Lacey Lady B-17 44-85790

[warbirdcrazy]

Here are a few pics to show what we have been up to on the Lacey Lady. We will add more later. The badly damaged tail turret has been crated up to be sent out for restoration. Rob Morelli of Warbird Rescue has volunteered his services for the rebuild of the turret. The engines that were removed from airframe last summer have been moved into our hanger in Aurora Oregon. This is the 1st time they have been inside since they left the factory in 1945. They are also quite possibly the lowest time 1820-97's in existence with only about 37 hrs total time since new. The nose section is finished. The cockpit is disassembled and in the jig and is the next target for restoration. We are also currently working on our ball turret getting it ready to display. All the work being done on the airframe is being done to airworthy. When the restoration has been completed we plan to fly her. The rest of the airframe will be removed from it's perch this year. It will not spend another winter outside. Although the restoration unfortunately stalled out a number of years ago we are once again moving right along. We will try to post pics as we can showing our progress.

http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/warbi ... e.jpg.html
http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/warbi ... b.jpg.html
http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/warbi ... e.jpg.html
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http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/warbi ... 9.jpg.html
http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/warbi ... 9.jpg.html

[OldBillB17F]

Great news! Too many B-17 projects to keep track of now!

[aerovin2]

Thanks for posting the photo links. If you wanted to, you can use the photobucket feature and past those image links right into the posting and they will then display directly with the post, if that all makes sense.

[TAdan]

Thanks for the updates, it's been nice to see Lacey Lady getting some attention recently.

[jmkendall]

Thanks for the update! Much Appreciated!

How much of the internal equipement was stripped out by the CAF, other restorers, and just plain thief's?

I would imagine that this would be one of the easier B-17s to restore. As she was not crashed; torn apart; crushed by ice; put together with components of different aircraft. It surely is the low time Queen of the Fortress family!

[warbirdcrazy]

Many years ago before any thought was given to restoring her, the ball turret was donated to the Amvets for use in Preston's Pride. The complete upper turret went to the Arizona wing of the CAF for use in Sentimental Journey as did a few items from the tail turret. These are the big items. Luckily we have a replacement ball turret, although we do need a few parts for it. We are very fortunate to have a complete airframe. Aside from some corrosion, the only damage sustained was when a wayward delivery truck managed to run into the tail turret a few years back. Our website is in need of an overhaul and we will be addressing that issue in the near future, in the meantime people can follow us on our facebook page wings of freedom/milwaukie bomber there we post regular pics and updates.

[jmkendall]

Thanks!

[hang the expense]

Post pics of the tail gun and will see if we can help.

[warbirdcrazy]

Pics of our tail turret. What do you think hang?

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t64 ... 4b8d0b.jpg
http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t64 ... f60da5.jpg
http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t64 ... ad8de1.jpg
http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t64 ... 6bd26f.jpg
http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t64 ... 2cfc91.jpg

[hang the expense]

She is really bad. The truck didn't do it any favors that's for sure.I have made everything for the late model "stuff" as well as stinger tail guns.I supplied champaign lady their tailgun which was a mess before its rebuild.Pm me and we can discuss what you need.Hang.

[DryMartini]

Ouch!

If the Yoke is not damaged (looks like it might be OK)
then Hang can help. The Yoke is the only part of the
Cheyenne that he hasn't made.

[hang the expense]

I can see that the yoke is busted from the gun mount being pushed up by the truck crushing the bottom of the structure.I can probably come up with a repair for seeing it aint firing real fifties.

[Prumus99]

It's great to see another B-17 getting some much needed TLC. I have afew photo of this plane in my collection and I hope you don't mind me sharing them.

Keep up the great Work!
Alan
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[hang the expense]

Nice pics back when she still had all the "Go to war" stuff on board.Thats going to be hard,not impossible, to replace.

[jmkendall]

Very cool! is that a BT-13 behind her in the first pic?