Memphis Belle Unveiling

the Memphis Belle is an American icon [Music] it is a symbol that has the same cultural significance as the flag that was raised on Mount Suribachi or the Arizona battleship at Pearl Harbor it symbolizes and embodies sacrifice and what Americans will do to protect their freedom it's a piece of history that will never be forgotten and it led the way to where we are today with the Air Force well I'm happy as they're restoring it because they'll never have another Memphis Belle I don't think I'd ever see it fly again here it's a treasure [Music] without further ado ladies and gentlemen the Memphis Belle [Music] [Applause] [Music] today and the 17th of May seventy-five years to the day that the crew finished our 25th mission we have this grand opening to the public [Music] just as the Memphis Belle is the representative of the heavy bomber crews and that strategic bombing campaign that's exactly how we've we've made our exhibit the belle is this centerpiece that tells a larger story that of strategic bombing in Europe dad would be so proud I promise soon when he was dying 14 years ago that I would do anything I could for the Memphis Belle Memorial Association and to keep the plane alive he knew before he passed that the plane was going to come to the museum and he knew it would be preserved here he knew it would be restored here he was extremely glad that it was going to be this aircraft has been at the Museum since 2005 and our restoration hangers that came up from Memphis in need of a full restoration and our restoration craftsmen and volunteers have gone from the nose of the airplane to the tail of the airplane gone over every surface every piece of equipment it was completely disassembled all of the internal paint was stripped there were some corrosion issues in some areas all those were dealt with and then the aircraft was reassembled and then very carefully painted and marked to look and be configured as it was shortly after the crew finished her 25th mission on may 17 1943 [Applause] it's just awesome they did a great job it's been years in the making they took their time I think all the guys be very proud for me it's been very moving I mean I heard about it my whole life I never got a chance to see it in Memphis so seeing it here and and how well they put it back together really touched me and you know I kind of envisioned my father coming out to it the first time in a runway at bassing more in saying oh if this is what I have been flying today was particularly special we have these flying b-17s that came in here you know EA's aluminum overcast so we had the Yankee lady and maybe how also had the movie Memphis Belle and that just really enhances the event when we have the flying aircraft and the great thing is the Memphis Belle weave will be preserved it will not fly again and yet during this event we have these three b-17 flying over to inspire the crowd to see the reaction that thousands of people that have come out the the marvel on their faces as they read about what these amazing young men did do so this brings the memory of the Memphis Belle alive it also brings the memory of strategic bombing and the heavy bomber crews alive too and you know it's a real tragedy that these young men would serve and with more than 30,000 of them dying in combat that their memory would fade away so we hope that with this exhibit with this restoration we will keep their memory alive into eternity you

Channel: EAA

Views: 1,242,395

Keywords: bomber, b-17, wwii, military, memphis belle, air force, aviation, airplane, plane, flight, flying, aircraft, oshkosh, eaa, airventure

Id: VcRXOdqwxwE

Length: 4min 59sec (299 seconds)

Published: Mon Jun 11 2018