Warbird Information Exchange

Shay when were those taken. That must before the MBMA raised the issue of the aggreement that existed that the plane never wear the exact markings of the real Belle. Of course the NMUSAF gets the bad comments it does over the whole ordeal because they supported the MBMA. This of course was after someone was promoting the aircraft as the real deal at the Gathering of Mustangs about an hour from Dayton.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Umm, I wanna say those were taken either in 2007 or 2008. I just like to stir the pot sometimes.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Probably some wiley CAF members after too much mint julep...

The Belle really suffered from vandals when it was up on a pedestal at a Natl Guard facility in the Memphis area. As I recall even the throttle controls took a walk!

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Well being vandalized at the National Guard facility doesn't surprise me.

I just thought that at Mud Island she was supposted to be protected while on display there. I guess not which is a big part of the reason that the NMUSAF took her back eh?

-Derek

It was just a bad situation. First off let me say that the Belle would not exist if it was not for the reporter that first saw her in the bone yard at Altus and reported on her, Frank Donofrio that got people together to go and get the plane, the volunteers of the Memphis Belle Memorial Association that fought long and hard to do something with the plane. The problem there seemed to be support. There was just not any interest from the City of Memphis to keep the plane and display it indoors. When the NMUSAF first confronted the city about getting it indoors, they agreed to hire someone that was not involved with either group to figure out what was best for the plane. They figured out that the MBMA would not be able to get the aircraft restored and in a climate controlled building with in 30 years. The NMUSAF decided to take the plane back at that point, and restored it ground up for the museum in Dayton. They are however going to be sure to include the MBMA in the story boards that will be in the vacinity of the aircraft. The NMUSAF took heat for a while for moving the plane. I was involved with support for moving the aircraft, and there were a few in Memphis that tried to fight it, even getting local politics in the mix. Some of the people working to save the Belle even got death threats. including Linda Morgan when she came out and said that Robert Morgan and her had talked about it before he passed, and he wanted it displayed at Dayton. The belle has been through alot, and it is fitting that she is being given the care she has needed for years.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Looking forward to the day when the restoration is done!

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Me too Pat. It is probably the single most famous airplane from WWII. It is such an honor to be near it when you go in the shops. It will have been a long and hard road travelled for the Belle, but she will be in a fitting home, for all to enjoy her. Then after that, the Swoose!
I know many had feelings about the MBMA and the NMUSAF telling MARC to repaint their aircraft or change the markings, however that was an agreement that everyone knowingly entered. Just because some don't like the politics of a group doesn't mean that they are wrong 100% of the time.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I find it interesting the restoration shop only needs the 2 aformentioned items for the restoration. They must have some good sources to track down parts.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Yeah that is pretty wild. There was a much longer list at first, but even it was not as long as I thought would be required. I donated yoke center caps for it.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager