"My Gal Sal"

(The Resurrection of History)

We are now in a phase of the restoration that is focused on more detail.  We have spent the last year working on the interior of "Sal".   There is so much detail that you begin to wonder whether we will ever get it all.  Time will tell.  These photos may let you think that we are done.  Let me assure you, we are not.  We will probably be changing this and adding that for at least another year.  What our volunteers have accomplished to this point is a miracle.  I am so proud of these people and I know they are proud of their accomplishment.  They truly are the greatest.

"My Gal Sal's" nose section is very close to completion.

2nd Lt. Don Bone, bombardier, positioned with his Norden Bombsight, as he would have looked on many missions.

2nd Lt. Ralf Stinson sitting at the controls of "My Gal Sal".

A good shot of the cockpit of "My Gal Sal".  Can you imagine what it was like just before they bellied-in on the Greenland icecap?

After months of work the oxygen system is complete, color labels and all.

Looking at the top turret from below.  Not much room for that top turret gunner.

The bomb bay is almost finished.  Looking from the cockpit - the bomb bay was one of the most difficult parts of the restoration.

Bomb bay looking from the radio room - a few more pieces to be added before it's complete.

Bomb bay looking from the radio room.

The earliest B-17's radio room and navigation / bombardier sections were insulated and covered with a canvas-type fabric.  This photo shows the beginning of this part of the restoration - very difficult and labor intensive.

Radio operators also had the responsibility to man a .50 cal. machine gun.