|
It's our
airplane! Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah ...
OCTOBER
26, 2004 - The Air Force may take the "Memphis" out of Memphis Bell ... or, rather, the Memphis Bell out
of Memphis.
It all started about 60 years ago when a group of World War II veterans rescued the famous
World War II bomber from the clutches of the U.S. Air Force "boneyard" in Arizona.
Piloted by Tennessee native Col. Robert Morgan, the Memphis Belle was one of the first B-17
bombers to complete the required 25 combat missions during the big W-W-2.
The Air Force apparently raised concerns that the city of Memphis wasn't taking appropriate
care of aircraft. After all, the aircraft is still owned by the Air Force, and the Air Force
wants to move the plane to its own museum (the newly renamed National Air Force Museum) in
Dayton, Ohio.
But, in some apparent act of kindness, about three weeks after announcing the Memphis Belle
would be moved to the U.S. Air Force museum, the Air Force is cutting Memphis a break by giving
the city 60 days to talk the USAF out of snatching back the famous bird.
Ok, it may not be "out of kindness" ... the delay may be a result of efforts by Memphis
officials and members of Congress.
The president of the Memphis Belle Memorial Association, Inc. -- in a letter to Senator Bill
Frist dated Oct. 25 -- asked for help reversing the Air Force's decision to take back the
plane.
In his letter, MBMA President Andrew Pouncey said, "We need your assistance to reverse the
decision of the United States Air Force to remove The “Memphis Belle” from Memphis, so that we
may reach an agreement that permits the Association to complete the airplane’s restoration and
place it on permanent display in a new museum in Memphis."
Our message to the good people in Memphis is simple ... you didn't have to run
crying to Congress. If you simply take care of the historical aircraft the Air
Force may not take it away from you. But if the service does decide to
snatch it back ... IT'S THE AIR FORCE'S AIRPLANE! They can do what they want
with it.
You can read more about this effort to keep the Belle in Memphis by pointing your Web browser
to www.memphisbelle.com.
|
