Memphis belle by michael catonjones matthew modine, eric. Matthew modine talks memphis belle, his reallife b17. The memphis belle completed its 25th mission on 19 may 1943 but not all the crew had completed their 25 missions. The aircraft was one of the first b17 united states army air corps heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions with her crew intact.
Memphis belle crew b17 bomber flying fortress the queen of. Apr 20, 2011 two days later, a different crew flew the memphis belle to kiel, germany, to strike submarine and harbor facilities. Harry friedman, a board member of the memphis belle memorial association and coauthor of memphis belle. A story of a flying fortress is a 1944 documentary film which ostensibly provides an account of the final mission of the crew of the memphis belle, a boeing b17 flying fortress. Dec 24, 2010 great air battle from the 1990 movie memphis belle when the crew encounter german fighters for the first time.
The ensemble cast is composed of ten young actors portraying the crew of the world war ii b17 bomber memphis belle, anticipating their 25th and last mission before they will be able to go home. Jun 01, 1992 just finished the man who flew the memphis belle. Memphis belle crew of b17 flying fortress at bassingbourn on 7 june 1943 after completing 25 sorties see description below matthew modine memphis belle 1990 memphis belle 1990 harry connick jr, eric stoltz, matthew modine, billy zane, tate donovan mbe. She helped in fund raising for the association until her death. B17 bomber flying fortress the queen of the skies home memphis belle memphis belle crew. May 17, 2018 seventyfive years after its last bombing run in world war ii, the newly restored memphis belle is on display at the national museum of the us air force in ohio.
Nastal who was a washing machine repairman from detroit, michigan with two confirmed fighter kills to his credit who thought he had more but never had time to watch whether they went down. Apr 21, 2016 joe giambrone crew chief about this site this site was developed through a partnership of the memphis belle memorial association and the lausanne collegiate school oral history program, this website will primarily be used as an educational tool to preserve the history of the belle and those who flew it. The documentary, directed by noted hollywood producer and director william wyler, was released to the public in 1944, and a dramatization of the original film was produced in 1990. In the flakfilled sky over a german uboat installation in occupied france on january 23, 1943, memphis belle was battling for her life. We knew from the beginning that the move to mud island was a mistake, says dr. Nastal flew 25 missions, but only one on the memphis belle. A story of war above 20,000 feet is told by the leader of the first bombing crew to survive twentyfive daylight. The memphis belle crew completed its 25th mission on may 17, 1943, four days after the hells angels.
For example, there were several people riding around boston to warn that the british were coming, but paul revere is the only one remembered due to a popular poem in the late 19 th century. Its 25 missions to be sure in every detail but also the its long history after the war and its crew. Robert morgans memoir is an important and valuable history for wwii. Hanson, the radio operator of the famed aircraft, died oct. The public also tends to remember the memphis belle because they went on their publicity tour as scheduled. I have just finally finished reading the book and it contains every thing you would ever want to know, and didnt know about the bird and its history to date. Filmed in the patriotic spirit of previetnamera war pictures, the factbased memphis belle details the climactic mission of a b17 bomber squadron during world war ii. The memphis belle is one of the most famous aircraft in history and has become a timeless symbol of all the heroic u. The 19yearold baby of the memphis belle crew was waistgunner staff sergeant casimer a. Hollywood has never let facts get in the way of a good story. Robert hanson, the last surviving member of the storied memphis belle b17 bomber crew, which was the first to fly 25 bombing missions in europe during world war ii, has died. The memphis belle, directed by william wyler, is a tribute to the crew of the united states air forces 324th squadron, 91st heavy bomber unit, an airplane more familiarly known as the memphis belle. Robert morgan, 85, world war ii pilot of memphis belle. The writing tends to be breathless at times, with exclamation points dotting the pages.
Army air forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over europe, but the first to return to the united states. They flew the belle home in june 1943 and for three months flew her to 32 american cities to thank the american people for supporting the war effort. It was an affectionate term for his sweetheart, margaret polk, a memphian. The b17, memphis belle, is currently on display at the national museum of the us air force in dayton, oh, where i will be attending my usaf squadron reunion this weekend. Memphis belle exhibit may 2018 national museum of the. The book tells the story of the captain, robert morgan, and his adventures in life. The famed b17f memphis belle and its crew became iconic symbols of the heavy bomber crews and support personnel who helped defeat nazi germany. The aircraft was one of the first united states army air forces b17 heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions. Memphis belle, a story of a flying fortress, 1946 us national archives. Army air forces boeing b17f, destined to become the most famous flying fortress in history, had approached the submarine base at lorient flying in formation, amid one of four groups of bombers that had targeted the sub pens. The man who flew the memphis belle and millions of other books are available. B17, tail number 4124485, the memphis belle and crew, assigned to the 324th bomb squadron, 91st bombardment group h flying from raf bassingbourn. The man who flew the memphis belle by robert morgan, ron.
