Planetalk forum suggests that one will go to Duxford and another to Cosford, delivery flights next week.

http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=9977

Another great airman gone, RIP. Thanks for the link roadracer.

It’s a shame the journalist who wrote it doesn’t quite grasp WWII history, I hope Mr.Foster is smiling down from above at the line about defending himself from Russian aircraft!

Sorry to be a pain but what is No 5 LFS?:o

LFS= Lancaster Finishing School. Alot of crews who trained on four engined bombers often flew different types, such as the Halifax or Stirling, earlier in thier training and so if they were destined for Lancs they’d have to go for a course at an LFS. Your grandfather would most likely have been an instructor there.

There is a full length copy of the draft letter, in pdf. format, on the homepage of the museum’s website:

http://www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk/

She did look rather nice in the Belle scheme without the chin turret, I must admit. Thanks for the pic Steve, and I really like the one with G-FIRE passing overhead too. It’s interesting to see how she’s changed over the years.

I’m sorry if I end up sounding like a stuck record, but I would still say that the slight repaint would be the best option. With running costs ever increasing, any change in her appearance would surely have to be as quick and as cheap as possible in order that as much cash as possible can go toward keeping her flying. The ‘Latest Rumour’ scheme is colourful and striking without being too big a job, it fits perfectly with her current configuration and it would be like no other Fortress currently flying. If the chin turret were removed, she’d end up looking much like the ex-Tallichet example, and if she went back to metal she’d look like alot of the other Forts still flying in the States (she’d also need her top turret changed.)

So a slight change seems to make sense in all sorts of ways, her current paint and current config are just a relatively short step away from being both attractive and historically accurate.

I’d be happy to see the Belle scheme stay as long as the chin turret was removed…

I suppose that’s one way of looking at it, although you have to wonder what the cost of modifying the aircraft to match the paint would be, compared to modifying the paintwork to match the aircraft.

I still think the best solution from a financial/practical point of view would be the retention of the olive/grey scheme, but with different group markings, nose art etc. Aside from the stepped waist windows, Sally B matches perfectly a late Douglas-built F model. Chin turret, Sperry top turret (as opposed to the Bendix on G’s), the pre-Cheyenne tail turret and no cheek guns.

So aside from that stepped waist window, something like the ‘Latest Rumour’ scheme would be a perfect match for Sally B’s current configuration.

I like her just as she is, does there need to be change for the sake of change?

To my mind atleast, it would be much more than just change for change’s sake. The fact is that there are currently three Memphis Belle’s, the real one belonging to USAFM, the ex-Tallichet G model that has been modified to closely resemble an F, and then Sally B. When there are so many other aircraft to represent, and so few left to represent them with, should we have three Belle’s? Ideally no, ideal being the important word. I understand that it has been useful to capitalise on the popularity of the movie and so on, and it would be interesting to know just how helpful the Sally B crew still see it as being. I would be against a respray if they really did think it would reduce revenue.

That said, something like the ‘Latest Rumour’ scheme on the link I posted above would certainly be ‘catchy’. It would use the same Olive Drab/Grey paint and it would be historically accurate to boot. So a major change could be done on a relatively small budget, as compared to the price of a full respray, and you would end up with a scheme that pleased enthusiasts and public alike. In addition, as we all know, kids are a big influence on how adults spend money, and I can well imagine that sharkteeth nose art would wow the kids and encourage pennies from adults’ pockets.

I have a huge amount of respect for Elly and the rest of the Sally B crew, and I’ve no intention of insulting or belittling anyone’s efforts here. At the same time, it would be nice if the colours could atleast be subtly changed.

She’s been in the ‘Belle colours longer than any other scheme, and there are so many other Bomb Groups and individual aircraft to represent. I understand that the costs of a full repaint would be enormous, but she could wear different markings with the same basic colour scheme. How about a late-F/early-G model scheme? Some late F’s were fitted with chin turrets, and some early G’s had the old Sperry top turret, which would match Sally’s current configuration perfectly.

Edited to add: The aircraft second down on the following link would certainly be an eye catcher:

http://www.markstyling.com/3ad_b17s2.htm