Greetings Folks, From an era when the Legends airshows were full of stunning aircraft, this shot came from a year that no less than 3 B-17's were there.. 'Sally B', 'Pink Lady' and this one all the way the U.S. 'Liberty Belle'.. Liberty Belle was the name of several individual Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses used in combat during World War II. The first Liberty Belle B-17 (serial number 42-30096) crashed near Wakes Colne after an accidental on-board fire on 30 November 1943; while the BQ-7 Aphrodite variant (42-30039) named 'Liberty Belle', was hit by flak and crashed. during a mission against the Heligoland U-boat pens on 15 October 1944. Liberty Belle tail number 42-31610 and a Liberty Bell were attached to the 91st Bomb Group (Heavy), at Bassingbourne. (Near me). A third Liberty Belle (42-97849) landed in Belgium with heavy damage on 14 February 1945, during an Oil Campaign raid. A fourth Liberty Belle B-17G (43-38037), was part of the 487th 'B-17 Flying Fortress Story' and involved in a mid air collision on 30 September 1944. After a sharp turn in heavy contrails, this B-17 was caught in prop wash (presumed), went over on its back and collided with Tail Number 43-38154 of the same squadron. The right wing of '38037' and the left wing of '38154' came off and both aircraft crashed at Bexterhagen, 9 km east of Bielefeld. Only 3 out of 18 men on the two aircraft survived. Now thats the official History.. This one is is B-17G (SN 44-85734), she did not see combat..Was originally sold on 25 June 1947, as scrap to Esperado Mining Co. of Altus, Oklahoma; it was then sold again later that year for $2,700 to Pratt & Whitney, which operated the B-17 as a heavily modified test bed. The B-17 was eventually purchased by aviation enthusiast Don Brooks, who formed the Liberty Foundation to exhibit the plane as the Liberty Belle. Restoration began in 1992 with parts from another damaged B-17 (44-85813), performed by Tom Reilly and company/Flying Tigers Warbird Restoration Museum (aka "Bombertown USA"), located at that time at Kissimmee Gateway field, Kissimmee, Florida. She returned to the air on 8 December 2004, and had been touring the air show circuit since then. In 2008 she came to Legends for this show.. But.. On the morning of 13 June 2011, Liberty Belle made a forced landing in Oswego, Illinois, after taking off from Aurora Municipal Airport in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot of a T-6 Texan chase plane informed Liberty Belle '​s pilot that the B-17 inboard left wing was on fire and advised an immediate landing. The bomber landed successfully in a nearby field and the seven people aboard were able to evacuate without injury, but due to the muddy ground the fire engines could not reach it, allowing the fire to spread and destroy the plane.. The aircraft was totally destroyed.. The Mustang is Duxford based 'Miss Velma'. Enjoy Rob P.S. This year at Legends a Spitfire is coming from the U.S. to attend.. Its the 75th Anniversary of the Battle Of Britain this year and planned is a mass flight along the South Coast by up to 35 Spitfires and Hurricanes!!! Its hoped to be on September 15th.. The day when the largest German raids attacked London (Up to 400 aircraft in one attack) Up to 25 RAF Squadrons rose to meet them.. It is still the largest air battle ever.. The Battle Of Britain stands as the longest Air Battle in History.. I plan to attend the Battle Of Britain Show at Duxford. and Legends (I hope), Also the RAF Cosford show.