle did not return form her 25th mission. . .he said, no problem I have footage of Hells Angels.
W
Heh, I knew Bob Morgan… He said to me once, if you want to know how it was, watch 12 O’Clock High… If you want to know how it wasn’t, watch Memphis Belle… I had three uncles in 17s (two gunners and a pilot) and none of 'em liked that movie…
I agree HvH! Even the WWII Memphis Belle was a piece meant to get the USA behind the war effort, but the Hollywood remake was CRAP. I had a chance to see the Memphis Belle before the 60 minutes piece and the effort of the people of Memphis to get her a home. She sure looked like she needed a friend then.
I have heard form more than One Vet that 12 O’Clock High was the thing to watch, Vets from BOTH sides in fact.
But you gotta just like the footage shot from the interior, turn the sound down . . .way down and WATCH.
Will
12 O’Clock High is still used by the USAF Academy in their Leadership Training courses…
So if there were bags/boxes to catch the spent shells, why are they all over the floor?
W
Thanks! Those will come in handy!
deadhead,
It all depends on the angle of the gun at the time. Some went in, some went out!