Rivet counter B-17

[Don Boose]

Maybe that's how it looked when it rolled out of the Boeing Seattle plant in 1942.

Don

[John Dell]

Not quite Don. Below is a photo of how she would have looked right off the assembly line. The large side nose gun windows were added at a modification center. The frames were painted olive drab but the paint quickly started to flake off. Plus, the museum added all of her mission symbols. I’ve also attached a photo of how she looked after returning to the States for the bond tour. Am I a rivet counter or what?

[Don Boose]

Good images, John. I guess I was thinking about the newness of the paint - I realized that there were wartime modifications and lots of markings additions. Anyway, I'm glad my comment elicited these images.

And I presume that Armorman got an answer to the initial question (Ruben's initial post was really a satisfactory response, but I guess the rest of us just got to enjoying the conversation).

Don

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by John Dell

Not quite Don. Below is a photo of how she would have looked right off the assembly line. The large side nose gun windows were added at a modification center. The frames were painted olive drab but the paint quickly started to flake off. Plus, the museum added all of her mission symbols. I’ve also attached a photo of how she looked after returning to the States for the bond tour. Am I a rivet counter or what?

The fabric moveable surfaces really faded!

[Texman]

I like how they cleverly "covered" the 'Belle nose art until the ceremony.

[John Bowden]

Well I'm glad the Air Force restored her.......... I saw her in Memphis in the early 90's and she was in very sad shape. The city did NOT respect her and allowed her to be abused and neglected.

[MichaelS]

I agree with John. I saw her on "Mud Island" in the 90's and she was in very sad state. I think I remember the US Air Force getting on their case and telling them to either preserve her or give her back to Wright Patterson.

[ARMORMAN]

It had been sadly abused at Mud Island....

[Falco]

No respect for precious aviation relics these days... I was recently visiting a memorial to the "Bay of Pigs Invasion" which featured a A-26 display (Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, FL). Kids were using the engine cowling as a trash can to discard their soda cans and water bottles... so sad, I felt compelled to clean her up as much as I could.

more info at:
https://travelforaircraft.wordpress....-b-26-invader/

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by Falco

No respect for precious aviation relics these days... I was recently visiting a memorial to the "Bay of Pigs Invasion" which featured a A-26 display (Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, FL). Kids were using the engine cowling as a trash can to discard their soda cans and water bottles... so sad, I felt compelled to clean her up as much as I could.

more info at:
https://travelforaircraft.wordpress....-b-26-invader/

Thanks for sharing that. So many stoopid wars! Too bad the whole world can't just do paper models.