The Truth About the Memphis Belle (No Hollywood)
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- Опубліковано 9 тра 2024
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This is the real story of the legendary "Memphis Belle" - the famous B-17 Flying Fortress of the 91st Bomb Group during World War II. Clips shown are from the 1990 Movie "Memphis Belle" and from William Wyler's 1944 Documentary "Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress". This was made using the World War II flight simulator War Thunder - Download free here: playwt.link/tj3 Hope you enjoy! Please like, comment, and subscribe. #WW2 #WWIIHistory #WarThunder
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It shows. Thanks for doing all the hard work to put these videos together for us.
now you should really do one on Hell's Angels too. and the B-24 that crashed with the Allied commander aboard.
Have you ever considerd making telling storyes of ww1?
the movie included everything that could possibly go wrong....
@@frankpienkosky5688 not quite. We didn't see bombs drop from one plane onto another that was out of position. We didn't see an airplane explode from a direct flak hit. etc.
but yes, I totally agree with you. The MB movie was more about showing what crews faced, and less about the historical accuracy of the MB herself. Wouldn't make for much of a movie if nothing happened.
My father flew as a Bombardier on a B-17 over Germany with his 1st mission on D-Day, June 6, 1944, with his 24th mission on December 24th, 1944 over Belgium. 3 of the men on his plane survived. He injured his left foot and ankle landing on a frozen field in Belgium. It took him 2 years before he could walk without crutches. He said that he was sent home on the Queen Mary. Dad lived to 93 years old and he was my hero. Mom and Dad are in Heaven and one day soon I will be reunited. He loved America and what we stood for: Freedom, Hard Work, Structure and always living and helping your fellow! Great documentary!
Thanks to you dad 07
God Bless your family.
Hats off to your father. I lost mine in 1999 at the age of 79. He went to England and returned on the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth but I've lost track of which one he was on on which leg. My dad went over there as part of the operations staff so like your dad, he got the boat ride - twice. But your father may have gotten a plane ride over as did all of the original flight crews. The 91st left the US with a total of 36 B-17s with 35 making it. One crashed enroute due to a mechanical failure of some sort.
I used to fly with a former B 17 copilot with the 8th Air Force. He was burned about his arms when his B 17 went down in flames over Germany. I was flying safety pilot one day doing instrument work when I spotted a B 17 flying to an airshow crossing our path. I called her out and he looked up and watched it pass about 500 feet above us. For the first and only time, my friend told me what happened the day he was shot down. I miss him. He was 20 years older than I was. That was 25 years ago and I am 79 now.
P
My great-uncle was a waist gunner and was lost during the war. Found his picture, folded flag, original letter announcing his death, and several other items in my great grandmother's rotting house. All are now in my parents house in a loving framed tribute. He was so close to being forgotten and I just couldn't allow it.
Great job saving his honor and lost life. SAd history is being forgotten. 😢😢
I saw Captain Robert Morgan at a presentation at the Museum of Flight in Seattle WA during the summer of 1998 when I was 12. We got a signed photo of him and his crew in front of the Memphis Belle after he gave his talk. It's now one of my prized possessions. That was such a good summer!
Reading these comments I don't think you're the only one who saw caption Morgan. Some of these guys saw Jack Daniels and Jim beam as well
My Pop was a Bombardier & nose gunner on the B17s out of England & did his 25 before coming home with a Purple Heart. Loved your story. Have visited the Belle on Mudd Island on the Mississippi River in Memphis.
Pop died 55 years ago today. Thanks for this memory. God bless. ML&R, Joe
My mother was a rosie the riveter in ww2. She worked on bombers at westwillow the westwillow plant
My father was in operations for the 91st and was stationed at Bassingbourn from beginning to end. He's the guy that drew the units insignia - the flying bomb. BTW, Bassingbourn was not supposed to be the base for the 91st, but upon arrival, they discovered that the runways at RAF Kimbolton (the original base) were not sufficient for a B17 at full battle rattle. Colonel Wray did a bit of surveillance, discovered Bassingbourn, and had the entire group moved, essentially under cover of darkness, without any official authorization. The 91st flew 340 combat missions and lost almost 200 aircraft in combat with 40 or more in addition to the combat losses written off as too damaged to be repaired.
