Memphis Belle to be Placed on Public Display in May 2018

DAYTON, Ohio -- The B-17F "Memphis Belle" is readied for restoration at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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DAYTON, Ohio -- The B-17F "Memphis Belle" is readied for restoration at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
DAYTON, Ohio — The B-17F “Memphis Belle” is readied for restoration at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)

One of the most recognizable symbols of World War II will once again report for duty exactly 75 years after its crew finished their last mission in the war against Nazi Germany on May 17, 1943.  The B-17F Memphis Belle™ – the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States – will be placed on public display at the National Museum of the U.S. on May 17, 2018. Pilot Robert Morgan named the aircraft after his wartime girlfriend, Margaret Polk, of Memphis, Tenn. Morgan chose the now famous artwork from a 1941 George Petty illustration in Esquire magazine.

The crew of the "Memphis Belle"® after their 25th mission: (l to r) TSgt. Harold Loch (top turret gunner/engineer), SSg.t Cecil Scott (ball turret gunner), TSgt. Robert Hanson (radio operator), Capt. James Verinis (copilot), Capt. Robert Morgan (pilot), Capt. Charles Leighton (navigator), SSgt. John Quinlan (tail gunner), SSgt. Casimer Nastal (waist gunner), Capt. Vincent Evans (bombardier), and SSgt. Clarence Winchell (waist gunner). (U.S. Air Force photo) Gen. Hap Arnold, commander of the U.S. Army Air Forces, examining the "Mempis Belle" after it returned to the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo)
The crew of the “Memphis Belle”® after their 25th mission: (l to r) TSgt. Harold Loch (top turret gunner/engineer), SSg.t Cecil Scott (ball turret gunner), TSgt. Robert Hanson (radio operator), Capt. James Verinis (copilot), Capt. Robert Morgan (pilot), Capt. Charles Leighton (navigator), SSgt. John Quinlan (tail gunner), SSgt. Casimer Nastal (waist gunner), Capt. Vincent Evans (bombardier), and SSgt. Clarence Winchell (waist gunner). (U.S. Air Force photo)
Gen. Hap Arnold, commander of the U.S. Army Air Forces, examining the “Mempis Belle” after it returned to the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo)

After returning to the United States in June 1943, its crew flew the aircraft across the country on a three-month war bond and morale boosting tour. With the bond tour and the 1944 William Wyler documentary color film titled “The Memphis Belle” – which contained actual combat footage – the aircraft and its crew became widely known and celebrated. In 1990 a major motion picture of the same name added to their fame. Following decades of display in Memphis, the historic aircraft came to the museum in October 2005, when work began on a careful, multi-year conservation and restoration effort including corrosion treatment and the full outfitting of missing equipment, which continues today.

DAYTON, Ohio (07/2007) -- The B-17F "Memphis Belle"™ in restoration at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft is being stripped to bare metal. (Photo courtesy of Craig Scaling, Airshow Traveler)
DAYTON, Ohio (07/2007) — The B-17F “Memphis Belle”™ in restoration at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft is being stripped to bare metal. (Photo courtesy of Craig Scaling, Airshow Traveler)

According to National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Curator Jeff Duford, the Memphis Belle is a national treasure, and will soon be the centerpiece of a new major exhibit in the museum’s WWII Gallery. “The B-17F Memphis Belle is an icon that represents the thousands of bomber crews, maintainers, and others supporting the bomber mission, whose service and sacrifice helped win WWII.” said Duford. “Work is underway to showcase the aircraft in the WWII Gallery, and the surrounding exhibit will include interactive displays, rare archival film footage and many personal artifacts which have never been seen before by our visitors.”

Visitors can currently see the Memphis Belle as it undergoes the final stages of restoration by participating in the museum’s Behind the Scenes Tours, which are offered nearly every Friday (some exceptions). More information and registration for those tours is available at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/GroupsandTours.aspx.

For more information, photos and videos of the Memphis Belle, click HERE.

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

3 Comments

  1. I was stationed at Blytheville AR in the late 80’s and we helped refurb it when it was on mud island. I was a B-52s crew chief at the time. Getting her off that island was probably the best thing they did. I can’t wait to see her again here in the near future

  2. I remember seeing her on a pylon, outdoors, in Memphis, around 1977. She had been neglected for years and was in bad shape. I’m glad the AF got her back and finally did right by her. Probably one the top 3 most significant bomber aircraft of the war.

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