B-17 Memphis Belle |
Photos of the Belle loaded and ready for departure from
Millington, TN. She left early 10-13-2005 headed for the AF
Museum, Dayton, OH.
Photos by Brent Perkins, Former Dir, MB Memorial Foundation.
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Another chapter in this great lady's history. | |
The Belle was placed on display at the NMUSAF on 18 MAY 2018 | |
Nose section with Blue Petty Girl nose art on display and her 25 mission tally. | |
She is displayed on pedestals with gear retracted and bomb bay doors open. | |
Her elevated position makes for an imposing display. She is surrounded by smaller displays of an engine and other equipment that was installed or used on her. | |
The Red Petty Girl on display on her right side, alongside more mission tally marks. The stars over each tally mark indicate she was in a lead position for her group (yellow) or the entire bomb wing (red). | |
You can see the wheels retracted into the inboard engine nacelles. This made for an interesting routing of the exhaust pipe along the side of the nacelle leading to the turbocharger. | |
The view into her bomb bay. | |
A view of the ball turret. | |
Right side waist gunner position with her squadron designation. | |
Another view of the right side waist gunner position with her massive vertical stabilizer and rudder. | |
Another view of the pilot side of cockpit, navigator, and bombardier positions. | |
Large wall display of the famous crew photo after her 25th mission was flown. | |
Another display, including the 1943 documentary playing and other displays about her wartime service. | |
Crew photo wall displays with individual memorabilia from each of them. | |
Crew photo wall displays with individual memorabilia from each of them. | |
The uniform of Lt. Colonel William Wyler, the director of the 1943 documentary. He flew on several missions in combat to get the footage used. |