Memphis Belle profile

[tsorvasg]

Thanks, Jarink

Does anyone know what is the text typed over the bomb sories, yellow bombs that is (it is in black under the last nose window)?

Also, what was her color scheme for 1943?

[tsorvasg]

second question answered, dark olive drab with neutral grey...

[Vacajun]

You really need to look at the excellent sites that Jarink has recommended. The Belle did have faded OD/Neutral Grey camo, but with Medium Green 42 splotches on the upper surfaces. This is shown in profiles by Tom Tullis at Prints
although his color for Medium Green is much too green. BTW, checking a set of original ANA color chips I have against the SPS site's color swatches, the RGB mix given here for MG 42 is much too light!

IMHO, the best rendition of Belle in profile was by Peter E. Castle in Profile Publication 77 on the B-17E&F. He at least did a decent job on the markings, but the aircraft outline (especially the vertical tail) is all wrong!! If anyone knows of a decent profile of the Memphis Belle, please let me know.

Bottom line is that we need for Jarink to come up with an accurate profile (the first?) of the Belle.

[tsorvasg]

my profile is going to be decent...

I will put a jacket on the girl's shoulders to cover the bathing suit...

Seriously know, I have read that the color scheme is dark olive green and neutral gray with green finishes... And I couldn't help noticing that the "Belle" did not have a radio letter on tail. Why was that?

Note that I even found the black writing over the bomb scores...

Back to work!

[tsorvasg]

sorry not green, drab...

[Jarink]

Bottom line is that we need for Jarink to come up with an accurate profile (the first?) of the Belle.

Weeeeellll... 'Suppose I could think about it.

And I couldn't help noticing that the "Belle" did not have a radio letter on tail. Why was that?

The markings on B-17s were in a constant state of change. There were official policies regarding markings, but they were often not followed or implemented in different ways by different groups. (That's why good pictures or other reliable references are a must when making B-17 profiles. ) In the Belle's case, there was no letter on the tail since 8th Bomber Command had not yet set a policy of placing either the radio letter or even geometric group markings on the tail yet.

The writing above the mission markers (the bombs) is what's commonly referred to as a "data plate". It listed the model number (including production block and manufacturer code), then the serial number and finally the total crew weight (120 pounds per man? They grew them small back then and that certainly doesn't include flight gear!).

Here is an OK picture of the Belle's data: