Grissom B-17 conversion to B-17F "Old Bill"

[mustangdriver]

I started this as I want to see what kind of results we get back. I was approached by the museum board who wish to backdate the G model to F standards to portray it as Old Bill from the 305th BombGroup. This aircraft is the one shot up at the end of the memphis Belle docu. It suffered heavy losses and only two members of the crew were uninjured. The plane is pretty well empty inside and much of the hardware to make it look like a G is fiberglass replica items. What are your thoughts. I want to get some feedback for the museum.

[Nathan]

Hi Chris,

This is an interesting project. But I have to be honest and say keep it as a "G" model. IMHO. The aircraft might be in rough shape but that does not mean you can't get the markings and paint correct.

[mustangdriver]

Nathan no worries. It is not my idea, but an idea that was brought up. I don't mind what the results are, I just am trying to help gather data for the museum. It loosk like we now have a place to move it indoors!

[Warbird Kid]

Seeing as how we have more G's compared to F's I think it would be kind of cool to see another backdated G. Personally i think this version of the B-17 is under-represented and would be good considering the amount of combat it saw. Tallichet's B-17 to me looks just like an F. In fact, I kind of wish a couple flyable G's were posing as F's as well. So many scheme possibilities with that version!

[kalamazookid]

I'd personally rather see it stay a -G model. There are plenty of worthy -G paint schemes that would make a nice tribute too. A backdate to an -F would be cool, but I'd rather see it preserved as the model it was built. Just because there are more -G's around doesn't mean they're any less appreciated.

Keep up the good work Chris. I think it's great what you're doing to get the aircraft restored and eventually indoors. I wish there were more people who would dedicate themselves to local outdoor display aircraft.

[kalamazookid]

As an addendum to my previous post, I think concentrating on getting original -G parts to replace the fiberglass and replica parts to restore the aircraft correctly would be a good goal to shoot for. I think doing whatever can be done with regards to fitting it out with original -G parts would be a more special display than backdating it.

[mustangdriver]

I am just honored to help out with the plane. The board pretty is running the show with us just adding our two cents where we can. So I remain sort of out of it, just waiting to hear what direction to go. Either way the plane's condition is going to improve.

[warbird1]

Personally, I wish they would backdate it to a B-23. Oh wait a minute, that plane is ugly and not worthy of collecting or representing. Nevermind.

[Nathan]

Personally, I wish they would backdate it to a B-23. Oh wait a minute, that plane is ugly and not worthy of collecting or representing. Nevermind.

LMFAO!!!

Now that there is funny!

[jet1]

...if it doesn't fly do what ever. personally I'd love to see a YB -40 as that was an oddball plane that not very many folks even know about.

[Fouga23]

Make it an F

[mustangdriver]

...if it doesn't fly do what ever

And that is what is awesome to hear after working on a plane for a few hours in the heat.

[The Inspector]

You could build it as a late B-17F-VE or DL or, an SB-17 with a boat

[Steve Nelson]

Normally I'm a stickler for historically accurate restorations, but in this case I think it would be cool to see her backdated. Like you say Chris, she's in rough shape and pretty well gutted right now. That particular airframe doesn't really have much history as a G, and the F is rather underrepresented.

Of course, I'm assuming that snince "Old Bill" was a contemporary of the Belle that would make it an early F. You would not only have to remove the chin turret, you'd also need to reconfigure the cheek windows (they were the "flat" style, and the guns were mounted in "mirror image" compared to the G,) remove the navigator's astrodome (and add the extra windows over the nose) and get an early-style tail gun position. To be totally accurate, you'd also need to change the waist positions to the open configuation with sliding windows. As a late G, I assume she's got staggered waist windows, so one one have to be repositioned. Sounds like quite a job, but if you've got to do a bunch of work on her anyway, why not?

SN

[Jarink1]

It's a G, leave it as a G.

If they want an F, why not make a fiberglass replica instead?