Space/click Use with credit Info Sweet Smoke Built by Douglas in 1945, Sweet Smoke never actually saw combat, and was stored somewhere in Utah before being sold as surplus. In February of 1965, Sweet Smoke was sold to the Legends of the Skies Aviation Museum, and was flown to Ontario in March of the same year. Today, Sweet Smoke is one of the most iconic B-17s flying, and has been flying the airshow circuit since 1982. The LSAM has spent a lot of time and money into restoring Sweet Smoke to its original condition. All instruments were fully functional by 1970, all turrets being fitted in 1985, and its interior getting minor cosmetic restorations in 1989. On September 22, 2023, Sweet Smoke emerged from the restoration hangar with a coat of new paint, exactly like the paint it was given in 1945. 42-31557 42-31557 was delivered on November 21st, 1943, and assigned to the 613th Bomb Squadron's 401st Bomb group on January 21st, 1944. It made a forced landing on May 28, 1944, and its parts were stored, and resurfaced in 2004, where they were purchased by the LSAM for restoration. The picture seen here is a concept. Bad Batch Bad Batch was built in 1942, and was assigned to the 6th Bomb Squadron's 29th Bombardment Group. It flew an estimated 18 missions, and was retired in 1944. It was purchased by the LSAM in 2000. However, because of the recent acquisition of two B-17Fs, Welldigger and Hell's Angels, all three B-17s sat disassembled outside of the restoration hangar, until the LSAM could afford to restore all three of them. In 2020, the LSAM announced they would restore all three B-17s, and restoration efforts soon began, however with the issues of the pandemic, funding was deemed to be insufficient if the museum were to stay in business. The only progress made was the movement of Welldigger and Bad Batch to different locations for assigned restorations, and Bad Batch was sent to Chino for a joint restoration with the Fighter Rebuilders. In summer of 2020, restoration efforts for Bad Batch finally began, and it took its first flight on April 18, 2022, and was then repainted into what was assumed to be its original colors. In Late January of 2024, Bad Batch was grounded by the LSAM, so they could start cosmetic restorations on it, both inside and outside. It was finished and unveiled on August 12, 2024. Hell's Angels Hell's Angels is a B-17F built in August of 1942, and delivered to the 8th Air Force. It was one of the first B-17s of the 8th AF to complete 25 missions, and went on to complete 48 missions by the end of the war. It was sold for scrap, along with B-17F Welldigger, however the scrapyard went under before both airframes were scrapped, and sat in a field for years untouched. It was purchased by the LSAM in 2000 with Welldigger, and restored to flight in April of 2022. Welldigger Welldigger is a B-17F, built in June of 1943, with an unknown service history. After the war, it was sold for scrap, along with B-17F Hell's Angels, however the scrapyard went under before both airframes were scrapped, and sat in a field for years untouched. It was purchased by the LSAM in 2000 with Hell's Angels, and restored to flight in May of 2022.
