‘Memphis Belle’ will rumble over real-life version in Dayton

A movie version of the World War II B-17 Memphis Belle bomber will roar through the skies above Dayton this month when the real-life Memphis Belle is unveiled after years of restoration.

The movie version of the aircraft will be one of three of the World War II-era bombers, six P-51 Mustangs and three training aircraft scheduled to land between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 16 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The Memphis Belle was the first Army Air Forces bomber to complete 25 combat missions over Europe and return to the United States.

The real-life version of the plane, under restoration at the museum since 2005, is set to be unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:15 a.m. Thursday May 17, the 75th anniversary of the Memphis Belle completing its last wartime mission.

RELATED: Two Memphis Belles and a Mustang will be in Dayton

The movie version of the famed B-17 appeared in the 1990 Hollywood film “Memphis Belle.”

World War II planes flying in for the celebration will be displayed 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 17-18 and the planes will take-off on the museum’s airstrip starting at 4:30 p.m. May 18.

More than 160 World War II re-enactors and 30 historic vehicles will be at the museum as part of activities marking the Belle’s debut, organizers say.

The movie version of the Memphis Belle also is scheduled set to appear June 23-24 at the Vectren Dayton Air Show. The plane is operated by the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, N.Y.

RELATED

Memphis Belle towed into Air Force museum for first time

Three things to know: Wright-Patt could land oversight of stealth jet

PHOTOS: How the Memphis Belle came back to life

About the Author