Saturday, October 23, 2004
The Air Force wants to move the plane to Ohio.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Almost three weeks after announcing the famed Memphis Belle warplane would be moved to Ohio, the Air Force is giving the city more time to find a way to keep the plane.
The decision allows 60 days for the city and the Air Force to work out an agreement, which could include a timeline committing local authorities to getting necessary preservation and presentation work completed.
The delay is the result of efforts by Memphis officials and members of Congress to reverse the Air Force decision announced Oct. 5.
"Memphians saved this historic aircraft from the junkyard almost 60 years ago, and Memphians are currently restoring it to its original state," said U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn.
"We will keep working together as a community to keep this historic aircraft in Memphis where it belongs."
About the plane
The Belle was one of the first B-17s to complete a required 25 combat missions over German-occupied Europe. Its crew came home for a nationwide bond-selling tour and the Belle became a wartime symbol of heroism and sacrifice.
Pilot Robert Morgan named the plane in honor of Margaret Polk, his Memphis sweetheart, and the plane's nose was decorated with leggy paintings of a young woman. The couple broke up shortly after Morgan returned from Europe.
The Belle is owned by the Air Force, which wants to move it to its national museum in Dayton, Ohio, to become part of the World War II exhibit.
"The Memphis Belle is a very strong part of Memphis's history. It's a strong part of our cultural tourism base. It's a treasure for this city, and we don't want to lose it," said Kevin Kane, president of the Memphis Convention & amp; Visitors Bureau.
The Memphis Belle Memorial Association was formed in 1975, when the Air Force raised concerns about the plane's condition and began talking about taking it back.
The association raised private donations to partially restore the Belle and put it on public display. Last year the plane was moved to a hangar at a former Navy air base for more restoration.
Morgan's widow, Linda Morgan, said he wanted the plane to go to the Ohio museum.
"I'm disappointed because everybody keeps saying they're going to do something, and then they don't do it," said Morgan, of Crane Hill, Ala. "I'm disappointed with the Air Force a little; they're either going to take the airplane back, or they're not."