B-17 Memphis Belle™ to be placed on permanent display – May 17, 2018

One of the most recognizable symbols of World War II will once again report for duty exactly 75 years after its crew finished their last mission in the war against Nazi Germany on May 17, 1943.

The B-17F Memphis Belle™ – the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States – will be placed on public display at the National Museum of the U.S. on May 17, 2018.  Pilot Robert Morgan named the aircraft after his wartime girlfriend, Margaret Polk, of Memphis, Tenn. Morgan chose the now famous artwork from a 1941 George Petty illustration in Esquire magazine.

The crew of the “Memphis Belle”® after their 25th mission:
The crew of the “Memphis Belle”® after their 25th mission:

(l to r) TSgt. Harold Loch (top turret gunner/engineer), SSg.t Cecil Scott (ball turret gunner), TSgt. Robert Hanson (radio operator), Capt. James Verinis (copilot), Capt. Robert Morgan (pilot), Capt. Charles Leighton (navigator), SSgt. John Quinlan (tail gunner), SSgt. Casimer Nastal (waist gunner), Capt. Vincent Evans (bombardier), and SSgt. Clarence Winchell (waist gunner). (U.S. Air Force photo)

After returning to the United States in June 1943, its crew flew the aircraft across the country on a three-month war bond and morale boosting tour. With the bond tour and the 1944 William Wyler documentary color film titled “The Memphis Belle” – which contained actual combat footage – the aircraft and its crew became widely known and celebrated. In 1990 a major motion picture of the same name added to their fame.

Following decades of display in Memphis, the historic aircraft came to the museum in October 2005, when work began on a careful, multi-year conservation and restoration effort including corrosion treatment and the full outfitting of missing equipment, which continues today.

Tom Bachman tags a section of the famous B-17 bomber
Tom Bachman tags a section of the famous B-17 bomber

Memphis Belle, in the Restoration Division of the National Museum of the United States of the Air Force on Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The restoration is expected to take ten year restoration to complete. The museum is the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum featuring 400 aerospace vehicles on more than 17 acres of indoor exhibit space. Mr. Bachman is a restoration specialist. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

According to National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Curator Jeff Duford, the Memphis Belle is a national treasure, and will soon be the centerpiece of a new major exhibit in the museum’s WWII Gallery.

“The B-17F Memphis Belle is an icon that represents the thousands of bomber crews, maintainers, and others supporting the bomber mission, whose service and sacrifice helped win WWII.” said Duford. “Work is underway to showcase the aircraft in the WWII Gallery, and the surrounding exhibit will include interactive displays, rare archival film footage and many personal artifacts which have never been seen before by our visitors.”

(U.S. Air Force photo)
(U.S. Air Force photo)

 

Museum volunteers working on the “Memphis Belle” in the restoration hangar at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Museum volunteers working on the “Memphis Belle” in the restoration hangar at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)

 

(U.S. Air Force photo)
(U.S. Air Force photo)

Visitors can currently see the Memphis Belle as it undergoes the final stages of restoration by participating in the museum’s Behind the Scenes Tours, which are offered nearly every Friday (some exceptions). More information and registration for those tours is available at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/GroupsandTours.aspx.

 

Museum restoration specialist Brian Lindamood, cleans the B-17F Memphis Belle in preparation for painting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
Museum restoration specialist Brian Lindamood, cleans the B-17F Memphis Belle in preparation for painting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

 

Painting the undersurface of the starboard horizontal stabilizer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
Painting the undersurface of the starboard horizontal stabilizer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

 

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force restoration crews continue the painting process on the Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle. At this stage, the undercoat layers are mostly finished. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force restoration crews continue the painting process on the Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle. At this stage, the undercoat layers are mostly finished. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

 

With masking in place on the engine, and exhaust system, among other components, the paint team gets to work on Memphis Belle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
With masking in place on the engine, and exhaust system, among other components, the paint team gets to work on Memphis Belle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

 

Laying down the olive drab topcoat on the Memphis Belle’s vertical stabilizer. Note the fuselage in the background is the museum’s unique Boeing B-17D model of the Flying Fortress, The Swoose, 40-3097. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
Laying down the olive drab topcoat on the Memphis Belle’s vertical stabilizer. Note the fuselage in the background is the museum’s unique Boeing B-17D model of the Flying Fortress, The Swoose, 40-3097. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

 

Another shot showing the restoration team painting the olive drab topcoat on Memphis Belle’s fin. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
Another shot showing the restoration team painting the olive drab topcoat on Memphis Belle’s fin. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

 

Painting the gray coat on the under side of Memphis Belle’s No.4 engine. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
Painting the gray coat on the under side of Memphis Belle’s No.4 engine. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

 

Painting the topcoat over the silver-doped fabric on Memphis Belle’s control surfaces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
Painting the topcoat over the silver-doped fabric on Memphis Belle’s control surfaces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

 

Applying the finishing touches to the olive drab paint on Memphis Belle’s fabric-covered control surfaces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
Applying the finishing touches to the olive drab paint on Memphis Belle’s fabric-covered control surfaces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

 

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

The B-17F Memphis BelleTM will be placed on permanent public display on Thursday, May 17, 2018, with celebratory events on May 17-19, 2018. The preliminary schedule of events is as follows:

Thursday, May 17, 2018

B-17F Memphis BelleTM Exhibit ribbon cutting

WWII aircraft on static display on the runway behind the museum

WWII reenactors and vehicles

Air Force Museum Theatre Living History Event ($)

Friday, May 18, 2018

B-17F Memphis BelleTM Exhibit open

WWII aircraft on static display on the runway behind the museum

WWII reenactors and vehicles

Glenn Miller Concert

Saturday, May 19, 2018

B-17F Memphis BelleTM Exhibit open

WWII aircraft flyovers throughout the day

WWII reenactors and vehicles

Air Force Museum Theatre Living History Event ($)

Details are still being finalized. Schedule is subject to change. Outdoor activities are weather dependent.

Please continue to check our website for updates.