The Ewing Aviation Company acquired the aircraft in 1966 and owned it until 1969 when it was owned by Ewing-Kolb Aircraft until 1970. Black Hills Aviation, owned by Arnold Kolb, then purchased the aircraft.[3]
In the late 1960s, the forward engine mount was removed and the aircraft was converted into an aerial firefighter in Spearfish, South Dakota. It was used as a firefighter until April 1980, when it crashed in Brunswick County, North Carolina, while taking off from a Forest Service airstrip; both crew members on the plane avoided injury.[4] Elements from the aircraft were used to restore another B-17, Liberty Belle.
In 2005, the remainder of the aircraft was bought by the Champaign Aviation Museum.[5] In conjunction with parts from several other airframes, restoration to flying condition began. In 2011, the museum recovered parts from Talkeetna, Alaska, to aid in the restoration.[2] As of 2013, nearly 90 volunteers had spent seven years restoring the B-17 at the museum and repaired around 70% of the fuselage.[6] As of February 2022[update], restoration efforts were still ongoing on major components.[7]
