Inside a pole barn, a dedicated group of aviation enthusiasts has undertaken a monumental endeavor to resurrect a piece of history. The rare B-17E, fondly known as Desert Rat after the name found painted on the side of the plane’s fuselage, was initially built as a bomber aircraft delivered to the Army Air Forces on April 14, 1942, before being converted into a cargo plane.
The restoration project is led by Desert Rat’s owner, Mike Kellner, who first found the plane chopped up into pieces back in 1984 in an overgrown field near Bangor, Maine, according to Desert Rat restoration volunteer, Bill Stanczak.
“After the war ended in December 1945 it was declared surplus and sold for scrap,” explained Stanczak. “So, when Mike got it, his intention was to bring it up to flying standard so he could fly it around. The intention was always to bring it back to a bomber configuration even though all that stuff had been stripped out of it.”
Kellner bought the B-17 for $7,250 and spent seven years hauling the separate plane pieces back to Illinois, where the journey to restore the aircraft has not been without its obstacles.
“We have the B-17 blueprints as Boeing built it. We don’t have the blueprints for when they converted it to the XC108 [cargo plane]. There are some things missing out of the blueprints. We have back-engineered parts to sort of ‘create’ new blueprints for them,” said Stanczak. “The biggest obstacle is cost. Every day the costs go up.”
Cost, says restoration volunteer Bill Stanczak, is always an issue. As well as missing portions of the blueprints in bringing Desert Rat back to its fighting form.
Stanczak, a long-time admirer of B-17 planes, first took an interest in the restoration project in the early 90s after reading an article about it in the Chicago Tribune when the plane was still being stored at Galt Airport in Wonder Lake.
However, Stanczak admitted that he had forgotten about the project until the early 2000s after having run across the article again. He gave Kellner a call and found out that the B-17 had been moved into a barn in Marengo, which is when Stanczak says he got “hooked” on the project.
“As far as metalworking, Mike has taught me a little bit. Well actually, he’s taught me everything that I know about it which is a little bit. I’m more on the computer side with the blueprints. Getting the blueprint, deciphering them, [and] helping in that way,” Stanczak told My Huntley News. “I work a lot with getting material and working with other vendors to get parts made that we are not capable of doing.”
Stanczak and the rest of the restoration team have managed to garner some community support throughout the years including obtaining a sponsorship from ItsYourAirplane.com.
“[It’s] our only official sponsor right now and they contribute money monthly to us and it isn’t a lot but you know, it’s something and we also make some of the products that [are sold on the website]. So, that helps a little bit too in order to get us some funds,” said Stanczak.
As the restoration progresses, each milestone achieved brings the group one step closer to their goal: to see Desert Rat take to the skies once again. While the road ahead may be long and arduous, the group remains undaunted, fueled by their passion and unwavering determination.
“There have been museums that have expressed interest in helping us out once we’re flying. I mean to me, it’s nice to think about it but all of the issues and everything else that’s involved with that just seems so far down the road right now,” said Stanczak. “I find it interesting that I’ve loved aircraft all my life and here I am. I’m actually contracting through the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)…I think a project like this has not only given me a lot of friends that are related to this but it’s also made me realize that love for something, whether it be an aircraft or a ship or you know, a car or something like that, there’s a lot of like-minded people out there and it can really bring people together.”
For the restoration team, the B-17 is more than just a plane; it’s a symbol of resilience, a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who served and sacrificed. As they painstakingly work to restore this piece of history, the group ensures that the legacy of Desert Rat continues to soar for generations to come.
Those interested in learning more about the project can visit its Facebook page, B-17E Desert Rat Restoration Project, or visit the website aerovintage.com/rat-4.htm.
