The B17 Flying Fortress was critical to the USAAF daylight precision bombing campaign and was armed with 13 machine guns, hence the name "Flying Fortress". Flying in formation, the Fortresses battled through German defences in daylight raids suffering heavy casualties until the addition of long-range escort fighters, the P47 Thunderbolt and P51 Mustang, and the introduction of the 25 mission limit. Combat crews lives were measured in weeks rather than months but, despite the high casualty rate, B17's became famous for returning home with terrible battle damage and were fondly regarded by their crews for this quality. The aircraft was then, and remains today, the strongest symbol of the USAAF Eighth Air Force - "The Mighty Eighth" 

B-17 Flying Fortress G-BEDF 'Sally B' is the last remaining airworthy B-17 in the UK, from where she flies regularly at air shows, memorial flypasts and commemorative events as a memorial to the USAAF in Europe. Since 1982, 'Sally B' has been operated by Elly Sallingboe of B-17 Preservation with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, and flown by volunteer experienced professional pilots. 'Sally B' is permanently based at the Imperial War Museum Duxford where she is on static display when not flying. However, the aircraft is not part of the Museum’s own collection and receives no official support. She relies solely on charitable donations, sponsorship, sales of souvenirs, and the loyal support of her working team of volunteers and 6,500 'Sally B' Supporters Club members, the largest club of its kind in the world.

'Sally B' rolled-off the Lockheed-Vega line at Burbank in 1944 as a B-17G-105-VE. The aircraft served at a number of USAF bases from May 1948. During this time all the turrets were removed and faired over, and carrying the Buzz number BA-784, she was also involved in weather research work. On March 18, 1958 'Sally B' touched down at Le Bourget, Paris, registered as F-BGSR. The Institute Geographique National based at Creil just outside Paris, used B-17Gs for photo survey work all over the world. In 1975 F-BGSR was acquired by Ted White, and brought to England as N17TE. Now officially called 'Sally B' she made her air display debut at the Biggin Hill Air Fair on May 18, 1975. In 1980 the 'Sally B' Supporters Club was founded to help market the aircraft so that funds could he raised to keep her in the air - (please read the footnote).

During the winter of 1980/81 'Sally B' took on her earlier profile when her role in the "We'll Meet Again" TV series provided the resources to build a full set of dummy turrets for the aircraft. Sadly, in June 1982, Ted White was killed when his Harvard crashed in Malta. 'Sally B's starboard inner cowling is painted in the same black and yellow chequer board of Ted's Harvard in memorial to the man who in 1980 started The 'Sally B' Supporters Club. In the summer of 1989 'Sally B' was cast in a leading role for the David Puttnam film 'Memphis Belle', a re-telling of the famous wartime documentary by William Wyler. She was converted to B-17F configuration for the film, involving the removal of the nose turret, amongst other things. She had her identity changed numerous time, wearing an assortment of codes and nose-art to represent a variety of Fortresses - 'Baby Ruth', 'C-Cup', 'Gee Whiz' as well as 'Memphis Belle' herself in the final sequence as the battle-worn B-17 returns home from her last mission. With filming completed, the aircraft has maintained her 'Memphis Belle' markings on her starboard side, with one exception, Ted White's chequered cowling and Teddy bear symbol have returned to 'Sally B'.

Footnote: 'Sally B' was scheduled to take part in the May 2005 air display at Duxford, unfortunately due to a new European regulation that puts the B17 into the weight category of an airliner, boosting its insurance premium by an unaffordable 500 per cent, the extra cost prevented this wonderful aircraft from taking part. I sincerely hope that funds will be available for this excellent example of flying fortress to be able to take to the skies in the future.

It is also supposed to affect the only other B17 flying in Europe - 'Pink Lady', operating in France - although a spokesman for the company said the French government had not enforced the rule and 'Pink Lady' was flying as normal. The 'Sally B', as a civilian aircraft owned and operated by a small group led by the Danish-born Mrs Sallingboe, appears to be unique in suffering so much from the EU rule, which is designed to increase third-party protection in the event of a catastrophic crash.