[303rd-Talk] 8th AF Museum

[Gary Moncur]

I think most of you got my email about the B-17 coming to the 8th AF 
Museum in Savannah.  If not, it is pasted below.  If you didn't get 
it, email me direclty (glm at 303rdbg.com) and I'll make sure you're on 
my list.

Here the history of that B-17 taken from the book "Final Cut."

http://www.303rdbg.com/44-83814.pdf

Gary

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Dear 303rd BG Members, Families and Friends,

We thought you would be interested in some very exciting news from 
the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler (Savannah), GA.

We are happy to report that the Museum will soon be getting a B-
17.   The fortress is B-17G 44-83814, currently in storage the 
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Dulles Annex. 

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MIGHTY EIGHTH AIR FORCE MUSEUM NEWS

Brenda Elmgren, Chief Administrative Officer at the Museum reports:

"The B-17 is coming.  A team of aircraft moving experts will go to 
Dulles on January 5 to dismantle and load it.  It will be put on 4 
lowboy trailers and dispatched to the Museum.  This process will
take about a week, give or take a day.  The different trailers will 
arrive separately, depending on the staging of the process.  Once 
here, each trailer will be unloaded into the Combat Gallery, where
the aircraft will be reassembled and prepared for restoration.  We 
expect the reassembly to be completed around the middle of January.  
It will be on public display for the entire process.  We are
intently determined that it should be a shared with everyone, 
particularly the troops out there who have made it possible.

"We have received the official deed from the Smithsonian and I will 
be traveling to the Smithsonian to finish up the details immediately 
after Christmas.  I'll go from Washington DC to Dayton to observe 
some display techniques and lighting methods at the National US Air 
Force Museum at Wright-Patterson.

"Things are presently being rearranged in the Combat Gallery to 
accommodate the big bird.  The Stearman trainer will be mounted on 6 
Ft pylons.  The Deenthorpe exhibit is being moved and will be
greatly enhanced with new lighting and graphics.  Likewise with the 
Ploesti diorama.  The initial viewing experience for the B17 will be 
dramatic.  As you step out of the Mission Experience, you will
look to your right - and stare right down the row of props.  Whew!  
What a sight!

"It's an exciting time for all Mighty Eighth supporters.  If you know
of anyone who wants to contribute, there is a special fund for it."

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303rd BOMB GROUP ASSOCIATION FINAL REPORT

The 303rd Bomb Group Association has sent their remaining assets, 
totaling $14,663.87,  to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.   In his 

November 20, 2008 letter to the Museum, 303rd BGA President Col. 
William H. Cox reported:

"Our Board of Directors, meeting on August 27, 2005 voted to dissolve
the Association by December 31, 2007. The publishing and distribution
of the third and final book of Hell´s Angels Newsletters took longer 
than anticipated, as did the processing required by State and Federal
agencies. We officially dissolved as an organization on August 31, 
2008.

"It was further voted by our Board that the remaining assets of the 
303rd Bomb Group (H) Association, Inc. be gifted to 'The Mighty 
Eighth Air Force Museum and designated for the purpose of aiding in 
the acquiring, restoring, transporting, insuring or whatever else is 
required to place a B-17 on permanent display at the Mighty Eighth 
Air Force Museum.'"

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We are delighted that the Association's final assets can now be used 
for their intended purpose.   If you would like to donate to the B-17 

restoration, please contact the Museum directly.

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum Website:
http://www.mightyeighth.org/

Mailing Address:
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
P.O. Box 1992
Savannah, GA 31402

For the most part it has been a wonderful year.  Susan and I 
sincerely wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New 
Year.

-----------

-- Gary Moncur
         303rd Bomb Group (H) Historian
         http://www.303rdBG.com