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To advise them before going overseas
- This booklet consisted of interviews with the crew of Memphis Belle (41-24485, 91BG), the first Boeing B-17 crew in the US Eighth Air Force to survive a combat tour of 25 missions and return to the United States. The booklet was issued to bomber crews as a means to advise them before going overseas.
hangarthirteen.org/25-missions-the-story-of-the-memphis-belle/25 Missions: The Story of the Memphis Belle – Hangar Thirteen
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Between November 1942 and May 1943, the Memphis Belle and its crew flew 25 bombing missions, including strikes against targets in Germany, France, and Belgium. At the time, the odds of completing a 25-mission tour and going home were small.
Apr 6, 2020 · The reason for “Memphis Belle” being a legend? Belle was one of the first heavy bomber aircraft to complete 25 missions with its crew intact, and successfully return to the United...
Jul 3, 2022 · The B-17 Memphis Belle led a blazing trail of invincibility through the flak and fighter-filled skies over the Third Reich during World War II. The Belle distinguished herself at her very first taste or combat when, by fate, she became the first bomber of the 91st Bomb Group over an enemy target.
- It Always Managed to Return to The Base Serious Damage
- It Played A Significant Role in The War
- Three Time Academy Award-Winning Director William Wyler Made A Film About It
- Many Thought It Wouldn’T Return from Its Final Flight
- It Was Almost Destroyed But Saved at The Last Minute
- It Was A Truly Legendary Aircraft of Its Time
The plane suffered bullets, shells, and lost its engine about five times. Yet, it kept returning to be repaired and always returning to service. The longest time spent on the repair was only five days waiting for a wing replacement.
Throughout its 25 missions, it delivered 60 tons of bombs across German, French, and Belgian territory. It managed to destroy aircraft plans, factories, and railway junctions, a move that helped cripple German-occupied Europe later on.
The idea was aimed to boost American morale and attract more volunteers. Another film, the Memphis Belle, was made in 1990 and co-produced by Wyler’s daughter.
The Memphis Belle wasn’t the first group of airplanes to return to the base. That’s why many thought that it would suffer the same fate as the Invader 2, which completed all its missions except its final one.
After the war, most warplanes were destroyed for scrap. Fortunately, the bomber narrowly escape its fate. The Mayor of Memphis, Walter Chandler, bought it and installed it on the pedestal in the city of Memphis. Falling in a state of disrepair, in 2004, Belle was transferred to the National Museum of the US Airforce and underwent a restoration proj...
During the air battle in Europe, the average lifespans for bombers were only 13 flights. On the other hand, Belle was able to survive 25 combat missions, a truly impressive feat. The Memphis Belle was a plane in World War II that offered hope despite terrible human losses. It showed, although extremely difficult, that it could still complete the pa...
Oct 10, 2005 · The exploits of the B-17 were detailed in a 1944 documentary “The Memphis Belle,” made by William Wyler. Its final mission was recalled in a fictionalized 1990 feature film “Memphis Belle.”
The 1944 documentary movie “Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress” increased the aircraft and crew’s already substantial fame. This unique film was the brainchild of legendary film director William Wyler. In 1942, Major Wyler went to England to film heavy bomber operations in Europe.
