A legendary B-17 from World War II will be on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The “Memphis Belle,” the first US Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe and return home, will be on display beginning May 17, 2018, the museum announced. After its war deployment, the B-17 flew across the country to boost morale and collect war bonds, spreading the name that is now nationally known. The aircraft also leant its name to the famous 1944 documentary film “The Memphis Belle.” “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,” museum curator Jeff Duford said in a news release. The aircraft first came to the museum in 2005, where workers began conservation and restoration work. The eventual display will include interactive displays, film footage, and personal artifacts, Duford said.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
