"Fuddy Duddy", ex 44-83563, Douglas built, painted as USAAF 297400/E/K. Was a VB-17G and firetanker before restoration. At the annual WWII airshow sponsored by the Mid Atlantic Air Museum.

Fuddy Duddy taxiing out with another load of enthusiastic warbird fans.

A nice puff of smoke from the #1 engine during this early morning engine start.

This aircraft is on display as B-17G 42-107112 "Sleepy Time Gal". In reality, it is B-17G 44-83624, which was at Wright Patterson AFB for many years. The AMC Museum received this aircraft in the late 1980's from WPAFB in trade for B-17G 42-32076 "Shoo Shoo Baby", which had been restored by the AMC Museum.

Starting up No.3 engine with a characteristic puff of smoke.

Built by Douglas at Long Beach. Served at Great Ashfield, Suffolk, with the 550 Bomb Squadron, 385 BG (Heavy) of the 3rd Bombardment Division of the 8th Air Force. By this date the B-17s were delivered in all-metallic finish and the USAAF retained it for the raids on Germany, escorted by the P-51's. Obtained from the USAF 50 years ago.

Seen at the marvellous, Wings Over Gillespie airshow, Sentimental Journey taxies in after landing. Remarkably, this aircraft was doing pleasure flights of about 45 minute duration at $495. I was told that every enthusiast should make such a flight before they died. This, for me, would probably have been at the point at which I told my Wife !

Somewhere I have the next slide in sequence, showing a startled BAF hostess walking in from a Herald...

With smoke on, simulating an engine failure, Sally B demonstrates at the Marshall Aerospace Centenary celebrations