And they walked away...

[CBT]

...amazing. Liberty Belle is no longer. :(

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/wwii-bomber-plane-crash-oswego-reports-b17-minkler-20110613

[Vortex]

Saw that on the news tonight. Glad all are safe but sad to see one of the few B-17s left crash and burn.

[Bluerauder]

Saw that on the news tonight. Glad all are safe but sad to see one of the few B-17s left crash and burn.

+1 Agree. Not very many left at all. Is the Memphis Belle still flying? .... Nope. The Memphis Belle was moved to the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, OH back in 2005. Think that it is still undergoing the restoration process.

Notable B-17s

B-17G Shoo Shoo Baby Aluminum Overcast – flying example.
Yankee Lady – flying example, Yankee Air Force.
Liberty Belle – former engine testbed restored as flying example, destroyed in a crash on 13 June 2011, outside of Chicago, Illinois; no fatalities.
Memphis Belle
My Gal Sal
Murder Inc. – A B-17 bombardier wearing the name of the B-17 "Murder Inc." on his jacket was used for propaganda in German newspapers.[135]
Nine-O-Nine - flying example, Collings Foundation of Stow, Massachusetts.
Old 666
Piccadilly Lilly II
(The) Pink Lady
Sally B – The last flying example in Europe.
Sentimental Journey – flying example, Commemorative Air Force.
Shoo Shoo Baby
Swamp Ghost
(The) Swoose
Texas Raiders – flying example, Commemorative Air Force.
Thunderbird
Ye Olde Pub – the B-17 that Franz Stigler did not shoot down, as memorialized in the painting "A Higher Call" by John D. Shaw.[136]

[Mercury93]

At least no one was hurt. I first saw that B-17 in Pittsburgh 2 years ago. It's unreal when a warbird is lost.

[LIGHTNIN1]

Just finished reading it on our local news.It was here in 2008 and last fall.Saw it both times. A tragic loss for aviation history.:(

[jabird56]

A friend of mine in Omaha flew in that classic about 10 days ago. He is a retired B-52 Command and Instructor Pilot, now with a few hours in the Buffs Grandpa. What an unfortunate loss.

[Jesse]

I saw one flying very low in a valley I lived in a couple years ago. It's something that scares you at first. I was driving to a buddy's garage. He was just circling the area. What a sound.

[CBT]

There was a Memphis Belle copy at the Langley Air Show this year. It flys in every year, come to think of it. And I take pictures of it every year. :beer:

[wickedmerc]

What a shame! Terrible loss. :(
A testament to the toughness of the plane...took a rough emergency landing in a corn field while on fire, skid to a stop and still stayed together for the 7 folks to get out.
I've seen 2 B-17's....both in the air (truly an awesome experience!) and both times without a camera :mad: Some day......

[F8LBITEva]

crazy they walked away. Must have been a rough landing