G-BEDF “Sally B”

Sally B is B-17G 44-85784, delivered to the USAAF at Burbank on 19 June 1945, too late for combat. Redesignated EB-17G and later ETB-17G, it was used from 1949 for trials of man-carrying wingtip pods.

In October 1954 France's Institut Geographique National bought it for aerial survey and registered it F-BGSR. Ted White acquired it in 1970 as N17TE, and in 1975 it was brought to England and registered G-BEDF for restoration to wartime appearance.

In 1981 it gained gun turrets and other military fittings to play the bomber Ginger Rogers in LWT's We'll Meet Again. In the winter of 1983-84 it was painted olive drab and neutral grey, with 447th Bomb Group markings. Elly Sallingboe has run the aircraft through B-17 Preservation since the early 1980s.

In 1990 it was one of five flying B-17s used for the film Memphis Belle and was altered to B-17F appearance; one side still carries Memphis Belle markings. Its starboard inner cowling has a checkerboard in memory of Ted White. Each year, on the May bank holiday weekend, it flies over the American Cemetery at Madingley after the Memorial Day service. It is not part of IWM's collection and depends on donations and volunteers.

Permanently based at IWM Duxford and shown on static display when not flying, but often away at air shows in summer. Sources do not confirm whether visitors can go aboard.