Where'd the Ball Turret Go??

[Second Air Force]

Steve,res

I find nothing wrong with your "obsession" with SB--I wish that the folks responsible for restoring these aircraft had the same interest in accuracy that many of us have. It seems that accuracy is more important now than it used to be, but time capsules like Strawberry Bitch should have been restored to the exact configuration as when they fought. Another bird that bothers me is Shoo Shoo Baby being painted O.D. because the skins were not good enough for NMF. I realize that project was farmed out, but the real scheme would have been nice. At least they have been preserved for us to criticize, huh?

Scott

[Steve Nelson]

Oh, I definately agree. Sure, as a purist I cringe at some of the mistakes I see on museum aircraft, but I'm very grateful that they've been preserved at all. And as I said earlier, the NMUSAF (it'll always be the Air Force Museum to me!) continues correcting and restoring things as time and resources permit. They've repainted both of their P-47s in the past couple of years, and both look great. I've also watched as they've continued to improve another one of my favorites, the B-26 Marauder.

With the progress the museum staff have made in recent years restoring aircraft with natural metal finishes, I'd love to see them go back and strip Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby, especially since once the Belle is done they'll have two B-17s in OD. Unfortunately, they'd probably lose the nose art, which was recreated by the same guy who painted the original during the war (and has since passed on.)


SN

[APG85]

I never really understood why Shoo Shoo baby was painted OD green. You would think it could have been shined/polished up. The excuse was it had to much new metal. Any thoughts?

[Steve Nelson]

I read an article back when she was restored that said the combination of new and old skins just wouldn't look good no matter how much the polished it. Also, if you look closely in spots you can see where they patched som of the extra windows that were added when she was "civilianized." In fact, there are som scanning windows on the nose from her days as a survey plane that appear to have simply been painted over. They obviously don't stand out too much..it took me several years to notice.

SN

[mustangdriver]

That is just it. It would not look right with the two different metals. They figured they could do one of two things. A-paint it O.D. but save the original metal B-make a nice natural metal finish with all new metal. I am glad that they went the route that they did and saved as much of the original skin as possible. As for the SB turret, I think it was a dumb move to take it out. I do think however that our collection and those of the NASM, NMNA, and others af these caliber are very well taken care of.

[JimH]

There is a Ball Turret mounted in a fixture sitting next to Shoo Shoo...but honestly, most people don't even realize there was a ball turret in there. While we know this, it is not something most people look for since you can't get inside the old girl. I am sure given time or if somebody donates thier time to improve the airplane things will be replaced and corrected. I have photos from the late 60s that show her outside at the old facility at Fairborn (my grandfathers slides) before she was "hosed" with the grey and camo. They painted the engines, turbos, exhaust and the bottom of the fuselage solid with that grey paint.

Jim

[mustangdriver]

I was just told by the NMUSAF that Strawberry Bitch did have a ball turret, but it was removed in 1965 for another airframe. So that would not have been SSB. But at any rate I asked about it going back in. I will let you all know what I find out. We are not going to be taking the Shoo Shoo Baby back to natural metal. And she was painted O.D. over gray at one point, but most of it's career was NM. It is also undecided which aircraft will be in the WWII hangar, and which will be in the display hall.

[Steve Nelson]

As I mentioned earlier, I was told by a museum volunteer that SB's ball turret was installed in the B-17 the museum had before they got SSSB. That B-17 is now in the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB (where SSSB was restored.) It's amazing how these parts get around....

As for SSSB going back to bare metal, it'd be nice, but I understand the rationale for painting her. She looks great as-is, and stripping her would take time and resources better devoted to other projects (like the Belle.)


SN

Just to clarify: SB="Strawberry Bitch" SSSB="Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby"

[mustangdriver]

I talked to someone at the NMUSAF in charge of it, and he said that the ball turret will be going back in the B-24 eventually.

[Shay]

I talked to someone at the NMUSAF in charge of it, and he said that the ball turret will be going back in the B-24 eventually.

That'll be an event for sure. The 24 sits low. I wonder if they'll do it in the gallery or pull her out?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[mustangdriver]

I bet they will do it in place. I have seen them move some pretty big stuff in there.