The Story of the B-17G Model

"Bo Dick"

About 3 ½ years ago I had an opportunity to meet the Director of the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum, General Charles Metcalf.  Retired General Metcalf was nice enough to listen to our dream of building a memorial that would be dedicated to the men and women of the U.S.A.A.F. who gave the “ultimate sacrifice” during WWII.

Little did I know that a few months after that visit with General Metcalf, I would have the wonderful experience of meeting a fantastic couple from Southern California.   Their names are Rig and Claire Braga.  Here is what happened.

Rig joined the Army Air Corps during WWII.  One of his many assignments was that of a B-17 co-pilot.  His closest friend, Dick Meredith, was also a crewmember of a B-17.  Dick was an avid fisherman and picked up the nickname “Bo Dick”, which was the name of a very rare fish.

After the war Rig stayed in Germany for a period of time, came home to the U.S. and married Claire.  They opened an art gallery in Orange County, California, which they operated until their retirement in 1995. At the age of 70 and before he retired, Rig decided to build a scale model of a B-17G, in memory of his friend Dick Meredith. 

For almost three years Rig and Claire worked tirelessly recreating this B-17 in every detail. (You have to see it to believe it)  Then in 1995 they donated the model to the San Diego Aero Space Museum located in Balboa Park, San Diego.  The beautiful B-17 model was on display for approximately seven years where she was viewed by the thousands of people who visited the museum.  Then one day Rig received a call from the museum saying that they were making some changes and unfortunately, didn’t have the floor space to keep “Bo Dick” on display. 

Obviously Rig and Claire were disappointed and called their very good friend, Bud Golem, who lives in Dayton, Ohio.  Bud’s mission was to approach General Metcalf at the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum to see if they would like to display this beautiful model.  With space being a premium at Wright Pat, General Metcalf suggested that Bud call me. 

I was thrilled to be asked to include this work of art in our display.  Even though our new building is not yet built, and as tight with space as we are with “My Gal Sal”, I couldn’t wait to put “Bo Dick” on display so our visitors could see this wonderful memorial.

This is just one more story of the saga of “My Gal Sal”.  Every day it gets just a little better.  To you, Rig and Claire, and the many thousands who paid the “ultimate sacrifice” to keep our country safe, Thank You!