Lacey Lady B-17 Restoration Progress Tour
Our second visit, this tour included the Ford V8 Club. By the last count I heard there were 19 RCT and seven FV8C members in attendance. As the weather was not promising, I did not see a single T-Bird, not even any Retro Birds. We actually only had a bit of rain, but…
After a short introduction by docent Paul we watched a three minute movie. We were then split into two groups for the tour. I was in the group led by docent Bill.
Bill, an excellent story-teller, gave us the history of the B-17 Flying Fortress bombers as well as the story about this particular B-17, known as the Lacey Lady. After World War II ended, Art Lacey wanted to purchase a surplus B-17 to sit above his gas station on SE McLoughlin Blvd in Milwaukie. This aircraft was actually the second B-17 that Art acquired. He had crashed the first one while still learning how to fly it. Apparently there was an issue with a landing gear not wanting to deploy. It’s a long story… Bill also added that while flying this one home, he wanted to show it to his mom so he buzzed her house in Monmouth, Oregon at about 100 feet – twice. First to get her attention, then while she was standing outside to see the flyover! He got in hot water with the FAA for that stunt… Landing at Troutdale, transporting this huge airplane to its intended resting place in Milwaukie was another challenge.
We then moved into the hangar area where the ambitious work is actually being done to restore the Lacey Lady to airworthy condition. The goal is to fly this plane once again by 2036. The work is an enormous and tedious task. Decades of weather and neglect sitting atop those gas pumps really took a toll on this airplane.
Following the tour we all gathered at the Flight Deck restaurant just down the road. They had several tables reserved for us. The restaurant offered a panoramic view of the airfield where we could watch planes take off and land. Not a lot of traffic on that day, however. As for the restaurant, our server was fabulous, as was the food.
Thanks to Dave Van Winkle for hosting due to John Sailors being unable to attend. Thanks to Jim Sweet for the photos below and this write-up.
Our second visit, this tour included the Ford V8 Club. By the last count I heard there were 19 RCT and seven FV8C members in attendance. As the weather was not promising, I did not see a single T-Bird, not even any Retro Birds. We actually only had a bit of rain, but…
After a short introduction by docent Paul we watched a three minute movie. We were then split into two groups for the tour. I was in the group led by docent Bill.
Bill, an excellent story-teller, gave us the history of the B-17 Flying Fortress bombers as well as the story about this particular B-17, known as the Lacey Lady. After World War II ended, Art Lacey wanted to purchase a surplus B-17 to sit above his gas station on SE McLoughlin Blvd in Milwaukie. This aircraft was actually the second B-17 that Art acquired. He had crashed the first one while still learning how to fly it. Apparently there was an issue with a landing gear not wanting to deploy. It’s a long story… Bill also added that while flying this one home, he wanted to show it to his mom so he buzzed her house in Monmouth, Oregon at about 100 feet – twice. First to get her attention, then while she was standing outside to see the flyover! He got in hot water with the FAA for that stunt… Landing at Troutdale, transporting this huge airplane to its intended resting place in Milwaukie was another challenge.
We then moved into the hangar area where the ambitious work is actually being done to restore the Lacey Lady to airworthy condition. The goal is to fly this plane once again by 2036. The work is an enormous and tedious task. Decades of weather and neglect sitting atop those gas pumps really took a toll on this airplane.
Following the tour we all gathered at the Flight Deck restaurant just down the road. They had several tables reserved for us. The restaurant offered a panoramic view of the airfield where we could watch planes take off and land. Not a lot of traffic on that day, however. As for the restaurant, our server was fabulous, as was the food.
Thanks to Dave Van Winkle for hosting due to John Sailors being unable to attend. Thanks to Jim Sweet for the photos below and this write-up.
