B-17 Memphis Belle (signed by pilot)B 17 Memphis Belle airplane model signed by pilot. The B 17 Flying Fortress "MEMPHIS BELLE" (Serial No. 41 24485) was one of 12,750 B 17's built by the Boeing Aircraft Co. The BELLE was the most famous because she was the first heavy bomber in Hitler's European war theater to complete 25 combat missions and keep her entire crew alive. She flew for 10 months from November 7, 1942 to May 17, 1943. The command generals had set 25 missions as an incentive

Power for initial production aircraft was supplied by two 930kW (1250shp) General Electric T58GE8B turboshafts

Pave Hawks provided combat recovery for coalition air forces in Iraq

This all-metal

but it failed during its test flight and Doolittle had to make a wheels-up landing

and International Ice Patrol missions

Used in conjunction with the heavy firepower were parafrag bombs

to be announced in 2001

This innovative design promises to reduce weight

In the nose

First becoming keenly interested in aviation during 1910

a rotating gun turret

the S61L is 1