An original part from the Memphis Belle is "home"

[Pat Carry]

www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123338080

[gary1954]

Wonderful
I recall reading an article somewhere a very long time ago, that following the first "restoration" of the Belle, that a great number of parts were missing when they went back to putting her together....I imagine that the parts didn't cut and run, but were spirited away from the restoration site.....I;m just sayin'

[Steve Nelson]

The Belle was pretty heavily vandalized during her years of outdoor display at the armory. A friend of mine crawled through her in 1979 and took pics, before any restoration work had been done, and she was in pretty sad shape with a lot of missing parts by then. Pics are here, with full explantaions: http://www.arcair.com/awa01/101-200/awa164-B-17/00b.shtm

Although the restoration work done in the 80s and 90s might not be up to modern standards, if nothing had been done at all she probably would be gone by now, or at best a stripped hulk.

Kudos to guy for returning the part, but as the article mentions, it was only because he figured out what it was and why it was important. I imagine a lot of the Belle's missing bits were taken by souvenir hunters over the years that she was outdoors, and have probably since been tossed in the trash (or are buried in somebody's attic, basement or garage.)

SN

[Pat Carry]

The Belle was pretty heavily vandalized during her years of outdoor display at the armory. A friend of mine crawled through her in 1979 and took pics, before any restoration work had been done, and she was in pretty sad shape with a lot of missing parts by then. Pics are here, with full explantaions: http://www.arcair.com/awa01/101-200/awa164-B-17/00b.shtm

Although the restoration work done in the 80s and 90s might not be up to modern standards, if nothing had been done at all she probably would be gone by now, or at best a stripped hulk.

Kudos to guy for returning the part, but as the article mentions, it was only because he figured out what it was and why it was important. I imagine a lot of the Belle's missing bits were taken by souvenir hunters over the years that she was outdoors, and have probably since been tossed in the trash (or are buried in somebody's attic, basement or garage.)

SN

Sent the American Pickers aka. Frank & Mike down to Memphis. If any of the original parts are in someone's very clutered barn our outbuilding, they will find them!

[Noha307]

Yay! Chalk one up for historical integrity!

"They just need to turn them in and keep the plane original."

Anyone have any idea how much original material they have remaining?

If anyone wants to read a similar story, look up the periscope from the submarine U-505 - it wasn't in private hands, but it was still "lost".

[Garth]

The article says that the Belle's data plate is still missing.

Given the practice of data plates being the big determining factor of a restored aircraft's identity, if it were found and installed in "The Movie Memphis Belle" could her owners go back to claiming that she's the real Belle?



I'm going to run for cover now.

[Wildchild]

The article says that the Belle's data plate is still missing.

Given the practice of data plates being the big determining factor of a restored aircraft's identity, if it were found and installed in "The Movie Memphis Belle" could her owners go back to claiming that she's the real Belle?



I'm going to run for cover now.

Who's to say it isn't already in there?

[cooper9411]

With any luck other people who have "found" pieces/parts will give them back

[Steve Nelson]

Send the American Pickers aka. Frank & Mike down to Memphis. If any of the original parts are in someone's very clutered barn our outbuilding, they will find them!

..and kick them out of the way to get at some rusty old bicycle or gas station sign. Those guys aren't interested history, just whatever kitschy crap they can turn over for a quick buck, and will end up hanging on the wall of your local Applebee's (after they brag to the camera about how they talked the old codger down to 20 bucks for something they'll sell for 200.).

SN

[ZeamerB17]

I seem to remember a story Bob Morgan told about somebody sending him the original pilot's wheel some years ago.

[bdk]

The article says that the Belle's data plate is still missing.

Given the practice of data plates being the big determining factor of a restored aircraft's identity, if it were found and installed in "The Movie Memphis Belle" could her owners go back to claiming that she's the real Belle?



I'm going to run for cover now.

You should run for cover becuase what you have said is factually incorrect. The FAA considers a data plate to be a part, like a landing gear. An aircraft's identity is determined by its chain of documented ownership.