Mighty 8th Air Force Museum

[jschare]

I went here a little while ago and am finally getting around to posting some photos... This is a B-17 that is being restored and a P-51 that is finished. The museum is outside of Savannah, Georgia which is where the 8th Air Force was formed. I'm sorry the images are a bit blurry. I was using my cell phone camera.

http://www.mightyeighth.org/

 

[dmar836]

Nice,
Another one to visit.
Thanks for posting. What is the B-17 hanging up? 1/2 scale?
Dave

 

[shedonwanna]

The B-17 will be painted in the 388th BG colors and named "City of Savannah" which was a 388th aircraft. The 388th 2012 reunion is planned to be held in Savannah to dedicate the restoration.

 

[bazelot]

Do you know where they got the B-17?

 

[shedonwanna]

Do you know where they got the B-17?

I know it was obtained from the National Air and Space Museum and was a combat veteran. I am not attending the reunion this year but will ask around to see if I can get the details of the aircrafts service. If I can get the actual serial number the history will be easy to find if it was an 8th AF aircraft.

Just found and added the following photos of the aircraft. These photos were taken in Canada in 1955 - maybe the B-17 was owned by the Canadian Govt. The NASM purchased it in 1984 from a family owned business in New Mexico that used it for firefighting operations from 1971-1981. The NASM flew it into Dulles in 1984.

 

[shedonwanna]

ok, here are the details: don't believe this was a comabt veteran:

B-17G-95-DL 44-83814
Left Douglas Long Beach factory 15th June 1945.
North Dakota Public School District, Hazen, ND, 1947-1951.
California Atlantic Airways, St. Petersberg, FL, June 20, 1951-1953. Registered as N66571.
Kenting Aviation Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, May 12, 1953-1971. Registered as CF-HBP.
Photographic Survey Corp, Toronto, Ontario, May 15, 1957-1960.
Hunting Survey Corp, Toronto, Ontario, Feb. 11, 1960-1962.
Kenting Aviation Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Apr. 9, 1962-1971.
Arnold Kolb, Black Hills Aviation, Spearfish SD, Apr. 1, 1971-1982.
- Later based out of Alamogordo, NM.
- Resumed N66571 registration.
- Converted to tanker.
- Flown as tanker #A18, #18, #C13 & #09.
NASM, Washington DC, Jan. 19, 1982-Date.
- Displayed at Pima Air Museum, AZ as 483814, 1982-1984.
- Delivered to Washington-Dulles for NASM, stored, Apr. 25, 1984-Date.

 

[Grant]

Finally made it down to Savannah and the Mighty 8th AF Museum. They a sick A-2 collection of A-2's on display with this one being my favorite.

 

[Brettafett]

Love it!

 

[B-Man2]

Pretty damn cool!

 

[Pilot]

very nice...thx for sharing.

 

[Grant]

Also noticed this lovely print signed by RAF veterans.

 

[Grant]

Sorry for the bad lighting, but the light on the jackets is quite dim to keep them from fading. Here are a couple picks of Bill Getz's no name Cable A-2. Bill flew with the 2nd Air Division Scouting Force based at Steeple Morden, home of the 355FG. The Scouting Force were former B-17 and B-24 pilots who transitioned to fighters to help develop tactics to protect bomber formations, hence the B-24 with mission markings along with the P-51 he flew/

 

[Flightengineer]

Sorry for the bad lighting, but the light on the jackets is quite dim to keep them from fading. Here are a couple picks of Bill Getz's no name Cable A-2. Bill flew with the 2nd Air Division Scouting Force based at Steeple Morden, home of the 355FG. The Scouting Force were former B-17 and B-24 pilots who transitioned to fighters to help develop tactics to protect bomber formations, hence the B-24 with mission markings along with the P-51 he flew/

View attachment 16002 View attachment 16003 View attachment 16004

Many thanks for posting!
Excellent backart with real plane's proportions of, which did not happen so often.

 

[Brettafett]

Yes, these are fantastic pics!

 

[Micawber]

Excellent!

I lived close to Steeple Morden & Bassingbourn. I'll have to dig out my video and photos of the Scouting Force's reunion and launch of the book "Fighting Scouts Of The 8th AF" by Dick Atkins at Steeple Morden back in the '90's hosted by Ken Wells and attended by the likes of John Brookes, Roger Freeman etc. Brilliant weekend. The book is somewhat rare and spendy now.

 

[Silver Surfer]

oh yeah, datsa nice boss. ya just have to love the "primitive" folk art, style of the art work.

 

[Grant]

Hey Vic, yeah agree the painting has a real charm to it; doesn't the art world call it naïve art?
I wonder if a commanding officer censored the artist and made him cover the private parts!

 

[Edward]

I live less than a two hour drive to see the Mighty 8th AF Museum but I have yet to go. meant to do so this winter but never got a chance. will try to get down there this summer.

 

[Grant]

Edward, you won't be disappointed. I spent an entire afternoon there and didn't see everything.

The outside memorial garden is also a very moving tribute to all those that served with the 8th.

 

[falcon_ib]

Here are some more photos of Bill's jacket, it's a Knopf. He's a good friend of mine and an amazing individual

Here's an interview I did with him years ago for those interested: http://evanflys.com/bill_getz