"Flying Fort". Ten 1985 photos of B-17G N3703G (44-83546)

10/26/85, NAS Pt. Mugu, CA. "Flying Fort".

Ten photos of B-17G N3703G (44-83546), the future "Movie Memphis Belle".  There's something about the B-17 that just grabs the attention.

In the following photos, we start from the forward starboard quarter and proceed around the aircraft.  We begin with two views of the starboard side.  I particularly liked the warm tones of the late afternoon sun in these pictures.

Next are close-ups of the inboard starboard engine (engine #3) and nacelle, the outboard starboard engine (engine #4), and the starboard main wheel with the inboard side of the port main wheel in the background.  The rusty appearance of engine 3's exhaust ducting is noteworthy.  Modelers take note: no metallic glints or sheen visible.

The following view of the forward fuselage and top turret from behind the starboard wing has always been a favorite angle of mine for the B-17.  The B-17F style top-turet is noteworthy.  The many protruding rivets are also worth noting.  The B-17 was clearly not a flush-riveted airplane.  The close-up of the tail and rear fuselage clearly shows the Fort's civil registration (N3703G).  The close-up of the tail gunner's position provides a good view of how the windows were arranged, I think.

We wrap up our "micro-walkaround" with a close-up of the ball turret (from the port side and aft) and a general view of the port side of the airplane.  Despite the modifications to the nose and top turret to make the airplane look more like a B-17F, N3703G was indeed built as a B-17G.  The characteristic chin-turret was removed during her post war career.

In 1985, N3703G was owned and operated by Dave Tallichet's Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (aka MARC, aka Yesterday's Air Force).  Mr. Tallichet was a B-17 copilot with the 100th BG and flew ~ 20 missions from Feb-1945.  A well-known personality among warbird circles, he passed away in Oct-2007.  Although looking a bit "tired" here (as she usually did in those days), N3703G has soldiered on.  She appeared in the 1990 movie "Memphis Belle" and for the last several years has been operated as the "Movie Memphis Belle" by the Liberty Foundation (although still owned by MARC).

"Outlaw" OA-4M

4/28/85, MCAS El Toro, CA.  "Outlaw"

OA-4M 154623 (YU-03, c/n 13741) of H&MS-13 (the "Outlaws") was on static display at the airshow.  Home-based at El Toro, the Outlaws were MAG-13's headquarters and maintenance squadron.

154623 was originally delivered as a TA-4F, converted to an OA-4M in February 1980, and retired to the "Boneyard" on 9/25/89.  She was sold to HVF West of Tucson, AZ on 4/9/09 and subsequently scrapped.

H&MS-13 was re-designated MALS-13 (Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13) on 10/5/88 and is currently (August 2015) based at MCAS Yuma, AZ providing support to the aviation operations of MAG-13 (Marine Aircraft Group 13). 

MCAS El Toro was decommissioned on 7/2/99.