The memphis belle miss margaret polk the subject of the affections of capt. The memphis belle signifies the hope and inspriartions of many of the ww2 bomber crews. Return of the memphis belle restored warbird to be. The memphis belle was the first b17f to complete 25 bombing runs during world war ii, and was the subject of the 1944 documentary the memphis belle.
Memphis belle is a fictionalization of the 1944 documentary memphis belle. Memphis belle is a boeing b17f flying fortress used during the second world war that inspired the making of two motion pictures. Two b17 aircraft and more than reenactors scheduled to take part in exhibit opening events. Memphis belle air force historical support division. Morgan was 24 years of age when in command of the memphis belle. Memphis belle is a 1990 britishamerican war drama film directed by michael catonjones and written by monte merrick. The film invents characters, events, and entire missions for the sake of dramatic license. The memphis belle crew completed its 25th mission on may 17, 1943, few days after the hells angels. On 17 may 43, the memphis belle crew became the first to complete 25 missions.
Wyler told morgan he wanted to film the memphis belle and her crew because of a certain. They were the first crew to complete 25 bombing missions over europe. The ultimate conclusion that memphis belle was the most important aircraft of wwii because of its role in generating support for the daylight bombing offensiveis perhaps overstated. They flew the belle home in june 1943 and for three months flew her to 32 american cities to thank the. The crew about this site this site was developed through a partnership of the memphis belle memorial association and the lausanne collegiate school oral history program, this website will primarily be used as an educational tool to preserve the history of the belle and those who flew it. It became the first 8th air force b17 to complete 25 combat missions. Taking flight from england with cascading war propaganda in the script by jerome chodorov, lester koenig and director william wyler, followed by the complete introduction of the crew, in the famous war department documentary memphis belle. Army air forces bomber crews who flew against nazi germany in world war ii. B17f memphis belle restoration continues to move closer to the finish line. Law of armed conflict documentary supplement, 2015 law of armed conflict documentary supplement international and operational law department the united states army judge advocate generals legal center and school charlottesville, va fifth edition preface the purpose of the documentary. Memphis belle crew wikipedia commons public domain.
Nine of the ten crewmembers are in the early tour photo above19yearold ssgt casimer tony nastal bottom right was added for the war bond tour. World war ii memphis belle bomber comes alive in dayton. A story of a flying fortress by director william wyler, about the 25th and. The memphis belle crew completed its 25th mission on may 17, 1943, few days after the hell. Completed 25 missions in may 1942, and then returned to the united states for a war bond tour. Photos of the fully restored memphis belle wwii bomber. The boeing b17f flying fortress memphis belle is certainly the bestknown aircraft of world war ii. Us b17 bomber crewman world war two the united states army air force was made up of volunteers mostly in their late teens to early twenties from every part of the us.
Memphis belle crew b17 bomber flying fortress the queen. The memphis belle flew its first combat mission on nov. A marvellous story of a wartime romance and the suspense of bomber operations. However, fate intervened when the crew caught a film starring john wayne and joan blondell called lady for a night. Memphis belle crew national museum of the united states. At the beginning of the film, the belle s crew had successfully completed twentyfour missions in the toughest theater of the air war in europe.
While the memphis belle flew its last missions, an army air forces film crew flew aboard it and other aircraft of its group to produce footage for a documentary movie. Robert morgan and his crewlived through 25 bombing missions and the writing help of ron powers makes this book a well done memoir. After 25 missions, his plane, the memphis belle, and crew were sent back to the states for a bond tour and to boost morale. The memphis belle flies its 25th bombing mission history. This pricey book is a labor of love, but it is not without flaws. Memphis belle air force historical support division fact. As a result, they have entered the public conscience. Memphis belle was not the first bomber to complete 25 missions. The memphis belle and her crew were the first army air forces heavy bomber to fly 25 missions over naziheld europe and return to the united states.
The film features an allstar cast with matthew modine, eric stoltz, and harry connick jr. The riveting firsthand account of world war ii pilot robert morgan, his crew, and the legendary memphis bellewritten with ron powers, cowriter of. The memphis belle flies its 25th bombing mission on this day in 1943, the crew of the memphis belle, one of a group of american bombers based in britain, becomes the first b17 crew to complete 25. A story of a flying fortress, and a 1990 hollywood feature film, memphis belle. Memphis belle, a story of a flying fortress, 1946 youtube. It was margaret for which army 4124485 was named the memphis belle.
