Added: Jan 5, 2008
From: 2bn442RCT
Duration: 10:0
"The Memphis Belle," directed by William Wyler, is a tribute to the crew of the United States Air Force's 324th Squadron, 91st Heavy Bomber Unit, an airplane more familiarly known as the Memphis Belle. At the beginning of the film, the Belle's crew had successfully completed twenty-four missions in the toughest theater of the air war in Europe, flying bombing raids deep into Nazi territory. Cameras accompany the Belle on its twenty-fifth mission. If the crew returns with its mission accomplished, they will qualify for release from active duty, to be sent home as teachers and heroes. The film provides a first-person perspective of a World War II bombing raid, showing how it feels to be threatened by "flak [enemy fire] so thick you can get out and walk on it." Much of the film salutes those less fortunate than the crew of the Memphis Belle, who wear the weight of their experience in "faces [that] have watched their comrades die."
Channel: Education
Tags: 8th air b-17 belle bomber britain command enemy fire flying force fortress ii memphis memphisbelle nazi raid war world
Rating: 4.94 (16 ratings) Views: 4855' favoriteCount='13 Comments: 10
gengrant3 Says:
Jan 5, 2008 - unbelivable footage
bambooman6 Says:
Jan 27, 2008 - i would be about any position in the flying fortress except one... the bottom ball turret and the video the memphis belle is really good
Workinbus Says:
Feb 17, 2008 - As scary as the ball turret was it was not necessarily the most dangerous...In some groups the waist gunners had higher casualty rates...In other groups tail gunners...In still other groups it was the men in the nose...In the Pacific, the Japanese had such problems shooting down forts that they went after the pilots then resorted to ramming...
readingalan Says:
Mar 23, 2008 - i have sat in the co pilots seat of the belle,it was a windy day at duxford and although it was on the ground on a windy airshow day my god did it rock and shake,,those guys had neaves of steel and so much courage to fly her,,,,rip all those brave guys who never came home,,,and thankyou
Johnmetall666 Says:
May 24, 2008 - on some pics of the memphis belle, the girl on the side is in a red dress but sometimes its blue. why is that?
Bodneyblue Says:
May 24, 2008 - "The Memphis Belle" wasnt the 1st B-17 to compelete 25.."Hells Angels" was. The crew of "Hell Angels" have almost been forgotten by aviaition history. And have never recieved the glory the crew of the Belle enjoyed. Total injustice.
Bodneyblue Says:
May 24, 2008 - Not to say the Belles crew dont deserve repect, the crew of "Hells Angels" deserved better than being ignored by avaiation history.
BigChiefMullet Says:
Jul 7, 2008 - Is there any infomation regarding the fate of the men of the 'out of control' B17 @ 5:20?
richintalent Says:
Jul 20, 2008 - poor bastards...
gengrant3 Says:
Jan 5, 2008 - thoose guys had brass one's what balls