The Pink Lady (B-17G)

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The Pink Lady is the nickname of a B-17G Flying Fortress bomber. It is one of the few B-17s still in flying condition, and the only survivor to see action in Europe during World War II.

Rolled out of the Lockheed-Vega production facility in Burbank, California in December, 1944, the Pink Lady was then only known as a B-17G-85-VE Fortress, serial number 44-8846 and construction number 8246. On March 1, 1945, 8846 was flown to Polebrook, England, where she was assigned to the 351st Bomber Group of the 511th Bomber Squadron. Since she entered active service so close to the end of the war, 8846 only flew six missions over Germany, the last one being on April 20, 1945, when the 351st ended combat operations. She was transferred to the 365th Bombing Squadron of the 305th Bombing Group, based in Chelveston, England, when the rest of the 351st returned to the United States.

She featured as the B-17F Mother and Country, in addition to The Pink Lady, in the film, Memphis Belle, being painted on one side to resemble the older B-17F. The The Pink Lady was kept at Paris - Orly Airport, France, just to the south of Paris, until its hangar was listed for demolition. It is currently being stored in a hangar in St Yan, (Saône et Loire), France.

[edit] Painting schemes and registration numbers

Below is a non-exhaustive chronological list of the Pink Lady's painting schemes and registration numbers from 1945 – 2006:

Entire Aircraft: Unpainted Aluminum

1945: 48846 on tail

1945, March: Triangle-J 48846 M on tail (with red stripe), M-DS on fuselage, M on nose turret

1945, May: Triangle-J 48846 M on tail (with red stripe), XK-M on fuselage

1954: IGN logo on tail, F-BGSP on fuselage

1965: ZS-DXM

1979: WFU

1985: 48846 on tail, F-AZDX on fuselage, "Lucky Lady" artwork added to nose for air-show tour

Entire Aircraft: Olive Drab

1989: Officially registered as F-AZDX, was painted for the movie, "Memphis Belle" as:

Left side: 28703 (25703?) on tail, DF-S on fuselage, "Mother and Country" on nose
Right side: 122960 on tail, G-DF on fuselage, "The Pink Lady" artwork on nose

1993: large text below pilot and co-pilot side windows:

B 17

FAURE

EVER

On right-hand side, 5 yellow bombs painted after the word "FAURE", under which there were 2 swastikas

1998: 22955 on tail, F-AZDX on fuselage, "Mother and country" artwork on nose

2002: Triangle-J 48846 M on tail (with red stripe), M-DS on fuselage (nose turret removed)

Left side: "The Pink Lady" artwork, and 846 on nose
- 6 yellow bombs painted below pilot's side window
- Blue number "7"
- TEXT (black stencil):
  - U.S. ARMY-MODEL B-17G-85-VE
  - AIR FORCES SERIAL NO. 44-8846
  - CREW WEIGHT 1200 LBS
  - (+ 5 lines of smaller text)
Right side: "Mother and Country", and "The Pink Lady" artwork on nose
Top left wing: Star
Right Bottom wing: Star