A story of a flying fortress is a 1944 documentary film which ostensibly provides an. The background to the creation of the memphis belle artwork provides an interesting insight into the genesis of an item of nose art. Memphis belle is the nickname of a boeing b17f flying fortress during the second world war that inspired the making of two motion pictures. In 1943, having flown over france, belgium, and germany, the memphis belle crew became one of the first to reach that goal. In 1943, the crew of a b17 based in uk prepares for its 25th and last bombing mission over germany before returning home to the usa. Between november 7, 1942, and may 17, 1943, the crew flew missions ranging from 4 to almost 10 hours in duration.
Memphis belle to go on display at air force museum in 2018. I never knew the belle really did exist and the crew of the movie were fictional as was their last flight. In may of that year, memphis belle became one of the first b17s to complete 25 missions in europe and return from the war under its own power, where she and her crew toured the united states. Over the next 191 days, the plane would carry out 24 more bombing runs over occupied europe, six of which would take the belle and her crew into germany itself. Despite impressive technical credits and a popular generationx cast, memphis belle 1990 was a boxoffice disappointment, its enthusiastic patriotism considered a throwback to a bygone era of filmmaking.
Fortunately nine of the members of the memphis belle crew. Army air forces heavy bomber to return to the united states after completing 25 combat missions over europe during world war ii. May 17, 2018 b17f memphis belle moves to wwii gallery as exhibit opening nears. The memphis belle was one of the new generation of longrange bombers developed by boeing aircraft at the start of wwii, a. Books and more about the memphis belle on the man who flew the memphis belle. This marked the planes twentyfifth mission, making it the first 8th air force bomber to match the number of completed missions that its former crew had flown. The memphis belle deluxe edition bluray history rediscovered. After returning to the states in june 1943, the bomber and many of its crew served as the centerpiece of a 31city war bonds tour. This is the story of the b17 flying fortress memphis belle, her crew and their 25 successful world war ii missions. The paperback of the the man who flew the memphis belle. The crew of the 358th bomb squadron boeing b17f hells angels completed its 25th mission on may, 1943. A powerful chronicle of loyalty, love, and heroism under fire, this is the unforgettable memoir of a member of the greatest generation who fought in americas greatest battlesand of the.
A memoir of highaltitude warfare by a wellknown figure in wwii history. After having seen memphis belle, the movie a lot of times and read the book on it, im glad to have stumbled upon this documentary. Without doubt boeing flying fortress b17f 4142285 memphis belle and her crew generate an image that is an allamerican icon. A story of a flying fortress 1943 movie clip targets to be destroyed. The memphis belle crew shown at an air base in england after completing 25 missions over enemy territory on june 7, 1943. Aug 29, 2008 it takes a hard and critical look at the myths surrounding the famous memphis belle. The memphis belle was supposed to be the first b17 bomber to fly 25 bombing missions and return back to base safely each time. The story of a legendary boeing b17f flying fortress. A people at war national archives and records administration.
The crew of the b17 memphis belle was the first to complete a combat tour. The b17 memphis belle is being restored at the air force museum at the air force museum in dayton, technicians and volunteers are working to restore a unique piece of history. B17f memphis belle crew overcame long odds to complete 25 missions. The b17 memphis belle is being restored at the air. An incredible true story of combat and chivalry in the war. The crew member names used in the movie are not factual. A bullet missed him when he moved, and instead hit the log book.
It was not suprising that the first bomber crew to complete 25 missions would be regarded as heroes. The 75th anniversary of the memphis belle crews last mission was a key milestone the museum wanted to tie to the planes restoration and reintroduction to the public, duford said. The memphis belle the final chapter in memphis, a documentary film by ken axmaker, jr. Memphis belle is a wellknown world war two bomber, which was made famous by the hollywood movie of the same name back in 1990. Joe giambrone crew chief about this site this site was developed through a partnership of the memphis belle memorial association and the lausanne collegiate school oral history program, this website will primarily be used as an educational tool to preserve the history of the belle and those who flew it. Us b17 bomber crewman world war two the united states army air force was made up of volunteers mostly in their late teens to early twenties from every part of. Photographed after the completion of their 25th mission bassingbourn, england may 17, 1943. The past, present, and future of the memphis belle. Matthew modine talks memphis belle, his reallife b17 connection and next moves. Memphis belle bomber newly restored and unveiled at us air. Dispelling the myths, the most definitive history of the plane to date.
573 794 382 560 599 578 329 840 1354 1447 1389 881 609 1497 905 1490 731 1214 1355 1155 743 573 100 727 1095 1155 895 284 1354 246 1471 944 486 711 873 629 47 1276 531 405 251 1275 749