Finding visuals...
  • The Locator
  • Airframes Database

    Social media...
    Follow AV on facebook
    Follow AV on Twitter @aerial_visuals
    Follow the AV YouTube Channel

    Site navigation...
  • Home
  • Desktop Calendar
  • The Racers
  • FAQs
  • About Aerial Visuals
  • Comment on this Dossier
    • Search For Airframes Now
    Search - Index - Gallery - Reports - Lists - AV Needs You!

    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Boeing B299 / B-17 Fortress
    Latest Model:B-17G Fortress
    Last Military Serial:44-85643 USAAF
    Construction Number:8552
    Last Civil Registration:F-BEEA
    Compressed ID:Boeing B-17G sn 44-85643 USAAF cn 8...
    Latest Owner or Location:Institut Geographique National-IGN

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE    		 If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

    UPLOAD A PHOTO    		 If you have a photo of this airframe to share then use the photo upload tool.
    The Airframes Database depends on user contributions to stay current.
    If you have any news about this airframe or photos which you would like to share please do so
    by using the links above.
    The more you and others share the better the database becomes!

    Dates

    Event

    1945

    Constructed as a B-17G.

    Circa 1945

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-85643.

    From June 1945 to 1989

    To Instituit Geographique National, Creil, with new c/r F-BEEA.
    Operated with markings: Chateau de Verneuil.
    Used for aerial survey work in Europe, Africa, and Papua-New Guinea.

    5 July 1948

    To Etat/Secretariat General A L Aviation Civile Et Commerciale/Sgacc, Paris, Basse Normandie keeping c/r F-BEEA.
    Based at Creil.

    18 July 1986


    Photographer: Michael Kelly
    Notes: 18th July 1986, at Dublin Airport, Ireland

    1987


    Photographer: Reinhard Zinab
    Notes: 1987 photo

    1989

    Markings Applied: Baby Ruth
    Painted as Baby Ruth for filming of the movie MEMPHIS BELLE.

    27 May 1989

    Destroyed in a crash.
    In 1989 F-BEEA joined other B-17s in England to take part to the making of Hollywood movie Memphis Belle Soon after the beginning of film shooting, F-BEEA took off alongside F-AZDX, but suffered from the turbulence of the latter, and made a violent forced-landing at RAF Binbrook. The B-17 burned fiercely on the ground and was totally destroyed, luckily with no loss of life. After more than 42 years this loss marked the end of the IGN use of the B-17.

    By 25 July 1989

    To Institut Geographique National-IGN with new c/r F-BEEA.

    25 July 1989

    Crashed.
    Summary: The airframe was a loss. The survey/research flight departed Grimsby-Binbrook Airport (GSY/EGXB), United Kingdom and was destined for Duxford Airport (QFO/EGSU), United Kingdom. The accident occurred at Grimsby-Binbrook Airport (GSY) (United Kingdom) while taking off.
    For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

    18 August 1994

    Civil registration, F-BEEA, cancelled.
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Aviation Safety Network
    DGCA Civil Aircraft Register (France)
    Warbird Registry by Scott Rose
    Individual Contributors
     Terry Fletcher
    Mike Ronayne
    Tell Others About this Airframe Dossier
    Forum Link: [URL=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=113451][IMG]/home/users/web/b1393/nf.aerialvisuals/public_html/AV/Support/Logo_20x20.jpg[/IMG]Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Boeing B-17G Fortress, s/n 44-85643 USAAF, c/n 8552, c/r F-BEEA[/URL]
    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=113451
    Copyright 1993-2025 m.AerialVisuals.ca
    The Aerial Visuals pages are best viewed with a screen at least 800 pixels wide.
    In case you are wondering Aerial Visuals is a huge fan Google Chrome. If you do not have Chrome installed why not?
    Aerial Visuals requires cookies and Javascript to function correctly. Please ensure these features are enabled in your browser.
    Aerial Visuals is powered by Netfirms.