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B-17 Memphis Belle

Flying Staff
Flying Staff

Restoration crews work to bring the national icon back to life.

Memphis Belle in flight
Memphis Belle on tour at Patterson Field, Ohio.
The crewmembers of Memphis Belle after their 25th mission. (left to right) TSgt. Harold Loch (top turret gunner/engineer), SSgt. Cecil Scott (ball turret gunner), TSgt. Robert Hanson (radio operator), Capt. James Verinis (copilot), Capt. Robert Morgan (pilot), Capt. Vincent Evans (bombardier), SSgt. John Quinlan (tail gunner), SSgt. Casimer Nastal (waist gunner), Capt. Charles Leighton (navigator) and SSgt. Clarence Winchell (waist gunner)
**Gen. Hap Arnold, commander of the U.S. Army Air Forces, examining Mempis Belle in the United States after it returned from duty in Europe.
**
The fuselage of Memphis Belle being unloaded into a restoration hangar at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in October 2005.
Memphis Belle sits in the hangar before restoration.
The radio operator's compartment of Memphis Belle undergoes restoration.
A restoration specialist draws attention to corrosion in the frame member of Memphis Belle.
Corrosion in the ball turret area in the aft fuselage section of Memphis Belle.
**An inboard wing from Memphis Belle standing next to F-86A fuel drop tanks.
**
** A restoration crewmember working on Memphis Belle.**
Ball turret of Memphis Belle.
Interior of the tail gunner section of Memphis Belle.
Parts of Memphis Belle in the restoration hangar.
A wing section from Memphis Belle.
Part of a wing from Memphis Belle.
A section of a wing from Memphis Belle.
A Wright R-1820-97 engine from Memphis Belle.
Four of the 1200 hp engines.
Tail gunner position of Memphis Belle.
Part of a wing from Memphis Belle.
Memphis Belle in restoration.
Memphis Belle in restoration.
A memorial sign that sits in front of Memphis Belle at the museum.
Interior fuselage of Memphis Belle.
Memphis Belle markings up-close.
Memphis Belle markings up-close.
Memphis Belle in restoration.
Memphis Belle in restoration.
Memphis Belle undergoing restoration.
Memphis Belle undergoing restoration.
Memphis Belle undergoing restoration.
Memphis Belle's control panel.
Memphis Belle undergoing restoration.
Memphis Belle in restoration.
Wright R-1820-97 radial engines from Memphis Belle.
Memphis Belle in restoration.
Memphis Belle in restoration.
Memphis Belle in restoration.
A section of a wing from Memphis Belle.
A restoration worker tags a section of Memphis Belle. Master Sgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo J
Memphis Belle in restoration.
The tail gun position from Memphis Belle is being repainted and fabricated.
Memphis Belle in restoration.
Photos
Flying Staff
Flying StaffEditor
Flying Magazine is a one-stop resource for everything aviation, including news, training, aircraft, gear, careers, photos, videos, and more.
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