ajbUSWM Posted May 17, 2018 Share #1 Posted May 17, 2018 Memphis Belle is saved from the scrapheap: Legendary WWII bomber that survived 25 missions over occupied Europe is lovingly restored and put on display http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5740867/Legendary-WWII-bomber-survived-25-missions-occupied-Europe-lovingly-restored.html National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLeo Posted May 17, 2018 Share #2 Posted May 17, 2018 That is great news that it is restored and now be well taken care of rather than letting her sit and rust away and be vandalized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1canpara Posted May 17, 2018 Share #3 Posted May 17, 2018 Wow! It looks great! I saw the Belle in Memphis in the mid-90s and she was looking a bit rough, so glad someone was able to save her and give her a new life and a new home! Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted May 17, 2018 Share #4 Posted May 17, 2018 I think they forgot something under the row of bombs in mission log................or should I say they intentionally left something off. Sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbUSWM Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted May 17, 2018 Pic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbUSWM Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share #6 Posted May 17, 2018 Pic 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbUSWM Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted May 17, 2018 pic 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRIS FORD Posted May 17, 2018 Share #8 Posted May 17, 2018 I think they forgot something under the row of bombs in mission log................or should I say they intentionally left something off. Sad. But shown here in resto?? God forbid someone would be offended... You can't change HISTORY by pretending it didn't happen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRIS FORD Posted May 17, 2018 Share #9 Posted May 17, 2018 However..it does look like it has had several paint schemes.. But why show some of the swastikas, and not the MAIN ones?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted May 17, 2018 Share #10 Posted May 17, 2018 Great news about a great bird! Great job! Keeps the memory of all the brave WWII airmen alive! The 8th Air Force bombing campaign alone cost over 47,000 casualties with more than 26,000 killed in action. Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbUSWM Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share #11 Posted May 17, 2018 Survived 25 missions at a time when your chances of surviving 10 flights was low. Flights from November 7, 1942 to May 19, 1943 ... the height of German power over France. 7 November 1942 – Brest, France[10][N 1] 9 November 1942 – St. Nazaire, France [10] 17 November 1942 – St. Nazaire, France[10] 6 December 1942 – Lille, France[10] 20 December 1942* – Romilly-sur-Seine, France [10][11][12] 30 December 1942 – Lorient, France (flown by Lt. James A. Verinis) 3 January 1943 – St. Nazaire, France[10] 13 January 1943 – Lille, France[10] 23 January 1943 – Lorient, France[10] 14 February 1943 – Hamm, Germany[10] 16 February 1943 – St. Nazaire, France[10] 27 February 1943* – Brest, France[10][N 2] 6 March 1943 – Lorient, France[10] 12 March 1943 – Rouen, France[10] 13 March 1943 – Abbeville, France [10] 22 March 1943 – Wilhelmshaven, Germany [10] 28 March 1943 – Rouen, France[10] 31 March 1943 – Rotterdam, Netherlands [12][14][15] 16 April 1943 – Lorient, France[10] 17 April 1943 – Bremen, Germany [10] 1 May 1943 – St. Nazaire, France[10] 13 May 1943 – Meaulte, France (flown by Lt. C.L. Anderson) 14 May 1943 – Kiel, Germany (flown by Lt. John H. Miller) 15 May 1943 – Wilhelmshaven, Germany[10] 17 May 1943 – Lorient, France[10] 19 May 1943* – Kiel, Germany (flown by Lt. Anderson) [N 3] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted May 17, 2018 Share #12 Posted May 17, 2018 I just got back home from seeing this on display today. Looks great, its a very nice display area too with other artifacts on display as well as crew information etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted May 18, 2018 Share #13 Posted May 18, 2018 Did the "PC police" get the final say on the markings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tthen Posted May 18, 2018 Share #14 Posted May 18, 2018 Did the "PC police" get the final say on the markings? OK men fill me in, not sure what we are talking about. What was left out, I am quite aware of the aircraft but not sure what was left out. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted May 18, 2018 Share #15 Posted May 18, 2018 If you look at the original photos of the Belle, she had eight swastikas, representing eight German aircraft shot down by her gunners, under the mission symbols (bombs) on her nose. Although a few photos of the restoration in progress show them, they are nowhere to be seen in the coverage of the recent reveal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adg105200 Posted May 18, 2018 Share #16 Posted May 18, 2018 They left out the row of swastikas under the mission bombs. Not sure why. Great bird and absolutely great museum. I've been to it at least 4 or 5 times. Will possibly go again this August while on vacation as I haven't seen the new display of the Memphis Belle yet. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tthen Posted May 18, 2018 Share #17 Posted May 18, 2018 OK, thank you for the explanation. One last thing, what do the stars above the mission bombs represent? Why are they in what appears to be the same as the original position in the restoration picture and changed in the final reveal. Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted May 18, 2018 Share #18 Posted May 18, 2018 check out the BW picture in post 7 and then 8 the bomb colors and Memphis Belle are different colors, yet same formation and the pic of a modern Belle with the swastikas in post 8 are of the Belle coming in(?) to the museum from Mud Island... I am not informed enough on the swastika, but are they on correctly in post 8 from Mud Island or reversed? My point is maybe they were painted over and not yet repainted I am very impressed with the restoration and display.. having in flight is a great idea...hopefully they correct the marking issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted May 18, 2018 Share #19 Posted May 18, 2018 this had to have been a great day...two 91st BG vets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted May 18, 2018 Share #20 Posted May 18, 2018 Here is a YouTube video of why they chose these markings for the restoration. There are 2 parts. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted May 18, 2018 Share #21 Posted May 18, 2018 There’s also a video on the ceremony from 2 days ago. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbUSWM Posted May 18, 2018 Author Share #22 Posted May 18, 2018 Great stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted May 18, 2018 Share #23 Posted May 18, 2018 Very educational...did not know about the publicity markings....clearly explains the difference in markings... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted May 18, 2018 Share #24 Posted May 18, 2018 Very interesting about the markings. I am glad to see they did such extensive research and are going for the historically accurate markings rather than the war bond markings. This is why we should not jump to conclusions about why a restoration was done a certain way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted May 18, 2018 Share #25 Posted May 18, 2018 Now they just need to strip the paint off Shoo Shoo Baby so she can look like she originally did too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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