What plane was the Memphis Belle?

Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

What planes were used in the movie Memphis Belle?

The plane which portrayed the Belle in the movie is actually a converted B-17G, while the real Belle is an F Model. The G Model has a chin turret, which was removed for the film and for the subsequent appearances made at airshows around the United States.

Was the Memphis Belle a real aircraft?

The Memphis Belle, a Boeing-built B-17F-10-BO, manufacturer's serial number 3470, USAAC Serial No. 41-24485, was added to the USAAF inventory on 15 July 1942, and delivered in September 1942 to the 91st Bombardment Group at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine.

Where is the Memphis Belle plane now?

Then, in 1990, that documentary was dramatized and turned into a film, titled Memphis Belle, starring Harry Connick Jr. Now, you can see the famous bomber itself at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.

Can the Memphis Belle still fly?

The Liberty Foundation's B-17 “Memphis Belle” is one of only 13 B-17's that still fly today. The B-17, dubbed the “Flying Fortress” as a result of her defensive fire power, saw action in every theater of operation during World War II.

How many B-17 crews completed 25 missions?

But flying it proved deadly. So much so that the odds of a B-17 crewman surviving the 25 missions required to complete a tour were only one in four.

How many B-17 flew 25 missions are there?

Hell's Angels B-17 Crew

B-17F Hell's Angels, tail number 41-24577 and crew. The first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions in the European Theater, May 13th, 1942. After completing 25 missions, Hell's Angels remained in theater until 1944 and flew a total of 48 missions without any injured crewmen or abort.

Why was the B 24 called the flying coffin?

In addition, crews nicknamed the B-24 the "Flying Coffin" as it possessed only one exit which was located near the tail of the aircraft. This made it difficult to impossible for the flight crew to escape a crippled B-24.

What plane dropped the atomic bomb?

Col. Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., pilot of the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. The B-29 (also called Superfortress) was a four-engine heavy bomber that was built by Boeing.

What happened to the real crew of the Memphis Belle?

Four members of the original crew died in combat as the plane was hit by cannon and machine-gun fire. Although Hanson and the rest of the crew survived unscathed to become early war heroes, they had several close calls.

Are there any B-17 still flying?

The number varies from time to time as airframes enter restoration, or complete restoration or move to flight status. The current total of surviving B-17 bombers located in the United States stands at 40: Nine (9) B-17 planes are airworthy, such as "Texas Raiders", "Sentimental Journey" and "Aluminum Overcast".

Why is the Memphis Belle so famous?

Of the 12,750 B-17s produced, Memphis Belle is famous for being the first Eighth Air Force bomber to complete 25 combat missions over occupied Europe without a crewman being killed and returning to the United States.

Where did the Memphis Belle fly from in England?

The 91st Bomber Group of the 8th Air Force was stationed there, including the famous B17-Flying Fortress aircraft "Memphis Belle". The original wartime film (not the 1990 remake) was shot at Bassingbourn.

What did the pilot say after dropping the atomic bomb?

As the city disappeared under a mushroom cloud, Captain Robert Lewis – co-pilot of the Enola Gay, the bomber that dropped the weapon – wrote in his log “My God, what have we done?” Three days later the U.S. released another atom bomb on Nagasaki, devastating the city and ushering in the nuclear age.

What happened to the pilot who dropped the atomic bomb?

He was never forgotten, however, and never would be. He was the man who dropped the first atomic weapon used in combat against an enemy city. But instead of being interred at home or at Arlington National Cemetery with all his brothers in arms, he was cremated and his ashes spread across the English Channel.

How long after Pearl Harbor did we drop the atomic bomb?

6, 1945, atomic bombing of Hiroshima; the anniversary of the Aug. 9, 1945, bombing of Nagasaki falls on Thursday. A week later, it was announced that Japan would surrender, four years after its attack on Pearl Harbor had catapulted the U.S. into World War II. Today, however, things are very different.

Was the B-24 better than the B-17?

The B-24 was a faster plane having a greater range and payload capacity. However, in the ETO, the B-24 operated with the B-17 which constrained the aircraft's operating speed. The B17 was a sedate aircraft and placed fewer demands on the flight deck crew.

Which was better B-24 or B-17?

The B-17 had a very large wing and ailerons (the moveable portion of the wing), while the B-24 used a smaller wing and ailerons for speed. Thus, the Liberator was faster, but the Flying Fortress could fly higher.

What was Louie's position of Bombardier?

As a bombardier, it's Louie's job to spot targets, program the bombsight that takes over flying the plane toward the target, and yell "Bombs away" when the bombs are, in fact, away.

What was the life expectancy of a B-17 crew?

Although such statistics were not circulated among Army Air Forces crews, the average life expectancy of an Eighth Air Force B-17 in late 1943 was 11 missions.

How many missions did B 24 crews fly?

USAAF 93rd Bombardment Group, 330th Bombardment Squadron's B-24 Liberator Hot Stuff, the first “heavy bomber” and crew to successfully complete 25 combat missions in WWII.

How many gunners does a B-17 have?

There were 5 gunners in the back of the plane, all enlisted men who were non-commissioned officers (NCO's) during their mission. During takeoff, they all sat in the radio room behind the bomb bay—the strongest part of the aircraft where the wings intersect with the fuselage.