Memphis Belle profile

[tsorvasg]

Hi everyone,

I am currently working on a project for the next month's profile for a magazine and I am about to make a colour profile for B-17E "Memphis Belle" (I think it is an "E" type).
The problem that I am facing is that I cannot find any detailed color profile or closeup photo of the plane itself
I only got the tail serials. Also I would be obliged if someone could pass me up the pin up with the red bathing suit

[GiantFlyingRobots]

Google 'Memphis Belle' images (I just did) there is a myriad of both period and current images of the Belle including close ups of the nose art.
http://www.towermuseumbassingbourn.c...lle%20Lady.gif

[Jarink]

The Belle was actually a B-17F-10-BO. The -10 indicates the production block - very important when you're talking about B-17s. The -BO indicates it was produced by Boeing (-DL machines were made under license by Douglas and -VE by Vega). I'd be EXTREMELY careful using any current photos as references. There is at least one B-17 flying that has Belle art on one side, but it's not the real plane and it's not even an F model! There are also a lot of pictures on the web that are of planes used in the 1990 movie. Again, they are not 100% accurate. The original movie made during WWII makes a much better reference, though the quality is far poorer. You can (legally!) download a copy from here.

One very important detail - the name "Memphis Belle" should be in block letters, not in script.

There are some good photos, including some of interesting details at the Memphis Belle Memorial Association Website.

There are also some photos on the National Museum of the USAF's site.

[Vacajun]

Here's one of the imposters. The movie bird with wacky art work. Anyone know the story behind why this bird ended up with such screwed up markings?

[Vacajun]

Ooops- here's the photo taken at Langley AFB open house a couple of weekends ago..

[BLOWHARD]

"E" type

uh...

Er...ah...

Sorry, but it's a GREAT car and a pretty cool almost unknown band. I see there's a new-ish heavy metal ban called E Types now too.

[BurningBeard]

The original Memphis Bell did have that girl on it but the font used is bogus. The one they used was small and neat, with no style at all.

Beard

[Jarink]

Vacajun - that picture perfectly illustrates what I was trying to say. That particular plane is actually a B-17G with the chin turret removed. I think they left the M.B. art on it because it's probably the only B-17 name known to the general public. But, the girl is wrong (the wrong color - the left side girl was in blue and the right side was red), the font is wrong, the nose glass is wrong and the cheek windows are wrong (since it's a G).

Here's what it should look like:

Good pics of the restoration

The real Belle in Memphis before the start of her recent restoration:



I've been meaning to start a profile of "Knockout Dropper" since one of her ball turret gunners, Sgt Leroy L. Mace, is from my hometown of Pekin, Illinois. He was part of the crew when the plane became the first 8th AF B-17 to complete 50 missions on 16 Nov, 1943. I think this discussion may have given me the the push to get started!

[tsorvasg]

As far as I know, the plane used in 1990 movie was a B-17G. Since I am going to make a left faced profile of the plane I have to ask the girl to change suits and put on the blue one
I will look up in my Osprey database to find the right blueprint. Does anyone know in which squadron it belonged during 1944?

[Jarink]

324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group. Codes on the fuselage were DF-A with no group insignia on the tail, just the serial number.

It wasn't there in 1944, though. The crew and plane completed their 25-mission tour in May of 1943 and were shortly thereafter sent back to the US for a war bonds tour.