16 replies to this topic

[Amigatec]

For those of you that are close enough to attend, Memphis Belle is one of 13 still flying B-17 bombers. It will be in Tulsa on the 8th and 9th of June. At the Tulsa Air and Space Museum.

You can book a ride on it for the low, low price of $450, and believe that is probably to cheap for a ride on a 68 year old aircraft.
http://www.libertyfo...g/schedule.html

Edited by Amigatec, May 28, 2013 - 04:48 PM.

[HDWildBill]

When did they make the Memphis Belle air worthy again?  It used to be a static display in Memphis.

[Amigatec]

I'm thinking the plane was called something before. I do know that the B-24 named Diamond Lil was also called 'Ol 927 at one time.

[OldBuzzard]

The original Memphis Bell, a B-17F, is currently undergoing restoration at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Ari Force Base in Dayton, OH

 

The flying "Memphis Belle", owned by the Liberty Foundation, is  a B-17F, that was re-painted as the Memphis Belle for a 1989 movie about the original Belle.

 

I had the pleasure of seeing the original Belle when she was still on Mud Island in Memphis.  The wife and I were taking a cruise from Memphis to St. Louis on the American Queen and the bus bringing us from the airport to the Queen went right past the Belle.  There was enough time before the Queen left port that I was able to walk back to the exhibit.

Edited by OldBuzzard, May 28, 2013 - 06:28 PM.

[Amigatec]

I may be weird, but I like things that make other things blowup.

I also plan to make another trip to see the USS Batfish, a WWII submarine on display in Muskogee. I've been there twice, but I can never get enough of it.

[Amigatec]

There is also a B-25 Mitchell that hangers in Jenks OK, I have seen it many times.

[UncleWillie]

I have seen the Sentimental Journal a couple of times, but never the Belle. I would love to see it.

 

The Journey was one of the last 17s built during WWII but it never saw action. It served for several years as a firefighting plane then was restored to military trim.

[LilysDad]

There was a B-17 that flew out of the Aurora, Illinois airport that crashed a few years back.

[Amigatec]

I had a chance to see Diamond Lil a few years ago, it's a B-24A, it was the 18th plane built.

[superaben]

There was a B-17 that flew out of the Aurora, Illinois airport that crashed a few years back.

 

I know the widow of a man who crashed a P-38 Lightning, one of (I think) 6 left.  He was an author who saved quite a few firsthand stories of the war, and wrote some great books for WWII fans.  The man preparing the plane had done something stupid to the fuel, to the effect that the plane ran out of gas while in the air, and didn't win in the fight with the ground when the author tried to crash land it. 

 

Ben W.

[HDWildBill]

In my late teens I lived in Memphis for a few years before going in the Navy.  I used to go by the Belle just about every day and stopped quite often.  My Brother worked with the air national guard years ago and they did a partial restore on it.  When we wrote or talked he told me what he was working on, on her.

 

Thanks OB for clearing that up.

[JD DANNELS]

I got to tour the Confederate Airforce meuseum in 1990 in Harligen, Tx and see a lot of WWII aircraft.
I think they have moved since then.

[Texas Deere and Horse]

Who ever gets the chance to stop by the Write-Pat. Air Museum, should, it's well worth the time. I have been there a few times.

 

Wish I could get up to Tulsa one of these days to see that show.

[OldBuzzard]

Who ever gets the chance to stop by the Write-Pat. Air Museum, should, it's well worth the time. ...

I grew up in Xenia Oh, and lived in Dayton for a short time and in Cincinnati for quite awhile after than. I've been to the AF Museum more times than I can count.

 

I was going to it when it was in Fairborn OH, long before it moved to it's current location. No matter how many times I've been there, I always see something new every time.

 

If any of you folks DO decide to go there, make sure to schedule at least two days for it, as you can't possibly see everything in just one day.

[Team_Green]

The Rock Island Base has a fantastic collection of arms to see.. worth the trip.. while there go see the JD shops..