B-17G - Memphis Belle (1999 Movie), David Tallichet - Military Aircraft Restoration Corp. Bureau # 44-83546-A

The third (of three) B-17s use as air tankers that I am writing about is a B-17, N3703G, that iwas owned by the Military Aircraft Restoration Corp in August 2011 when I first posted this article. I don't know if the name Military Aircraft Restoration Corp. is recognizable to many of you. I was interested in this particular B-17 because I knew that she was purchased by David Tallichet. Tallichet died in 2007, here is a short obituary from the LA Times (11/11/07) .

Now I knew that this particular B-17 that David Tallichet through the Military Aircraft Restoration Corp. purchased and later restored was used in the 1990 movie, Memphis Belle, see this piece of imdb Memphis Belle movie trivia. Actually, according to another piece of Memphis Belle movie trivia from imdb, she was one of two B-17s that played the Memphis Belle. But I digress.

The MARC was a nice website for the "The Movie" Memphis Belle with a short article about the history of this Fortress aircraft including her service as an air tanker, what they refer to as a water bomber. You will see  that the MARC B-17 was indeed flown as an airtanker, first by Fast Way Air as T-78 who first flew her as an air tanker in 1960; and later by TBM. She flew as an air tanker until she was purchased by MARC sometime in 1982.

As I revise this article on December 29, 2021 the restoration of the Memphis Belle was completed in 2018 and is on exhibit at The Museum of the US Air Force with good entry page for the Memphis Belle on their website which I just accessed here (with links where you can go for more information). She is going on