Memphis Belle to fly again

[pilto von pilto]

Shylock : I dont even want to think about the amount of time and effort that has gone into all of that . But if I were... I'd say sensational idea and good job. Wish I had thought of it actually.

 

[Shylock]

Tacpack....lolol

 

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some photos of the (true) "Memphis Belle", as seen during the war and after. Note that once it was back in the States, and on the war bond tour, anyone and everyone began adding their signatures to the aircraft - most of which can still be seen scratched and etched into the bare metal today, which of course will no longer be apparent when the aircraft is painted again as it comes to completion at the USAF Museum, sometime within the next 2 years.

Note

Margaret Polk's graduation photo.​

 

[Bomber_12th]

 

[Bomber_12th]

After the war bond tour, the aircraft was assigned to State-side training command, hence the nose number "84" in this shot.

 

[Shylock]

Great pics John. I've never seen some of those before so thanks. I really would like to see the Belle when she's full restored.

 

[huub vink]

John,

Thanks for all the background information and sharing these interesting pictures .

Its really odd to read that another first wasn't the real first one again It seems history is full of them!

Cheers,
Huub

 

[Willy]

Can't find the original, but I used this for an avatar for a while. It was taken at a Millington airport airshow during the time that Memphis Belle was disassembled for restoration before the AF museum unilaterally decided to abscond with her. I've since decided that the $20 I donated for her restoration would have been better spent at Taco Bell or something.

 

[gray eagle]

Robert Morgan and the "Memphis Belle" Margaret Polk of Memphis, Tenn. Morgan's famous B-17 Bomber was named in her honor.

Robert Morgan and the Crew of 'MEMPHIS BELLE' on completion of historic Mission #25

 

[gray eagle]

 

[Shylock]

I could have used these years ago when I was building my 1/48 scale Memphis Belle lol

 

[Bomber_12th]

The B-17F "Hell's Angels", which was the actual first B-17 to complete 25 missions, also got the graffiti treatment when it eventually returned State-side and flew across the country on its war bond tour, like the 'Belle. It seems everyone that came into contact with these aircraft wanted to leave their mark.

 

[Bomber_12th]

The crowds having at it on the "Memphis Belle" - most of these signatures can still be seen etched in the metal today, all part of the history: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/071010-F-1234S-012.jpg

I've always felt this is a fantastic shot, with the composition of the guns.

 

[bazzar]

Where on earth do you dig up these shots John... they're just great. The Gyro Directional Compass on the glareshield of the Belle is not standard F-10 fare, Must have been fitted for or during the trip home. We have a bog standard F-10 cockpit so that it will fit with other F-10s.

 

[gray eagle]

Where on earth do you dig up these shots John... they're just great. The Gyro Directional Compass on the glareshield of the Belle is not standard F-10 fare, Must have been fitted for or during the trip home. We have a bog standard F-10 cockpit so that it will fit with other F-10s.

I'd venture to say that Mr Terrill's source(s) are identical to the ones I used for the pics I previously posted ^.

Here is a link to some additional info for your perusal:

http://spotlights.fold3.com/2013/03/25/the-memphis-belle/

watch documentary Here

 

[Bomber_12th]

Baz, I suspect your absolutely right regarding the directional compass atop the instrument panel shroud, being a post-factory/in-service modification. In a 1970's era photo of the Belle's cockpit, that gauge and bracket are long gone, but then in a collection of photos of the interior restoration of the aircraft as of 2009/2010, the bracket for the gauge is fitted again.

Right now, at the USAF Museum, they are waiting for the interior restoration of the Memphis Belle to be completed before they paint the exterior. Last I heard they expect it to take up to two more years to complete the restoration.


Another cockpit detail I've picked up on over the years is the communications radios used in the B-17's in England. Usually the B-17 cockpits are always modeled with the standard/factory-type installation of the SCR-274 radio set, as would have been used State-side and in some Theatres like the CBI. However, in England, the SCR-274 set wasn't fully supported, and the VHF SCR-522 radio set (British TR-1133) was the only standard/norm. Rather than the BC-450 control box (SCR-274) fitted to the ceiling of the cockpit (you can see it removed in the photo of the cockpit of the Memphis Belle, with just the mount/plugs remaining), a BC-602 control box for the SCR-522 was attached to the left of the center console, in easy reach of the pilot. All bombers, fighters, and troop carriers flying in and out of England required this particular radio set, and it also became the standard VHF set in the Pacific as well.

 

[Shylock]

Now that's a great find. Never knew about that radio being located there. I know they were on the fighters. Where did you find these pics? Please share if you have more.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some more photos showing the SCR-522 radio set BC-602 control box located in the cockpit. Again, this was the standard setup for B-17's and all other bombers, fighters, and troop carriers operating out of England, as the English had established all communications to be on VHF bands, which the British TR-1133 and the American copy/production version SCR-522 were designed for. The US adopted it in the Pacific Theatre as well. The only drawback to the SCR-522 was that it couldn't be used State-side during the war, since all of the State-side control towers and beacons broadcast on lower frequencies, so the SCR-522 was useless in the United States (that's why aircraft that were fitted with the SCR-522, flying across the US from places of manufacture to places of deployment, also would have a temporary Detrola receiver fitted, which picked up the low frequencies - once in Theatre, the Detrola receivers were removed).






And these photos provide a better look at the installation of the BC-602 control. This is a very accurate/authentic B-17G cockpit/fuselage recreation, using a lot of original parts and built using the original Boeing blueprints. More photos can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/B-17-Cockpit-Project/268908496739?sk=photos_stream

 

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some more not often seen photos of the "Memphis Belle".

Here's another cockpit photo that goes along with one of those I posted above. Note the interesting setup of the turbo tachometers in the location of where you'd typically see the intercooler controls.

 

[huub vink]

Great pictures John , thanks for sharing.

Huub