B-17G Champaign Lady Restoration

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:27 pm

Scott Thompson's book "Final Cut" (4th edition) goes into great detail about the survivng B-17's, where they at, their individual history's and even one's that are still waiting to be recovered in the attics of the world. I highly recommend it. www.aerovintage.com/final.htm

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:32 pm

I'll see if I can get it and spend countless hours "dreaming"

17f · **Joined:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:56 pm **Posts:** 87

TAdan wrote:

The C/L B-17 team recovered significant portions of the B-17 wreck in Alaska at the end of this summer. I think their plan was to use the pieces for parts and patterns for Chapaigne Lady.

I believe there was a thread here on WIX.

Lots of good stuff came from Alaska. I believe the navigator`s seat frame; a complete left cheek gun window frame; tailwheel retract mechanism & motor; horizontal stab mounts; some miscellaneous castings, etc, etc. Also some significant parts of wing spar came back too, to help replace crash damage in the set of wings we have.

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

TriangleP wrote:

Hmm, I think I can count eleven active, five of which are to flying. Champaign Lady, Desert Rat, City of Savannah at the Mighty Eighth, Memphis Belle, The Swoose, Tom Reilly's reconstruction for Don Brooks (un-named), the PoF's Piccadilly Lilly, Art Lacey's "Lacy's Lady", FHC's B-17E, and Piccadilly Lilly II for the WWII Museum in New Orleans. A few of these are a bit under the radar but out there.
Oops, and the American Air Museum's B-17G! 12 restorations!

Yikes! Five restorations that will fly?! Fantastic! I have some interesting B-17 stuff. Both grandfathers were connected to the B-17. From the one that passed in 1989 I have all his training certificates (autopilot, turret maintenance, etc), his discharge papers, patches, Enlisted Aircrew wings, etc. From the other I have an original B-17 Pilot Manual.

Some museum is gonna get some cool, vintage stuff when I kick the bucket. :lol:

Chappie

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:48 pm

Don't forget us out at the Grissom Air Museum with the B-17G "Miss Liberty Belle". We are fighting many speed bumps, but keep pressing on.

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:53 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

Don't forget us out at the Grissom Air Museum with the B-17G "Miss Liberty Belle". We are fighting many speed bumps, but keep pressing on.

Chris, Are you still trying to get the plane inside?

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

TriangleP wrote:

Not on topic, but Chappie, which Groups did your grandfathers fly with?

I'm not 100% sure. I was 17 in 1989 when he passed away, long before I would have asked specific questions like I would today. I do know that he was in the 45th Air Depot Group because I have seen reunion photos. But the 45th was part of the Ninth Air Force. When I was a kid he told that he flew six missions as a bombadier, but back then I did not know that bombadiers were officers. However, I do have his Enlisted Wings, so he must have flown at some point no?

I have several small photos of him overseas, one of which shows him waving from the pilot seat of the B-17G Pathfinder 42-97562, 91st BG, DF*D, "Evenin Folks, How Y'All". This aircraft led a raid on Dessau on May 28, 1944. There is another of him standing under a C-47 wearing a D-6 Mechaincs Shearling jacket.....boy I wished I had that!

I cannot find much information on the 45th ADG. Anyone know anything about the Group?

Chappie

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:59 am

Pat,
Yeah we are still fighting to move the plane. It is tough when an organization that is charged with taking care of an artifact doesn't understand the condition. I could rant...

AviaS199 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:04 pm

This past May, I visited the guys in Urbana. Great bunch of folks, very friendly and helpful. They allowed me to take an up-close look at the restoration, and even gave me a couple of batteries when my camera batteries died.

Here's a shot of me with The Lady:

One of the center fuselage:

And one of the rear fuselage:

Thanks again, guys! Hope to see you again soon.

kennsmithf2g · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:13 am

Here is a link to a bunch more photos from my visit on 12/27 as well as the other planes there.

http://kennsmithf2g.smugmug.com/Airplan ... 322_MZMnCq

I couldn't find info on the "My Gal Sal" restoration. my e-mails were returned undeliverable.

Kenn

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2011 11:45 am

Kenn thanks for the link, cool pictures. I'm surprised they have not repainted there A26 yet. There was some talk a few years ago about a repaint. :drinkers:

Shay · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:05 pm

cooper9411 wrote:

Kenn thanks for the link, cool pictures. I'm surprised they have not repainted there A26 yet. There was some talk a few years ago about a repaint. :drinkers:

Great pics Kenn. Missed ya by a day. :drink3:

The order of work I was told was: B-17, then A-26 and then the C-47.

........and then the guy alluded to possibility of another B-17 Restoration/Recreation involving the remainder of 44-85505. (mind you he said it with a metaphorical wink). So keep that in mind.

They are getting alot of metal working help from the surrounding high schools. And thanks to 505 a lot of unique pieces are provided that would have been costly to replicate. Champaign Lady will also have operable tail wheel assembly. Which as I was told only a few Fortresses flying have. I watched a guy as he was reassembled the motor assembly for the tail wheel and he said most seal assemblies recovered from Alaska were very well preserved.

Looking foward to going back up.

Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis

390BG · **Posted:** Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:21 am

Updated photos of radio room construction - March, 2012

Roof going on over the radio room.

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:52 am

Glad to see she is coming along! :drink3:

Travisd80elcam · **Posted:** Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:34 pm

Outstanding. They are doing good work it seems, can't wait to see this back in the air. Oh and speaking B-17 restorations, The "Deseret Rat" has a Facebook page that is getting updated fairly regular by a few of the volunteers(just as an FYI and not to steal anything from the guys in Urbana). Keep Up the great work!

Travis

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B-17G Champaign Lady Restoration

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