The effort to rebuild B-17G 44-85734, better known as Liberty Belle, is moving forward at full speed ahead. While most of the effort is being completed at Douglas, Georgia, the aft fuselage section work is being done by Ray Moore at his Hangar 13 headquarters at Asheville, North Carolina. The work underway at Asheville is for the aft fuselage section between Station 6 (the fuselage production break aft of the radio room) aft to Station 11, where the tail gunner’s compartment is bolted on.

The effort underway at Asheville utilizes some components from the original 44-85734, very badly damaged by a fire that followed an emergency off-field landing in June 2011. However, much of the aft fuselage is new structure built to the exact standards of a B-17G. Pattern parts were available, some from 44-85734 and others from the fuselage remains of air tanker B-17G N9324Z (44-83542).

Over the past several years, Ray Moore has built up the fuselage structure in a custom-designed and manufactured jig, and the individual stations from Station 6 to Station 11 were incorporated as starting point. The supporting longerons, formers, and stringers were built up from the pattern pieces or original Boeing blueprints, and have all been added to the structure. Now, as this is being written, much of the aluminum skin is being fitted with final riveting underway. The expectation is for the aft fuselage to be be completed and shipped down to Douglas by this coming summer (2022).

Some of the more challenging parts of the build included the ball turret mounting and supporting structure, including the complex construction of the ring structure that surrounds the actual turret in the belly just aft of Station 6. The waist gun windows, main entrance door, tail gunner door, and the tail wheel mounting structure have also all been incorporated.

Also to be seen in the background of some of these photos is Ray Moore’s primary project: the rebuilding of B-17F 42-3455, better known as Lucky 13. The forward fuselage of the project is well underway…more to follow on this exciting and ambitious endeavor.

To keep up with what is going on at Hangar 13, check back regularly to the Hangar 13 website.

And, for the complete story of the history of B-17G 44-85734, better known as the Liberty Belle, check out Final Cut: The Post-War B-17 Flying Fortress and Survivors available right here at this website.