[Bringbackthedraft]

Looks like a G Model, the late war model, no longer painted olive drab. I believe I read somewhere that they were rebuilding the Memphis Belle, an earlier model, to flying condition.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

You are correct.It is a late G model with staggered waist windows and Cheyenne tail gun position.I am associated with the owner of this b-17 and we are rebuilding another one to fly.This one is in the markings of his Dads plane.His father was the tail gunner on the original Liberty Belle flying his first mission in support of the Normandy invasion on June 6 of 44.He flew thirty five missions and came home.

[Notary Sojac]

The Memphis Belle is being restored, but as a museum exhibit, not to flying condition.

I've never flown in a B-17, but about 15 years ago I had the privilege of sitting up here in the copilot's seat of the only pre-war Fortress still extant (although unrestored as you can clearly see)....

while listening to one of her former pilots talk about flying her around the SW Pacific in 1944.

[tanknetter]

Looks like a G Model, the late war model, no longer painted olive drab. I believe I read somewhere that they were rebuilding the Memphis Belle, an earlier model, to flying condition.

Sort of. The National Museum of the USAF now has possession of the Memphis Belle and is doing a full-up, comprehensive restoration of her. But even if she ends up in "flying condition", there's no way - at all - that she's ever taking to the air again.

NMUSAF also just took ownership and possession of Swoose from the National Air and Space Museum a month or two ago. Swoose is the sole remaining "sharktail" B-17, a "D" version that was converted to a General's transport after flying some of the first bombing missions of WWII out of the Philippines. She's colocated with Memphis Belle and the two are going to be restored side-by-side.

Liberty Belle is a pretty unique airframe, even amongst B-17s. After WWII she was converted into an engine testbed for Pratt and Whitney. She actually had one of the extremely-powerful late/post-war engines crammed into her nose as a fifth engine, and was capable of flight on that engine alone.

She was retired and eventually made her way into the collection of the New England Air Museum. In 1979 she got seriously torn up by the tornado that chewed through NEAM's collection. IIRC she had a Grumman Albatross flip over and rake down her back. She should have been razorblades after that, and it's absolutely amazing (and a testament to the very hard work and dedication of those who restored her) that she's capable of flying again.

[Figment]

“I believe I read somewhere that they were rebuilding the Memphis Belle, an earlier model, to flying condition.

They might rebuild her to flying condition, but she’ll never fly again. She was confiscated from Memphis by the Air Force Museum for lack of care and respect(thank you Willie Herenton) She’ll be on permanent static display when restored

[Bringbackthedraft]

Back in the late 80’s I was in a hanger at USAFB Dover DE and had the opportunity to roam around inside a B 17 that they were re building. It never saw action in WW II, it was to be used as a drone. It still had the drab color. I wonder what happened to it. There was also a HE 111 at the shows up until a couple of years ago. It was used in the movie Battle of Britain and was of Spanish origin built with different engines. I’ve been told it crashed and was totalled out. I was in it at one of the shows and it was cramped inside. BTW, the B-17 didn’t seem as large inside as they appear in the movies. The cat walk that divides the bombay area is narrow and there isn’t that much room in the waist as it appears in films. Obviously they had to build sets to allow the cameras in. As a kid, they still had them near our home flying out of a NAS for sea patrols. The last time one flew over me was 1956, and boy, do I miss hearing the sound of their engines.