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DraconisZodiark In reply to TroyDoesRS [2018-01-27 14:41:14 +0000 UTC]

Memphis Belle is an B-17 F model. That's Sally B, a G model B-17, with the name painted on it but it was used in the Memphis Belle film (1990). The real Memphis Belle is under restoration at the National Museum of the USAF at Wright-Patterson AFB. www.chriskern.net/essay/belleU…

Last year, the museum announced the goal of completing the restoration and displaying the Memphis Belle on May 17, 2018, the 75th anniversary of the plane's 25th mission.

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TroyDoesRS In reply to DraconisZodiark [2018-01-27 18:26:16 +0000 UTC]

Explain the pin up on the nose "Memphis Belle"

And I was at the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum and got to see the Memphis Belle personally.

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Daniel-Wales-Images In reply to TroyDoesRS [2018-01-28 07:30:20 +0000 UTC]

As DaemonAngel  already stated, the "Memphis Belle" livery was was applied for filming work for the eponymous movie back in the late 1980s. She was used to play the Belle in several scenes of the movie. However when the filming wrapped, the operators of this aircraft decided to keep her painted as "Memphis Belle".

This particular particular Fortress is well known to aviation enthusiasts, as she is now the only existing example of the type flying outside of the United States. She does not have any war history. However, her history actually lays in survey and mapping work with national geographic when she was based in France in the post war years and beyond. However in the mid 1970s after retiring from this work, she was acquired by a man known as Ted White and brought to the UK. He named the aircraft "Sally B" after his partner "Ellie Sallingboe". Unfortunately in 1982, Ted was killed while flying a T-6 Texan in Malta. Ellie decided that she was going to keep the aircraft flying in the UK, both in memory of her late partner and all those that served in such aircraft from our shores during world war two. She has flown in the UK now for over 45 years and continues to achieve that original aim. The yellow and black cowling which was not part of the original "Memphis Belle" livery, was applied in memory of Ted, as this was the livery that adorned the nose of his Texan.

Anyway, despite still wearing the "Memphis Belle" livery, she is known most famously as "Sally B" and she still retains the "Sally B" nose art on the opposite side of her nose. As can be seen in the images below.

       

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Xantec In reply to BritishGypsum4 [2018-09-26 12:27:42 +0000 UTC]

was PA474 down for servicing then?

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