Hello From Georgia

[Doug M]

They just took the B-17 off the posts here in Oregon and moved it to a hanger for rebuilding. It was a gas pump cover for over 50 years, towed to the site with only the wings off. Now it's to go back together after vandalism and weather have beaten on her.

Tough job you've got. one bend one hole one rivet eventually you'll get all 47000 set. Nice of you guys to put these birds back in the air.

[crystallographic]

Historically the fighters get the flying restorations more than bombers because it's a lot less work (47,000 rivets, multiple engines, and a trained crew to fly - and the fuel load). Kermit Weeks has asked a few restorers to take on a bomber job or two - and they all said "No!, just keep sending us the single-engined airplanes!"

Is that the original Memphis Belle? Cool to see, if it is. I saw where Boeing restored "Old Bill" from the movie just a couple of years back. That one was sure shot to heck, but somehow made it back, as seen in the old movie.

The "gas station" bird was a postwar purchase for $1500? I think, and with a full load of fuel, so the guy towed it back home and used it for a gas station while the gas lasted. By then, some time later, it was raised up and became a highway icon because he could not get rid of it. At least that was the news story I read a while ago.