One of only fourteen B-17s that still fly, the
Collings Foundation is the proud owner and operator of B-17G serial
no. 44-83575. This aircraft was built on April 7, 1945 in Long
Beach, CA by Douglas Aircraft under license from Boeing. She served
as part of the Air/Sea 1st Rescue Squadron and in the Air Transport
Service. She was subject to three separate nuclear explosions. After
a thirteen-year cool down period the aircraft was sold for scrap.
The Aircraft Specialties Company began a restoration of the
aircraft. Named “Yucca Lady” the aircraft’s skin was fabricated and
replaced on site; engines and props were stripped, cleaned, repaired
and tested. For the next twenty years 44-83575 served without
incident as a fire bomber dropping water and borate on wild fires
throughout the West. In 1986 the Collings Foundation of Stow
Massachusetts purchased the aircraft and had her restored to her
wartime configuration by Tom Reilly Vintage Aircraft. She was
considered one of the finest B-17 restorations and has received
numerous awards. In 1987 at an air show at Beaver Falls,
Pennsylvania, the aircraft was struck by a severe cross wind while
landing. This resulted in a severe non-fatality accident, that
necessitated another substantial restoration. With the support of
many individuals and corporations, and support from many folks from
Beaver Falls 44-83575 rose again like a Phoenix. The aircraft is
named in honor of Nine-O-Nine, a B-17 that flew 140 successful
combat missions with the 323rd Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group. The
original Nine-O-Nine did not lose a crewman, and did not have to
abort a single mission. This amazing record was attained between
February 1944 and April 1945. During this time the Nine-O-Nine
participated in eighteen raids on Berlin and flew an amazing 1129
combat hours. She underwent 21 different engine changes, 4 wing
replacements, and fifteen main gas tank replacements due largely to
heavy damage from flak. The Nine-O-Nine had six hundred patches in
her fuselage and wings when the War ended in Europe. She was flown
home, but later succumbed to the scrapper’s guillotine. In Stan
Stokes’ highly detailed painting, that is a tribute to both the
original Nine-O-Nine, and her present namesake flown by the Collings
Foundation, the original Nine-O-Nine is readied for another mission
to Berlin at its airfield in England in 1945.
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Collector Sized Lithograph:
$40
16" x 11 1/2"
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Giclee on Canvas:
$445
18'' x 27''
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