The Swoose is heading to the Air Force Museum

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:00 pm

I just heard that the B-17D The Swoose has been transferred from the National Air and Space Museum to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

From what I hear it is not a loan but a transfer of title.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:13 pm

I don't think this is a bad thing at all. THe Swoose will be restored to some aspect and displayed. Without the NASM she wouldn't have made it this far.

APG85 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:21 pm

When will she be moved?

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:22 pm

I think it is a great idea too since she will be put on public display quicker. NASM does a wonderful job but they sure have a full plate these days.

I wonder how the AFM will restore her, in her present executive configuration or back to a previous time period in her long and colorful history?

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:24 pm

Now here is where the debate starts. What should we do with her? Full restoration or preservation. Which color scehem should she wear?

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:27 pm

I think it's terrific! I do think that it's funny that we're essentially transferring a taxpayer-owned asset from one federally funded institution to another. But it will be great for the aircraft. Those NMUSAF guys sure will have some good B-17 expertise once they're done with this one and with the Belle!

kevin

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:38 pm

Who was it that said it would never happen :?:

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:45 pm

Not me. I just hadn't heard anything.

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:03 pm

I vote to restore what is there, as she is presently configured, instead of trying to back up and turn her into something else.

The way she is now is essentially unaltered since she left service with all of her history intact. She has the names still in place on her exterior, the interior is well worn but original and there, a majority of her bomb racks, radios and other equipment is also still present.

Instead of ripping all that out and trying to put her into some earlier configuration, where you would be forced to make a lot of guesswork, why not keep it simple and authentic.

It would be very straight forward to present her earlier life with displays that can easily show the patron what she went through to get to her present configuration.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:23 pm

TriangleP wrote:

My hope is that the NMUSAF will see the potential for synergy between restoring the Belle and the Swoose. The current restoration team will be focused on the Belle until it's back together, but perhaps the methods and materials may translate on the Swoose on the replacement of some corroded parts. My guess is that the Swoose is in much worse conditon than the Belle, but others would know more about that. The Swoose may still benefit from the work being done on the Belle. Any word from the B-17C restoration team about coordinationg common replacement requirements for both theirs and the Swoose?

She is with out a doubt going to benefit from the Belle restoration and the great team of people at the NMUSAF. I think the team is going to give the Swoose all of the attention the old gal deserves.

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:25 pm

They oughta turn it into an F model and name it Memphis Belle 3
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

:snakeman:

But seriously, I am glad it will get some decent attention (like the wings put back on maybe) wherever it goes.

I was totally smitten with her when I saw her at Silver Hills.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:27 pm

I am torn on the restoration. She is not a standard B-17 right now as she sits, and she isn't even complete. I would say restore what is there and add what needs to be added for the interior. As for the outside, well that's tough. While it is cool to keep the signatures, the outside is not in display condition. But I think that the artwork and names need to be saved. It is going to be a tough decision, and method.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:28 pm

SPANNERmkV wrote:

They oughta turn it into an F model and name it Memphis Belle 3
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

:snakeman:

But seriously, I am glad it will get some decent attention (like the wings put back on maybe) wherever it goes.

I was totally smitten with her when I saw her at Silver Hills.

That already exists and is on the airshow circuit.

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:31 pm

Great news and a perfect home!
I'm with Taigh on this one!
Clean and repair to make presntable in her final guise. No need at this point to bring her back to early standards. It's already an historic timecapsule. Get her up and on display soon!
Jerry

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:34 pm

I agree but I don't think that she is currently in a scheme she ever flew in. When she carried the black undersides, she wore O.D. paint on top. Maybe I am wrong. I just want to see it complete in one of it's schemes it wore through the years rather than a partial incomplete one.

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