Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Photo Gallery
Years in the making. The restoration of the Memphis Belle B-17F Flying Fortress.
Page <<first <prev 4 of 8 next> last>>
Sep 7, 2018 08:44:42   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
Great images of a great World War II icon. By the way, if the plane was under fluorescent lighting you nailed the WB to perfection.
Nice job.

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 08:52:03   #
jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana
 
These photos are simply excellent, James, and great history, too. I really enjoyed seeing these; thanks much for posting them.

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 08:54:12   #
Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains
 
James56 wrote:
Yes indeed we owe a lot those those who didn't make it home. I've seen figures of over 200,000 airmen lost their lives during the bombing campaign to free Europe and the UK.


If I recall correctly the bomber crews in the European theater had the highest mortality rate of any U. S. units of any type in all of WW ll.

The movie is one of my favorites and the scene where the entire 10 man crew is riding in one jeep out to the flight line for their 25th and last mission singing Rock of Ages is the most moving movie scene I have ever viewed (and heard).

What a wonderful post. Thank you so much for posting it.

Reply
 
 
Sep 7, 2018 08:55:38   #
JayRay Loc: Missouri
 
Great photographs of a wonderful museum! Visited there four years ago. My Dad was a navigator on a B-24 bomber during WWII. I have to get back there to see the new fourth hangar and the Memphis Belle that they recently added. Amazing museum with beautifully restored aircraft! Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 08:59:40   #
water falls Loc: Green Bay,Wi
 
Great series!

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 09:45:52   #
SoftLights Loc: New Orleans, LA
 
Wow! What a beautiful restoration and great job capturing her beauty James. I wondered what happened to this plane. I traveled extensively for the last 20 years of my career and try to visit every air museum I can. Hope to hit this one soon. Thanks again for sharing these excellent pictures. JR

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 09:52:56   #
Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas
 
Excellent series James, I love the movie Memphis Belle.

Reply
 
 
Sep 7, 2018 10:01:47   #
47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range
 
I remember when word got out that the MB was under restoration, then I lost track or more likely forgot about it. Thanks for sharing. Well worth the drive.

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 10:06:34   #
photophly Loc: Old Bridge NJ
 
Great series of a great aircraft.

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 10:09:54   #
James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
James, wonderful images and presentation! There's a wiki page for the plane that explains several of the markings. But, I couldn't find an explanation of the several stars and colors above the mission count. Do you recall?

Hi Paul...yes I know. Yellow stars are the missions when the Belle lead her bomb group (a smaller part of the whole). Red stars are missions when the Belle was the lead plane for the entire mission including all assigned bombing sub groups. Thanks for stopping by...appreciate your visit.

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 10:19:52   #
Two Feathers
 
James56 wrote:
In 1946, The Memphis Belle was sitting in a field in Oklahoma destined to be chopped up for scrap. A newspaper reporter learned of it's fate and informed Mayor Walter Chandler of Memphis Tennessee. He bought the plane and had it shipped to Memphis. But after
60 years sitting outdoors, local groups conceited they didn't have the funds or ability to restore the Belle.
In 2005, the U.S. Air Force had the plane shipped in pieces to its repair shop in Dayton. During the War, the Memphis Belle had 5 engine changes, had portions of it's tail splintered to pieces. Its body was riddled with hundreds of holes from flak damage.
Now after 13 years in the shop, the Memphis Belle has finally been completely restored
and is now on display at the USAF National Museum in Dayton Ohio. One of many B-17's that helped to free Europe from the grips of the Nazi war machine. Hoping you will enjoy these photos I took during my visit to see this historic aircraft. Oh, and Thanks for looking...! PS: Got to meet fellow Hedgehogger "PhilGPS" while here in Dayton. A wonderful knowledgeable gentleman, great fellow photographer and a pleasure to have met. Thanks Phil...

DSC00058-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00063-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00066-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00082-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00090-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00096-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00106-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00112-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00116-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00125-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00201-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00199-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00210-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr

DSC00216-01 by James Frazier, on Flickr
In 1946, The Memphis Belle was sitting in a field ... (show quote)


These are great photos and the subject well what can you say.

Reply
 
 
Sep 7, 2018 10:20:30   #
James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee
 
CanonTom wrote:
James, these are wonderful! Some I saw on your Facebook post but some were new I believe too. Regardless, terrific photos. Thank you much for posting. I now want to visit Dayton!

I have been to the air museum at Pensacola Navel Air Station as it is much closer to home and our favorite weekend vacation area. No Belle there but also a great museum for those who love planes and flight! I believe anyone here would enjoy it as well.

Tom

I've been to the Pensacola Naval Air Museum too Tom. It also is an impressive place to tour. The Museum in Dayton has four huge hangers full of aircraft and some space related vehicles. You'd enjoy it. It'd be about an 8 hour drive for you Tom...but well worth the trip. I hope to go back again when I can spend the entire day there.

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 10:23:46   #
James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee
 
Many Thanks to all of you who left comments or just viewed the photos. For those who did leave comments, I and others appreciate what you have to say. Thanks for adding your stories. I just enjoy reading them so much, so again...THANKS!

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 10:33:30   #
Martin Loc: Long Island NY
 
Fantastic shots loved them all...

Reply
Sep 7, 2018 10:35:43   #
James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee
 
camerapapi wrote:
Great images of a great World War II icon. By the way, if the plane was under fluorescent lighting you nailed the WB to perfection.
Nice job.

Thanks. The lighting was a mix of fluorescent and tungsten both. Fortunately the tungsten spot lights overpowered the fluorescent ceiling lights so there wasn't to much odd coloring. I checked several shots and saw that AUTO WB was fine to use. However, in some photos the fluorescent ceiling lights came out blue. That wasn't a problem for me, as long as the main subject was the right color. I did photoshop some lights that were distracting out of a few images. Lighting overall was pretty poor...but I managed best as I could.

Reply
Page <<first <prev 4 of 8 next> last>>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Photo Gallery
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.