Warbird Information Exchange

The correct name is Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby, so SSSB would be the correct acronym.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

All of this.

Moreover, it's a representative example in very good condition "as-is" and fills a huge gap in the story they are telling (primarily U.S. aviation). More practically, it's a draw that has a lot of ties to the gift shop. How many SSSB T-shirts and B-17 paraphernalia do you think they'll be able to sell once it's on display. More than now, I'd wager.

IF (and I've seen nothing here confirming plans) the NASM gets the plane, I'd bet they get it on display as quickly as possible.

Here's a great WIX-type question for you - What's the chance of flying it from Dayton to DC? Know of any reasons why they can't?

The SSSB, as I am sure most people on this thread know, flew into Dayton. However that was a lot of years ago, and I sincerely doubt if USAFM would be willing to put the resources into restoring/replacing the engines, wires, tires, hoses to enable a flight, and I sincerely doubt if NASM would be willing to pay for the insurance on such a flight. The good-news video of a landing at Dulles can in no way balance the potential bad-news of an attempted landing on two engines upon a busy highway.

Also, I would guess that flying into Dulles would require the installation of all sorts of communication gear, and how would that be done without some damage to the existing cockpit. There would be the costs of pilot and crew, contingency plans for landing sites enroute, etc., etc.

Even without the costs of restoration to flight-worthy status, might the cost of flying it into a busy airport be more than the cost of disassembly/trucking/reassembly? Curious to get opinions on this.

The big question who would pay for getting the B-17 back to flight status and for the flight to DC. The NASM I know does not have money like that and I'm sure the USAF does not either. It would be very kool however and I wish I had been in Dayton when it flew in there.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I can envision a photo ops on the ramp at the museum next May with the MB and the SSSB parked next to each other!!

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Well someone is going to have to pay to move it - whether by air or by land. I wonder what they'd cost comparatively.

I have no idea how well the engines were pickled (if at all), how well the other flight systems were preserved, etc.

I seriously doubt that the NASM would allow SSSB to be flown from the NMUSAF to Washington D.C. Remember, this plane hasn't flown in almost 30 years. The cost to get the airplane into even ferryable condition won't be cheap. I would think that the NMUSAF would disassemble SSSB and put her on a C-5 and fly it to Dulles. That would be the easiest and cheapest method. The Air Force needs and gets training when it helps out in "civilian" missions, so I doubt they would charge NASM.

Also, based on the bad experience and precedent set with the Boeing 307, that's a huge liability and public relations nightmare to undertake if something should go wrong with SSSB's flight to Dulles.

Just my opinion.

OK, so, all good things to see about the comings and goings with the Memphis Belle and SSSB. Anyone in the know heard even a rumor as to when work will begin on The Swoose? Yes, I am looking forward to seeing the Belle on public display again as well as SSSB, but my inner is salivating at the thought of seeing a shark tail B-17 on display.

(The emoticon thingy with the glasses on was supposed to be the word g e e k)

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Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.

Yes, I want to see the Swoose on display as well. It will most likely go in the next new building they construct many years down the road. Then how about this, the museum gets one of the many G models rotting away as a gate guard and place that on display next to the Swoose. Then the museum would have D, F and G model B-17"s. Its good that we can dream.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Geez, was it 30 years ago that SSSB flew into WPAFB? My group was in the follow me jeep and Duece that led her to the reviewing stand.

Another minor problem with flying her is that most of the instruments have pinged the "nuke meter" over the years and I was told that they were removed.

Chris--I'd be interested in the pedigree of the TM.....The original art of the girl is by George Petty and appeared in Esquire. That makes it property by copyright (and virtual act of God) of the Hearst Empire. The original artwork as applied to the plane was from the hand of Tony Starcer of the 91st BG. I don't think it would be legal for Starcer to pirate Petty's work and trade mark it or license it to the USAF....even though Esquire was very liberal with the use of Petty and Vargas' artwork. Beyond that something (the Starcer art) that has been in public use for 70 odd years without continually renewed (c) or tm would be pretty hard to litigate.

Okay...free legal beagles take over!

The TM is to the name Memphis belle. It was registered by the MBMA many years ago. They transferred it to the NMUSAF when the plane moved.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I was going to post this here, but I see that someone beat me to it. However, I don't think anyone posted the direct link, so here it is: B-17F Memphis Belle™ to be placed on public display on May 17, 2018 at National Museum USAF


I always figured that it was a left over from the production of the 1990 movie, since the studio presumably had the name trademarked.


What is the MBMA? I assume it stands for the Memphis Belle *Something* Association.


It wouldn't matter if NASM had the money anyway, I would expect their preservation standards would prevent it being flown. Too much damage to historical integrity.

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Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

If the name "Memphis Belle" wasn't trademarked..there would be a bunch of unauthorized selling of t-shirts, pictures, posters, and any other SWAG people would spend a dollar on. All of that money should have been applied to the mx of the plane, and I think thats what the Memphis group was trying to accomplish by protecting its likeness.