WarbirdsNews has received a few details about the ongoing restoration of B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2595 known as “Desert Rat”. We thought our readers would be interested in seeing some photographs of their latest progress. This project is a truly amazing feat of perseverance, whose story will probably one day fill a book. There really is too much detail about the resurrection of this former XC-108 transport to cover in this post, but the following link HERE on Scott Thompson’s magnificent site should provide answers to questions amongst those of you unfamiliar with the project.
The restoration team in Morengo, Illinois has continued their work riveting the rear fuselage together, while the wing tips are on the bench undergoing refurbishment. The rear bulkhead is now complete, and the tail is coming together. “Desert Rat” now has an official corporate sponsor ItsYourAirplane.com, an online retailer of all sorts of cool aeronautical ephemera. You should check them out, as your purchases will help fund “Desert Rat”. Apparently you will receive a free reproduction B-17 data plate, stamped for this aircraft when you purchase $25 or more from the site. You can order the data plate along with your purchase, but make sure to type FREEDATAPLATE in the coupon code box, and the data plate cost ($16.00) will be deducted from your invoice.
For WarbirdsNews previous updates on Desert Rat.