The first time I saw the Belle was in Memphis in 1965 at the 20th reunion of the 91st. As a 15 year old, I got to meet the Belle's flight crew and that memory will always be with me. The Belle was parked out in front of an Air National Guard Armory and she was in pretty rough shape. Some years later, and I don't know the time line, she was superficially restored and placed on display in a Pavilion down on the Mississippi River which is where I next saw her in the late 90's. Since then, she's been fully restored of course, and sits at Wright Patterson. Thanks for telling the story of the Memphis Belle. It's a remarkable machine flown by some remarkable men to whom we all owe a debt of thanks.
I live nearby bassingbourn. The airfield has been recovered as farming land. Nothing left except a piece of remembrance wall with a propeller on it and 2 lists of names of dead personnels, one for British the other for Americans.
I’m so happy
@@namei8967 My wife and I took a trip to Royston years ago and the original "operations" building was there along with some of the other original structures. I think it still is, but as you say, much of it has gone back to the farm land it originally was prior to the war. A brick from the Bassingbourn control tower and bricks from many other towers just like it are in the replica tower at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio.
@@bluemarblescience I live in Royston. You are right, there were still a couple of half barrel shaped metal huts there. I ride bike there very often.
I watched the film of Memphis belle, which shows clearly the church of litlington.
What an amazing family and story you have and shared with us! Thank you so much!!
As a kid i played in the Memphis Belle when it was old and neglected outside the Memphis armory near the fairgrounds. I remember being disappointed they had removed the machine guns. Great fun for a 10 year old boy arounf 1967.
Thanks for giving the mechanics a nod at the end of the video.
A post script to your well made video:
The Memphis Belle was in the boneyard at Altus AAFB in Oklahoma when a girls club in Altus High School discovered her. They initiated the contact with the city of Memphis that led to her rescue and eventual restoration.
However, once it was "enshrined" in Memphis, it was vandalized and allowed to decay to the point it was not worth saving without its iconic pedigree.
@@jeffsiegel4879 It has been refirbished and is at the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum
$350.00 for a flyable 17 only on Oklahoma
Nice!
She used to be at mud Island in Memphis, Tennessee. She sat outside in a covered pavilion. I remember seeing her there when I was about 10 or 11.
I drove down there from Canada to 'check her out' on Mud Island Memphis only to find it abandoned!
She had been moved to the Museum in Dayton. Lucky me eh?
Been to Dayton 6 times, but still have to go and see this piece of history.
@@luckyguy600 Menno Duerksen wrote a book about her and he was in the gift shop when we were there. He autographed a book for me. I just went back and looked and he dated it July 23, 1993. So I had just turned fifteen. It was a long time ago and I thought I was younger.
She wasn't covered when I saw her in late 1990 and early 1991. Exposed to the environment
Yes my father was a Captain in Tenn Army Gaurd..It was in front of the armory in the 70s when I saw it...
I remember her there. I got pictures of her on the pedestal at the armory.
If you are ever in Asheville, North Carolina, visit downtown. On the way out of town after fundraising, Robert W. Morgan flew the Memphis Belle between the City Hall and County Courthouse buildings of his hometown.. This was no easy task to fly between these two buildings. Robert had to tilt the wings sixty degrees to clear both buildings. There is a commemorative plaque that marks the event in the gap between the two buildings. To stand there reading the memorial and see the tight space he cleared, brings a deal of respect to his ability as a pilot and the faith and trust that his crew had in him.
Thank you for this! I will go see this! The wife and I got a trip to the Biltmore for a few days after purchasing our Ford Explorer ST last year and we had a blast and will be making a yearly trip to see the gardens and the estate for a vacation from our desert landscape in Phoenix. I will be going to see this next visit!
I saw that one night during a pub crawl. It blew my mind, as I had no idea.
My mother was a child in Bremen during the war. She carried trauma from that for her whole life. Its wild to see the story from both sides of the conflict.
I really enjoyed the documentary, particularly the in-flight shots,hereos all,thank you from England.
I had the honor of being at the dedication of the Belle at the Wright Patt museum as a photographer. My best friend, also in attendance, is the son of a 17’s tail gunner. My father was an army Lieutenant, flying 24’s, yet flew no combat missions as the war ended. Glenn and I spent the evening chatting with a few of the Greatest Generation. Greatest indeed.
