44-83546 VB-17G N3703G at PDK on 8 June 2012

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:02 pm

44-83546 VB-17G N3703G as the Memphis Belle fee paid rides with the Liberty Belle Foundation over at Epps at Peachtree DeKalb Airport in Chamblee, Georgia on 8 June 2012

I got there at 11am or so and until I left at 2:18pm this B-17 had engines running constantly, shutting down the Starboard engines for the load/unload. It didn't look like a large gathering but in the little while that I was there, I think she took 5 full loads of paying customers to include several Veterans of the World War Two era. I briefly met up with Hang the Expense and his son, and we were disappointed that we missed Robbie as he had to cut grass at home. The P-40 wasn't there due to a scheduling conflict with its pilot and the National Guard....Duty and Training comes before play-time. It was a bit of a drag that it wasn't there though.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:23 pm

42-23620 R-4D BuNo 12425 as N99FS registered to Brooks Aviation was also on-hand but not participating in flights at Peachtree DeKalb Airport on 8 June 2012 Photo by me

Missing from Joe Baugher's pages was 51-14827 AT-6G as N92796 parked on an upper ramp at Peachtree DeKalb Airport on 8 June 2012 Photo by me

more of a starboard side for ya'...

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:21 pm

Thanks for sharing the pics! I'm hoping Liberty Foundation will visit Asheville this year- Robert Morgan was born there so it would be neat to see the Movie Belle make a visit. Selfishly, I also live 20 minutes from Asheville so there's that too

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:22 pm

So I take it they were able to clear up the FAA issue?

Ken · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:23 pm

The T-6 belongs to my neighbor.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:27 pm

That's cool. I like that kind of plain looking C-47. Their P-40 markings are sweet as well. Ever since I ready God Is My Co-pilot I wanted to see a P-40 this way.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:44 pm

Ken wrote:

The T-6 belongs to my neighbor.

Cool, it is a V E R Y clean aircraft. I bit my hand to keep from touching it.

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:43 pm

Very nice pics Gary.Sorry we didnt get to visit more.The guys worked well into the morning installing the top turret shell on 03G and were probably good and worn out but it sure makes it a lot better looking.Great work Rob! Its nice to have several spare top turrets laying around isnt it?Big Stoop flys again! I'm having a hard time talking my son into flying with me in the 17 but I'm sure once he does he will be alright.I had him stand behind it when she lit all four so he could smell the fumes and to see if it set the hook like it did to me so many years ago with my Dad. Time will tell.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:51 am

Quote:

Its nice to have several spare top turrets laying around isnt it? Big Stoop flys again!

So I take it that means the turret dome came from under the Greenland Ice Cap? That is really cool!

SN

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:07 am

hang the expense wrote:

Very nice pics Gary.Sorry we didnt get to visit more.The guys worked well into the morning installing the top turret shell on 03G and were probably good and worn out but it sure makes it a lot better looking.Great work Rob! Its nice to have several spare top turrets laying around isnt it?Big Stoop flys again! I'm having a hard time talking my son into flying with me in the 17 but I'm sure once he does he will be alright.I had him stand behind it when she lit all four so he could smell the fumes and to see if it set the hook like it did to me so many years ago with my Dad. Time will tell.

I'm sorry we got split up in different directions Tom, If i would have had any idea of what you were trying to accomplish with buckshot, I'd have taken a photo of the both of you behind the -17. My hook was watching the original film clips of the Tokyo Raid on "The 20th Century" narrated by the late great Walter Cronkite. The hook was set the first time I stood next to an Albatross equipped with R-2600's.....b i t c h i n'
I'll get up to your shop soon and check out what you have going on.

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:36 am

BUCKSHOT? LMAO.I think we a new nickname for Curtiss.Excellent. the top turret shell is from Big Stoop.

Chuck Giese · **Posted:** Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:51 am

Gary, I'm sorry we didn't meet up, I was a little busy briefing and crewing yesterday.

Yes, the turret is from Big Stoop. It's temporary until we get glass made for a different one. We'll change it out later this season.

There really wasn't an FAA issue.

Chuck Giese · **Posted:** Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:59 am

Oh yeah, Pat Epps borrowed the DC-3 for a veteran event a few weeks ago. Not sure when it comes back home, but it was sure good to see it again.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:05 am

What happened to the turret that was in the airplane? It may have been covered and I missed it.

Also there was some sort of an issue was it just an FAA mix up?

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:54 am

Chuck Giese wrote:

Gary, I'm sorry we didn't meet up, I was a little busy briefing and crewing yesterday.

Yes, the turret is from Big Stoop. It's temporary until we get glass made for a different one. We'll change it out later this season.

There really wasn't an FAA issue.

Dayum I didn't know you were busy with the B-17 I'd have pestered the crap out of ya LOL :supz:

Warbird Information Exchange

44-83546 VB-17G N3703G at PDK on 8 June 2012

Who is online