Heavens Eagle wrote:
So, from what I am gathering from the latest posts is that this plane, when it was on display in the museum was basically a clugemeister. It was put together for show and not necessarily done correctly or well. Thus all the corrosion had places to develop and parts were missing or held in with the proverbial spit, bubble gum and baling wire. While not even close to the deteriorated condition of the Memphis Belle when it was shipped off to Dayton for restoration it wasn't correctly done, but was considered "acceptable" at the time.
Now with this quick restoration treatment it is being brought back to non-operational but complete and correct condition.
Interesting!
I'm interested in the word 'clugemeister'. Even Google can't help with one of the few American terms that hasn't yet crossed the Atlantic, but I think I get the meaning!
You are correct in saying that restoration standards have changed over the years, but I think there's a chance we are overlooking the huge amount of excellent work done in the early years of the B-17 at Duxford.
If you will forgive me repeating some of Bomberflight's earlier posts, here's a brief history of the aircraft with IWM. I am relying on many published sources, particularly Roger Freeman's many books on the B-17 and the 8th Air Force.
When '735 was finally grounded in 1971, she was already a much modified airframe. Apart from the early executive conversion and the photosurvey mods done in France, she had been stripped of many items by IGN. When Ted White recovered the airworthy B-17 that became 'Sally B', he also took over the remains of '735. It was offered to the IWM as a static exhibit, and recovered to Duxford by DAS volunteers in 1975. Here she is soon after arrival:
(Photo from Tony Clarke)
'735 was reassembled, but it was not until IWM took ownership in 1978 that a full restoration programme began. Roger Freeman credits Ted Hagger, Eddie West and Cliff Bishop as leading members of the team ( I am sure there are many other names deserving of mention). It took eleven years just to return the B-17 to its original external configuration, with a long search for parts involving dealers and collectors around the world.
When '735 was in place for the opening of the American Air Museum in 1997, she was one of the most completely fitted-out B-17's, thanks to 20 years of hard work by IWM professionals and volunteers.
The selection of 'Mary Alice' as the aircraft to be represented was led by the configuration (ie Cheyenne turret) but was very appropriate given the original aircraft's remarkable history of battle damage and resurrection. A quote from one of her pilots (2nd Lt George Cracraft): 'She was put together like a jigsaw puzzle'. If you have read the combat history of 'Mary Alice', (I recommend 'Claims To Fame: The B-17 Flying Fortress' by Steve Birdsall and Roger A Freeman), there is no more appropriate aircraft to represent both the B-17 saga and the 8th Air Force. After 98 missions and probably more battle damage than any other survivor, she even returned to the USA for her sad but inevitable fate.
The first rebuild of '735 produced a museum exhibit that embodied the purpose of the AAM at Duxford, to pay tribute to American air power, particularly the sacrifice of 30,000 young Americans at a time when more than half of the USAAF combat strength was based in Eastern England. The standard of work was exceptional and has lasted very well, but an opportunity to conserve and refresh the aircraft was not to be missed. The project is now one year along, and a deadline is fast approaching. The standards demanded in 2012 have moved on, and there is still a possibility that time constraints will mean that the B-17 will return to display with a few minor items uncorrected, but the very survival of '735 is due to the earlier work completed.
The work done by many people involved with this aircraft in its 37 years at Duxford deserves more than the term 'acceptable'.
Come and have a look!
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