Tour to B-17 Restoration Project in Marengo

By Stan Stack

I would like to start out by thanking Mike Kellner who was our host and has taken on this unbelievable restoration.  Mike has a large hanger on his property and small farm at 21010 Anthony Rd., Marengo, IL.

Our V-8 Club visited the B17 project about 5 years ago. I think we were excited to see the progress being made and the arrival of engines, wings, tail sections and I am sure thousands of other parts.  The plane is being restored to fly by Mike at pilot or co-pilot in four or five years.  The B17 is being restored by FFA regulations and is being constantly inspected to be sure every exact part and detail follows the plans of this great plane.

As of this date, twelve B17s are flying and another four are being restored.

Thank you to Ron Dopke for calling and arranging the tour.

As "Leader of the Pack" on the tollway, I failed.  It is a little hard not to "step on it" on the high speed toll.  Ben Ashely in his modern truck with the yellow dome lights kept the speedsters off the car group tails. I feel that from Route 20 to the Marengo hanger and then later to lunch at Checkers II Restaurant in Union, IL, I did a little better.

We must take a moment to honor our WWII Veterans that were on this tour, and 60 to 65 years ago sacrificed so much for all of us. We also had some Korean and Vietnam Veterans on the tour they are our quiet heroes.  Anyone that served knows the hardship of training and giving up a few years of their lives.  On the upcoming Memorial Day, we must all take a moment for honoring our dead and disabled Veterans that made the ultimate sacrifice.

All those on the tour said they had a great time and learned a lot.

Thank you all for your $10 donations.

Tour members as follows:  Ben Ashley, Ron Blum, Tom Buscaglia, Ken Bounds, Ron Dopke, John Judge, Charlie Kaiser, Joe Kozmic, Frank Madrigali, Neil McManus, Jack Nikolich, Tom O'Donnell, Dan Pudelek, Joe Serritella, John Slobodnik, Stan Stack, and Bill & Marty Valters.

Guests: Al Dedick, Michael Harkins, Elmer Johason, Norman Lang.

We were all on our way home by 1:45 p.m.