A Tail of Two "Cities"
The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum welcomed the B-17, serial number 44-83814, to Savannah on Jan. 15, 2009. Today, the airplane occupies a place of honor in the museum’s Combat Gallery. It also has a new name—the City of Savannah. The story of how the airplane arrived at its permanent home in the gallery, and how it got its name is really two stories... Read More >>
The Original City of Savannah
The excerpts below are from an article in the Savannah Morning News dated December 3, 1944 concerning the ceremonial naming of B-17G tail number 43-39049 as The City of Savannah.
| FORTRESS WILL BE CHRISTENED TODAY PUBLIC TO BE ADMITTED CITY OF SAVANNAH BOND FUND OVERSUBSCRIBED
Ample transportation to Hunter Field for the ceremonies
this afternoon when the Flying Fortress The City of
Savannah will be christened will be provided by the
Savannah Electric and Power Company… Guests who go by private
car will be admitted to the field through Gate #1 at the
end of Montgomery Street… |
Final arrangements for the affair were completed yesterday
and a large number of Savannahiains [sic] are expected to
avail themselves of the opportunity of attending the ceremony
and inspecting one of the Army Air Forces important installations…