It has been some time since our last update on the B-17 Alliance Foundation’s ambitious restoration of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 44-85790 Lacey Lady in Salem, Oregon. Thanks to Scott Thompson of Aero Vintage, we are able to share his latest report on the project, presented here with light editing. A significant development has emerged for the B-17 Alliance, which has been steadily working to return the former “gas station B-17” to airworthy condition. The organization now has a limited-window opportunity to purchase the airport hangar at Salem Municipal Airport where the restoration is underway.
Securing ownership of the hangar would guarantee a permanent home for Lacey Lady and eliminate roughly $4,000 per month in rental expenses. Saving an estimated $48,000 per year would allow those funds to be redirected toward the aircraft’s restoration rather than facility costs. Thompson has chronicled the project’s progress on aerovintage.com, noting the steady, volunteer-driven work that has brought the airframe to its current stage. With the hangar purchase now in reach, the B-17 Alliance is appealing for additional support to close the remaining funding gap.
Those wishing to contribute can do so through the organization’s website. Even modest donations help move the effort forward. Thompson notes that he has already made his contribution and encourages others in the aviation community to join in ensuring a long-term home for Lacey Lady and the continued preservation of this historic Flying Fortress. To support this restoration with a donation, click HERE.
Many thanks indeed to Scott A. Thompson for allowing us to reproduce this article… his book, Final Cut: The Post-War B-17 Flying Fortress and Survivors as well as other titles are the gold standard when it comes to the airframe history it describes!
