Suburban Man Restores 75-Foot WWII Aircraft to Its Former Glory

A Dream That Never Faded

Along the quiet farm roads of Marine, Illinois, a massive World War II relic is slowly coming back to life. Mike, a lifelong aviation enthusiast, has spent decades restoring a 75-foot B-17 bomber inside a simple barn. His fascination began in high school, when he first dreamed of owning one of these legendary aircraft. That dream stayed with him for nearly fifty years, and today the once-forgotten bomber stands as proof of his steady dedication.

Mike found the plane in 1984, buried in weeds at a Maine junkyard. The battered fuselage and broken engines were offered for just $7,000. He bought it, stripped an old house trailer to create a makeshift flatbed, and hauled the bomber home piece by piece. It took five long trips and years of patient effort to rebuild the airframe panel by panel, bolt by bolt.

Restoring History Piece by Piece

During the restoration, two names emerged from the metal skin. Faded paint first revealed “Desert Rat,” but beneath it lay an even older title: “Tangerine,” likely inspired by a popular 1942 song. Inside, Mike uncovered personal traces of the past—dental records, handwritten notes, and signatures from those who once worked or traveled in the aircraft.

Word of the project spread, attracting veterans and volunteers. Retired mechanics, relatives of wartime airmen, and aviation fans now gather weekly to lend their skills. Chris Gibson, whose father served as a B-17 tail gunner and was shot down in 1944, installed glass identical to the panels his father once peered through in combat. Visitors often pause to touch the aircraft’s surface, some moved to tears as they recall lost comrades and the dangers of bombing missions that claimed more than 50,000 American airmen.

Keeping the Past Alive

For Mike, the work is about more than restoring an airplane. It preserves the stories of those who served and connects new generations to their sacrifices. Even as donations slow and rare parts remain difficult to find, he continues to polish, repair, and rebuild. When asked when the aircraft will finally fly again, Mike simply smiles and says, “Thursday,” leaving the year to the imagination, but never the dream itself.

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