B-17 Preservation Association

B-17 Preservation Association
Name	B-17 Preservation Association
Formation	1980s
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Various airfields
Region served	International
Purpose	Aircraft preservation, historical education
Leader title	Executive Director

B-17 Preservation Association The B-17 Preservation Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration, conservation, operation, and public interpretation of surviving Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft and related artifacts. Working with museums, air shows, veterans groups, and aviation museums, the Association focuses on preserving tangible heritage connected to United States Army Air Forces, Eighth Air Force, and other units that operated the B-17 during World War II.

History

The Association traces roots to grassroots efforts in the 1980s and 1990s when collectors, former Air Transport Auxiliary volunteers, and veterans associated with the Duxford Aerodrome, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and regional institutions like the Museum of Flight began coordinated projects. Early collaborations involved stakeholders from Collings Foundation, Experimental Aircraft Association, Commemorative Air Force, Planes of Fame Air Museum, and the Imperial War Museum. The organization formed formal ties to restoration programs at National Museum of the United States Air Force, Yanks Air Museum, and Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum to protect airframes rescued from scrapyards, storage depots, and foreign collections such as those in Brazil and China.

Mission and Activities

The Association's mission emphasizes conservation aligned with standards from the International Council of Museums, American Alliance of Museums, and heritage frameworks used by the World Monuments Fund. Activities include aircraft acquisition, archival curation, provenance research tied to squadrons like the 91st Bomb Group, 303rd Bombardment Group, and 379th Bombardment Group, and support for veterans linked to campaigns such as the Strategic bombing campaign of World War II and the Battle of Berlin (World War II). It partners with educational institutions including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Ohio University, and University of Dayton for conservation science, and with aviation historians from The Smithsonian Institution and authors associated with the Imperial War Museum.

Aircraft and Artifacts

The collection priorities encompass airframes, powerplants like the Wright R-1820 Cyclone, avionics suites, gun turrets, and original documentation such as mission logs from the Eighth Air Force and pilot records referencing figures like Major William E. Metzger and crews from the 100th Bomb Group. The Association curates artifacts tied to airfields including RAF Bassingbourn, RAF Molesworth, and RAF Thurleigh, and preserves memorabilia connected to celebrities who served with B-17 units, including references to Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda where applicable. It also maintains collections of technical manuals from Boeing, airframe blueprints, and wartime photography by photographers affiliated with Life (magazine) and United States Army Air Forces Photographic Section.

Restoration and Maintenance

Restoration projects adhere to regulatory frameworks from authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada, and the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom), while utilizing conservation techniques discussed in publications from Smithsonian Institution conservators and engineering faculties at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Work is often performed at restoration sites adjacent to Shuttleworth Collection, Fort Worth Alliance Airport, and Griffiss International Airport with assistance from volunteers recruited through Veterans History Project initiatives and apprentices from Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Major overhauls include structural repairs to spars and ribs, replica skinning guided by original Boeing drawings, and refurbishment of systems like the Hamilton Standard propellers.

Education and Public Outreach

The Association runs living history programs in partnership with institutions such as the National WWII Museum, Imperial War Museum Duxford, and regional air shows including the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Goodwood Festival of Speed air displays, and Farnborough Airshow exhibitions. Educational curricula link to veterans’ oral histories recorded for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project and school programs aligned with syllabi from the National History Day competition. Outreach includes collaborative publications with historians from Cornell University, Yale University, and University of Cambridge, plus appearances in documentaries produced by BBC and PBS.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The Association is governed by a board with representation from curators at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, restoration engineers from Lockheed Martin, and veterans from associations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. Funding streams combine grants from cultural bodies like the National Endowment for the Humanities, corporate sponsorship from aviation firms including General Electric and Rolls-Royce, membership dues, ticket revenue from public flights, and philanthropic gifts from foundations such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Notable Events and Incidents

Notable milestones include collaborative flyovers for commemorations at D-Day anniversaries and participation in remembrance events at Arlington National Cemetery and Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. The Association has been involved in high-profile restorations publicized by outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian, and has responded to incidents including runway excursions requiring coordination with National Transportation Safety Board and investigations supported by aeronautical engineers from Boeing and Rolls-Royce.

Category:Aviation preservation organizations Category:Historic aircraft associations