Warbird Information Exchange

Piece of World War Two History May Have to Find New Home
A piece of World War Two history is hidden in a Cincinnati suburb ... but instead of being open to the public, that bit of history may have to find a new home. Local 12 News Reporter Jeff Hirsh looks at the past, present, and uncertain future for "My Gal Sal."

The B-17 Flying Fortress helped win World War Two. Nearly 13,000 of the four-engine bombers were built ... but only a few are left, including one in a hangar at the Blue Ash airport. "This airplane is 90 per cent finished."

Blue Ash businessman Bob Ready owns the historic aircraft, which is named My Gal Sal. How the plane ended up here is a story in itself. "I looked at this as a big puzzle."

My Gal Sal was on its way to Europe in June, 1942 when an engine failed, and the plane ditched in Greenland on the ice cap. It took 13 days to rescue the crew, who kept a generator working so they could radio for help. But the plane itself sat ... literally frozen in time in the ice. Now, it's nearly back together.
We've got close to 90,000 man hours in this restoration. It took us twelve years to get where we are."

The wreckage was found in 1964, salvaged from the ice in 1995, and taken to a warehouse in Oregon. Ready bought the plane a few years later, with a plan. "My thoughts started back in 1999 when my dad was alive. He and his brothers were in World War Two. I grew up during World War Two. They never really talked about the war. I started thinking about that and acting on it."

Ready and his volunteers painstakingly restored My Gal Sal with an eye towards making the plane a centerpiece of the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial ... a way to honor the brave men who flew in the war. The B-17 had a crew of ten. There are life-sized mannequins of the entire crew of this aircraft. Hair color, eye color, and facial features for the men are all correct, based on photographs of the crew members who were on this actual plane when it crash landed.

Ready's dream of a memorial the public can see is on hold for now. If the Blue Ash Airport stays open and is renovated ... Ready is ready to chip in with a new hangar for My Gal Sal. But if the airport closes, Ready says he'll look for a new home.

Blue Ash city officials say they have don't have the money to buy the airport from the city of Cincinnati and keep it open. However, a citizens group, which includes Bob Ready, has asked Blue Ash to reconsider ... saying the airport is good for business and could also become a tourist attraction with the B-17 war memorial.

I know where its going and what a job that will be.Better start training up a younger generation of sheetmetal guys cause its going to need it.

I know where its going and what a job that will be.Better start training up a younger generation of sheetmetal guys cause its going to need it.

Do tell... If not where, can you say when? I live in Columbus and would like to see her before she heads out.

I know there were great plans for Sal, but it was a static restoration and a lot of the work was done to a very high (appearance wise) static standard, but there will be a LOT of rework if the airplane is to be a flyer. I Bob was very up front about that when he generously gave me a tour of Sal a few years ago.

I know hence the comment about needing a bunch of good sheetmetal guys. I believe its a doable project as I recall the wing was in good shape spar wise.Do you know if they ever did anything with the wings? I have only seen pics of it and didnt see the wings.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't all of the skin on Sal put on with pop rivets?

kevin

Here's a snapshot of the wings I took in '05. They were under a tarp, so I couldn't see much. Mr. Ready gave my wife and I an hour-long personal tour of Sal..what a nice guy (a friend arranged the visit in conjunction with a model show, and my wife and I were the only ones who showed up.)



As far as making her a flyer, it would definitely take a ton of (re)work. Mr. Ready said most of the skins were attached with pop-rivets (the center holes were puttied to make them look like standard rivets.) And since she was restored as a static display piece, she doesn't have any modern wiring or systems..I'm not sure how much if any of it is functional (although the interior lighting works.) Personally, I'd like to see her completed as originally planned. With flying restorations, there are always (completely necessary) compromises that have to be made in the name of safety and maintenance. It's nice to have at few B-17s in completely "period" condition.

SN