Hurricane Frances Threatens Memorabilia

It's the sad coda for a distinguished aviator. The widow of Memphis Belle commander Robert Morgan is now trying with all her might to save her mementos of their lives together. Her home in Swannanoa (NC), was flooded by Hurricane Frances. The photos, lithographs and limited edition prints that they collected over the years -- the letters from dignities, celebrities and politicians, the medals -- much of that has been destroyed.

"Bob didn't leave me financially well-off at all. This memorabilia was to be my income," said Linda Morgan, who married the aviator in front of world famous B-17 a dozen years ago. She was interviewed by the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Col. Morgan died in Asheville (NC) last May. So much was ruined, said Linda, as she and her sister tried desperately to save what they could. They used hair dryers in an attempt to save some of the precious photographs. A model of the Belle, worth about $1000 and still in its original box, was covered in mud from the floodwaters. And to add insult to injury, a leather jacket signed by Col. Morgan and his co-pilot, Jim Verinis, was stolen as it hung on a clothesline to dry.

FMI: www.memphisbelle.com