In August 1959, only days after flying her last mission for the U.S. Air Force, B-17G #44-83684 was officially retired from active service as the last of 12,731 B-17s to serve with the USAAF / U.S. Air Force. Planes of Fame Air Museum is now restoring this B-17G known as Piccadilly Lilly II back to flight This is her story.

Our B-17G #44-83684 was built in May 1945 in Long Beach, California by Douglas Aircraft under license from Boeing. She was accepted into service on May 7, 1945 and placed into storage on May 11, 1945 since the War in Europe had ended on May 8th 1945. She remained in storage through June 21, 1950 when her designation was changed from B-17G to DB-17G. She then went on to serve from 1950 through 1956 with the 3200th and 3205th Drone Group and Proof Test Wing at Elgin AFB, Holloman AFB and Eniwetok Atoll. Her mission was as a drone controller and was used to monitor the Greenhouse Series of nuclear testing at Eniwetok Atoll in the 1950s.

Her designation was changed again in November 1956 from DB-17G to DB-17P and was used as a drone controller at Holloman AFB with the 3225th Drone Squadron from 1956 through 1959.

Her last mission was on August 6, 1959 when she controlled a QB-17G 44-83717 drone as a target for a Falcon air-to-air missile fired by an F-101B Voodoo jet fighter. A few days later she was officially retired in a ceremony at Holloman AFB; the last B-17 to serve in the U.S. Air Force.

She became a part of the Planes of Fame collection on September 24, 1959 which was then located in Claremont, CA. Planes of Fame founder Ed Maloney wasted no time and put her to work right away appearing on TVs Dick Powell Theater in a program about the famed 100th (The Bloody Hundredth) Bomb Group. She later became known as Piccadilly Lilly II when she was used in the popular 1960s TV series 12 Oclock High. She was flown by Planes of Fame from 1959 through 1971. During those years she starred in many Hollywood productions and has been on display since then at Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino CA. Sadly in 1971 she was grounded due to engine problems.

Today we have a dedicated Volunteer Restoration Team committed to returning Lilly Back to Flight. The Restoration Team Leader is Museum Volunteer Bill Amend. The Back to Flight volunteers include: Dean Pappas and his son Justin, Jack Hopkins, John Thomas, Gilbert Orosco, Stevan Hart, Sung Su Kim, Jim Marrone, Paul Moure, Kevin Grus, Duane Lundgren, Frank Teichrow, George Higgins, Marten Seth, Jeff Sherwood and his son Griffin, Sharon Trerotola, Dick Roche, Paul Rosnau, Wilbur Richardson, Carl Rossman, Roy Test, Ethan Gadis and Steve Wallace. John Maloney, Dave Erickson and Ron Hackworth provide project direction from the Museum staff.

The heart and soul of the Planes of Fame restoration project is our own Wilbur Richardson. Wilbur is a highly decorated WWII 8th Air Force B-17 Ball Turret combat veteran. Over the years Planes of Fame Air Museum has had many WWII veterans dedicate their precious time and resources to this historic restoration effort. Serving along with Wilbur Richardson today are Roy Test and Carl Rossman. Roy was a B-17 co-pilot with 32 missions and Carl was a B-17 top turret gunner / flight engineer with 31 missions. Additionally, we would be remiss if we failed to recognize Richard Dick Bowman - B-17 ball turret gunner, John Hurd B-17 ball turret gunner and Clay Wescott - B-24 ball turret gunner. Richard Dick Bowman and Clay Wescott are no longer with us in body, but certainly are with us in spirit.

We stand on the shoulders of those who served in WWII such as Wilbur, Roy, Carl, John, Dick and Clay. Indeed much has been given to subsequent generations by those heroic men and women who served both on the field of battle and on the home front building the arsenal of democracy.

Now it is time to return the favor. We need your help and support to preserve the museums B-17G so that future generations will never forget the sacrifices of our Greatest Generation.

Visit Planes of Fame Air Museum and be a witness to this historic undertaking!