This is the Memphis Belle. Easily the most famous
airplane in US military history...
Here is the Memphis Belle, the famous Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress bomber, flying over England on her way home to the States. The Memphis Belle was the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions over Europe. Following its combat tour, the aircraft and its crew participated in a highly-publicized war bond tour across the U.S., becoming symbols of American airpower and resilience.
The "Memphis Belle" is known for its distinctive nose art, inspired by a "pin-up" illustration from Esquire magazine. The 1944 documentary "Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress" captured the crew's 25th mission and provided a glimpse into the realities of aerial combat.
The aircraft is now meticulously restored and on public display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. The Memphis Belle and its crew were the subject of two Hollywood movies, a 1944 documentary, and a 1990 feature film.
A Bit O" Lace, from my dad's bomb group.
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There used to be a B17 fire air tanker in Socal and everybody came out to watch when it flew. I can still picture it.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that Memphis Belle wasn't the first B17 to complete 25 missions. She was second, beaten by another B17 whose name I cannot recall without doing some homework. There was only a couple of days in it but Belle was already tagged for the publicity so she got the glory.
ReplyDeleteB-17 Hell's Angles.
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I saw her shortly after she was put on display. Very awe inspiring.
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