A man in Marengo, Illinois, is on a mission to fully restore a World War II-era B-17 bomber—a project he’s been diligently working on in a roadside barn for the past 40 years. And unlike many World War II-era roadside relics, this one isn’t just collecting dust. Rebuilding a ‘Flying fortress’The B-17 was the most iconic bomber used by the US military during the second World War. Early versions of the B-17 entered production in 1937, but manufacturing ramped up significantly after the U.S. officially entered World War II in 1941. This cornucopia of munitions, combined with the aircraft’s mammoth size, earned it the nickname “Flying Fortress.”The B-17 currently being resurrected in Kellner’s barn reportedly carries two names.