I was 14 years old when I saw the 1990 movie in the theater. It brings a tear to my eye to know we still have the plane.
The museum at Wright-Patterson AFB is amazing. And free!
Yes it is !
I've been there 3 times and didn't see everything
@@fubarmodelyard1392 I'm not surprised. Especially if you read all the placards about everything. It is an amazing place.
@@michaelsmith-iu1beI tend to linger. Reading every placard and looking over every detail of the aircraft
It is definitely a gem!!!!
I had a chance to fly on a B-17 up front with the pilots it was an amazing experience and I will never ever forget that as long as I live
Me also..several years ago
The Madrass Msiden
As a young boy, my father remembers seeing the Bell in Asheville, North Carolina during its war bond tour. Captain Robert Morgan was from there.
EXCELLENT documentary . Thank you for your efforts. My father flew B-25’s during WWII. I was born between Memphis Belle’s third and fourth mission (January 20th) Lest we never forget that freedom is not free.😂
$350, what a buy! Priceless today from a historical standpoint!😊
It's amazing to look at the Belle up at the museum. All the hell that plane and her crews went through many years ago...... and she now looks like she just came off the assembly line. Impeccably well restored.
That sounds very similar to our family history:
My father, John Allan Martin, enlisted in the Army Air Corps (1942), age 18, and served as a gunner and radio operator on B-17s and B-24s. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force in England and flew 35 combat missions over Europe. Including one shown as "SECRET" on his papers.
According to him, later while watching “12 O’clock High” on TV, he thought that it was very well done and he liked the show. He did say that instead of the large letter “A” in the show their planes carried a large letter “P” there. He was in the 387th Bombardment Squadron of 487th Bombardment Group. The records for many crew members were lost during a fire at Fort Benjamin Harrison.
His brother, age 20, was a Navy aviator flying in the Pacific area: his plane was shot down . The bad news was wired to the family, who were surprised three months later when he walked in the front door in his Navy uniform.
My father had left the service at the end of the war and worked as a TV/Radio engineer. He was called back to duty for the Korean conflict but didn’t have to deploy; and stayed with the new US Air Force. He retired in 1968 after 26 years of active duty and died in 1976. His brother also passed in 2005.
Both brothers are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Regards
Incredible!!! I want to thank your father and his brother for their service.
I got to see the Memphis Belle with my family at Mud Island while I was stationed at NAS Memphis (Millington) in the late 80s. She was in fair shape then and out of the weather, under a pavilion.
My Dad went into Normandy on D-Day+3 to service the planes at temporary fields as the infantry moved forward. He spoke about the B-17's, P-47's, & P-51's & the brave men who flew them. Years later I had the chance to 'walk thru' the interior of the Memphis Belle & several other famous warplanes at an airshow exhibit, Andrew's AFB. Everlasting memories.
Chuck Leighton was my high school guidance counselor at East Lansing high School in the early 70's. Very low key guy
Not to dismiss what this crew did for the war effort but the Memphis Belle wasn't the first to complete 25 missions so it's nice to see this fact acknowledged in this video..
I knew Margaret poke for 12 years and I miss Margaret very much. I was just her pool, ma'n, but she was like a grandmother to me.
@TJ3 your work never ceases to amaze me.. well done! The “Belle” has played a major part in my life… in the early days of the internet, my Mom was able to contact Colonel Morgan who called me on Christmas Day when I was 10. Mr. Morgan and his wife were so incredibly nice to me (never charging for any memorabilia) and actually met us for dinner in Cincinnati when they were in town for an air show. Your work here I’m sure would make him proud! Thanks for what you do!
Lots there I never knew.
That's what I like about this channel. They always tell you stuff from the pages you never read about.
Excellent.
Thanks for watching :)
I love the old movies of that period and one of my favorites, The Best Years of Our Lives, about post war veterans returning home to a fictitious town called Boon City. The opening sequences are the most fascinating with them riding home in the nose of a B17 bomber and upon approach to their air field, flew over a huge mass of B17s and other planes on the ground. This was very authentic so I love watching it over and over. It’s one of my favorites in my large library of movies. Another of my favorites is the War Lover with Steve McQueen. These movies are motion picture time capsules as the Wyler film, The Memphis Bell is one as well as the movie made in the 90s.
