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B-17G 44-83525

Posted by Scott Thompson on Thu Jan 16, 2003 10:30:37 AM

In reply top Re: Released in 1977 posted by Steve Hinton on Thu Jan 16, 2003 10:09:05 AM

As noted above, the B-17G was N83525 as owned by Jr. Burchinal at the time and based at Paris, Texas. According to a discussion I had with Burchinal many years ago, the B-17 was supposed to have a much larger role, depicting MacArthur's evacuation from the Philippines in early 1942. However, Burchinal had mechanical problems that delayed his arrival past the shooting schedule and was thus it used only for the one scene. This B-17G was one of the three used to film "1000 Plane Raid" at Santa Maria, CA, in January 1969, at the time on loan to Tallmantz from the USAF (try to work out that kind of deal now!). Tallmantz eventually worked out a trade with the USAF for the B-17G and then sold it to Burchinal in 1972, who sold it to Kermit Weeks in 1983. This B-17G remains in disassembled storage with Weeks in Flordia.

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