ARK HERKY LOAD Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Just wondering if anyone might know where the Memphis Belle markings on the FB-111 with that name. I have the Don Logan F-111 book that shows the nose art but it does not show if it is behind the cockpit like most or if it is on the nose gear doors. I am trying to do all the Memphis Belle aircraft and want to make sure I do it right. So if anyone knows or has some good pictures I would appreciate it. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J.C. Bahr Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 but it does not show if it is behind the cockpit like most or if it is on the nose gear doors. I can't give you a 100% accurate answer, but if I were a betting man, I'd place my wager on the gear doors... because if you compare photos all throughout the FB section of Don's book... aircraft with larger noseart on the sides of the fuselage and behind the cockpit were usually 380th BW aircraft, whereas the 509th BW aircraft went with the smaller artwork on the doors. On a quick glance through of my copy, I only saw one 509th aircraft with the larger artwork, but it was in the older SIOP scheme instead of the later Dark Vark scheme. I wanna say I've seen mention in print somewhere about the 509th opting for smaller artwork on the doors as well, but don't hold me to that though. Good luck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
757flyer Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 VERY late reply, but hope this helps. The Belle nose art was worn on the nose gear doors. There is a photo in the Bunrindo Famous Airplanes of the World (FAOW) issue on the F-111 that shows 69-6510 in the hangar at Pease with the Belle II nose art (also has a close up of the art). One thing to be alert to is that the nose art was slightly different (the lettering) between 69-6510 and 68-0267. The photos in the Don Logan book are of the art on 68-0267. Chris McWilliams, who was the 509th OMS commander in the 1980s has a page on the FB-111.net site devoted to the nose art on the FBs. His photos of the nose art are used in the Logan book: http://fb-111.net/Page-11.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Boyer Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 Just how many "Memphis Belle" aircraft have there been? I can think of at least three that were "Memphis Belle III." Wasn't anyone keeping count? We should be up to "Memphis Belle VIII" or IX by now.🤔 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spruemeister Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 (edited) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Belle_(aircraft) plus the demo A-10C. Others? Doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason to the Roman numeral sub nomenclature really. Rick L. Edited July 26 by Spruemeister Quote Link to post Share on other sites
757flyer Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 Paul, By my count, there have been 15 USAF/USAAF aircraft that have worn the Belle name. In addition, there was an RAF Tornado in Desert Storm (only a stick figure for the art, but with the name), two warbird B-17Gs (the "movie" Belle, and Sally B in the UK wearing the name on one side for a time) and a Canadair CRJ of Pinnacle Airlines (Northwest Airlink) which was named "Spirit of Memphis Belle" Below are the specific airframes, and some notes for them: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Boyer Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 (edited) I figured someone had it all written down! Thanks, Mike! Edited July 26 by Paul Boyer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
757flyer Posted July 27 Share Posted July 27 Glad my obsession could help others 😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Smith Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 If I’m not mistaken, I think the pilot of the B-1B was the grandson of the original MB. Might have been one of the B-52’s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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