Warbird Information Exchange

And for the record, that whole line of "The memphis Belle Memorial Association asked us to paint the name on the ship" is well.......She was in 100th BG markings first. The name change took place when the movie was to be shot, and there was money to be made.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

The MoF's BOEING BEE will most likely never leave the ground again as the Museums sworn policy is 'now why should an aviation museum have flying airplanes?' They are scared out of their minds that someone will sue the crap out of them if the thing crashes while on a flight-yet they still drag the 247 out and fly it around !??!

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I don't understand if the good general has the backing of the US Gubmint behind him to strongarm anyone blaspheming The Belle, wouldn't that mean if he needs funds for anything he can get those funds from Uncle Sugar? How lucrative can the trinkets, baubles and beads sales at the museum gift shop be? Where do the owners of The MOVIE Memphis Belle get their funding from? Here is an idea: see if the good general can get funding from Uncle Sugar to just repaint the entire MOVIE Memphis Belle and be done with it Only problem with that is how many of us have seen The MOVIE Memphis Belle in person and loved the way it looks...all war-weary lookin with the faded paint and oil drippings?!?

Just one more example of "I said so and that's good enough" mentality. Never question authority comrade

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

...just another plane dreamer.

Sorry to sorta hijack the thread here, but that sounds much like the "other" B-24 operator in this great Country saying it has the ONLY flying B-24, when in reality, as we all know, there are two of them. Do I get tired of hearing their statement when we go places and people are surprised to see another one (ours) flying? Yes. Am I going to ask the other operators to get over any problems they have with us and start telling the truth? Already have. Has it made a difference? No.

The point is that, in my opinion, people are going to say what they want. Is the NMUSAF going to go broke because the folks with Tallichet's B-17 are telling folks that he has the real Memphis Belle? Um, no. Certainly nothing against you personally, Mustangdriver, but I too, tire of the "flexing of muscles" from Gen. Whats-his-name at the NMUSAF and wish he'd get the burr out from under his saddle. That, of course, is purely my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

Now, back on topic...
This is an interesting thread regarding the B-17's. I had no idea so many were in the works to fly again.

Gary

For the record, we don't get funding from the Government. No tax dollars are used in the museum either. How much do those trinkets help us out? Have you seen our new Cold War Gallery? They helped pay for it. You talked in another thread about not honoring the ground crew because the real Belle will be restored to look new, but mean while the movie Bell flies along looking like it does. THe real Belle was kept very clean during it's tour. Joe Giambrone and his crew worked very hard on her. I am also pretty sure that the real Belle didn't have orange fire bomber colors showing under it's camo. I find it interesting that no one seems to care about the fact that people are kind of fooled into thinking that they were in the real Belle and no one really seems to mind here. In my opinion the Gen. shouldn't have asked them to change the name. BUT without asking the name should have been changed right after the movie tour, since the REAL one still exists. When I was working on it, I suggested a name change, and they said, "Oh yeah there is one in the works." Well that was like 8 years ago. How would you feel if you were the owner of the real P-51D Old Crow. The ral one flown in combat. Then three other guys paint there P-51's like that. It takes away from yours because alot of people are not going to know the difference. This reall dooesn't have as much to do with selling things as it does respect for the real aircraft, and the real heroes.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

The nose art now reads "The movie Memphis Belle". And the art is in the form as when it was seen in the movie.

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

I think the effort to stop misinformation being spread at airshows is even above the mission capabilities of the USAF Museum or the Air Force for that matter. I highly doubt that the "the Movie Memphis Belle" is being advertised as the real Memphis Belle at airshows by the operators. We all have heard folks that don’t have a clue talking to someone else like they know everything about everything, that is the problem. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve heard that the Tora Zeros are real Zeros.

I don't care for the threatening tone that is put across in the letter. My question is what would they have done if the nose art was not changed?

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

I have indeed seen and heard this aircraft portrayed as the real Belle on several events. It took place more back a few years ago. I am sorry but it's not the real aircraft, so why even bother having it painted that way? Why does it wear that scheme. Because it was used in a movie that no one here seems to like. For me it is a respect issue. There is only one B-17 that should carry the name Memphis Belle, and that one is in Dayton. If an aircraft no longer survives, then sure paint up a survivor to honor the real one, pilot, and crew. But if the real aircraft survives, why have another painted that way. Ther were 3,405 B-17F's produced, why not recreate one of them? Was the General correct in sending that letter? Depends on how you look at it. I just went around a room of 12 people that are not aviators, adescribed to them the events, some of which had seen the movie, and they all agree that the name should be changed not out of fear of the government, but out of respect to the real guys. I did that because I was wondering what a person not so into warbirds would think.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

There are two other B-17 projects in addition to these.
One is not public yet, and the other would result in the oldest
B-17 in existence, although that is a fledgling project with plenty
of good intentions, but not a lot of $$$ right now.

With all the new-build material available, scratch building a B-17
is not out of the question, if there was enough $$$ behind it.

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-Bill
B-17E 41-2595 "Desert Rat" Restoration Team

Why did the EAA and Weeks make a replica of the Spirit of St.louis? I think they should repaint it as H@ll's Angels and tell the real story!

Steve

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"Any excuse is good enough if you're willing to use it!"

Right, a replica. And advertised it as such. Now these aircraft are in museums. There is a big difference between these two aircraft.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Should we make them change the names on the sides of the Spirit of St louis or just tell the MOVIE Memphis Belle not to fly?

Steve

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"Any excuse is good enough if you're willing to use it!"

Neither. The Spirit of St. Louis is a complete replica aircraft. and it is advertised as such on signs that are with the aircraft on display. As a matter in fact the most recent Spirit of St. Louis replica doesn't carry the art work on it. At least it didn't when it was parked at Oshkosh. The movie Belle is not a replica, and there is no signage to tell you it is not the real belle.

And for the record, if you want to go see the only Spirit of St, Louis, you need to go D.C. Atleast the EAA spirit flew the route. That is a little different. I might be better with the idea if the movie Belle did some more touring of Europe other than just what the movie needed.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

You are kidding right?

The Air Force Museum Foundation website states:



Of course tax dollars are used for the Museum, that is simple common sense. Unless of course I missed the memo and the United States Air Force became a private corporation recently. All USAF funding comes from the government and tax dollars. To state otherwise is just silly.

Jim

So, I take it the Swamp Ghost is out of the running?

As for the "Movie" Belle, yeah, it should be repainted to represent a different bird.

Just my crazy thoughts