My gratitude is profound and eternal for ALL in the Greatest Generation, work like this informs and inspires. Thank You, Thank You.
I heartily support this post.
Think of where we would be now as a nation without the heroes that made up this generation. Think about it, all we are today is thanks to these men and women.
I remember how good it felt when I heard those wheels screech the ground at last when I saw the movie for the first time.
This was an amazing video! So professional and very informative! This is the Gold Standard of what UA-cam should follow. On a personal note, I had the distinct honor to meet Col. Morgan at an air show. I had no idea he was going to be there. Such a gentleman! I have a magnificent WWII poster and book he signed and dedicated to my wife and I. Years earlier, I got to gi aboard the B-17 they used in the movie. I am still amazed how Col. Morgan and the crew survived the war -- God, prayer, skill and an amazing ground crew certainly help the crew!
Outstanding content; superbly edited, detailed, well narrated , well researched , respectful of the context and the characters, and answering the question of what happened to these brave young men afterwards. Very entertaining, educational and worthwhile watching. Many thanks.
Thanks for watching!
during air shows here in norfolk, va, i can tell you Nothing is as awesome as B-17s roaring over your house, landing at Chambers Field. i can only imagine the roaring rotary engines of hundreds of flying fortresses filling the skies above and the terror of knowing what was coming...
'Rotary engines'?
It’s a good to see the Memphis Belle is saved now displayed in the National USAF museum today. I think the famous C-47 skytrain that lead of D-Day (That’s all brother) should be displayed alongside the Memphis Belle at the museum too after her flying tour rides great story TJ3.
Along with Robin Olds P-51 that is still flying I can’t remember if it’s Scat VI or VII
I was on a business trip to Dayton OH. last year and took some time off just to go see the museum. Amazing all the history that's there. I agree, the C-47 That's All Brother would be a good addition.
The CAF found the aircraft and invested incredible amounts of money / blood sweat and tears into the restoration (which is absolutely immaculate.) She doesn’t belong in a museum yet.
That exact pathfinder aircraft led the way on D-Day as my grandfather was in another C-47 heading into France.
They stopped by our CAF hangar in Virginia shortly before heading overseas, fresh out of paint… such an amazing aircraft. First (flight-worthy) Dakota I’ve ever sat in left seat (on the ground obviously) but again, it was really cool knowing this exact same metal was up in the air over France ahead of my grandfather.
Anyways - let her fly around and inspire youth and others into the aviation world, museums can only do so much. If the USAF’s history personnel (if they even have any) were half awake, they would have realized what a gem they had sitting out there in a scrapyard before the CAF came along.
Keep ‘em flying!
@@EstorilEm I’ll agree there, the old museum staff didn’t think smart, the museum used to have a F-4E and F-105B used by the USAF Thunderbirds which i love the F-16A and F-100D they have now but just imagine how much nicer of an exhibit they could have today with 4 of the teams previous aircraft painted up in the teams colors
lot of planes in DC too...at the Smithsonian...also worth the trip...but they're a bit crowded together there
I visited a a tribute B-17 Flying Fortress that flew to James Island s.c. In 1992 . It was a Memphis bell replica and also a p-38 mustang and a B-24 liberator , spent 6 hours exploring, still have the pictures. They also had the film Memphis bell in one of the flight hangers. Was a good day. God bless the veterans ❤🎉🇺🇸🏁
Correction: P-38 Is a Lightening. P-51 is a Mustang.
Salute.
Simply terrifying. I’ve flown a few “long” flights (by long, I mean only ~4.5hr or so) crewing a WWII torpedo bomber going to airshows. Hopped up into the turret for a bit one time, and just contemplated… we are typically focused on the Pacific theater, but it isn’t hard to imagine being 20,000’ higher up, freezing, and stuck in that turret knowing those controls in your hand may save your life and/or the lives of those in your aircraft (or the aircraft around you.)
It’s one thing for me to think about it at home watching great documentaries like this, but I’ll never forget how it felt up there.
Today the scariest things people do are team-building activities and jumping off the platform for a zip-line. 🤦♂️
These guys got into a plane with 2,800 gal 100 octane fuel, flying 5 miles above the earth, and (at any cost) had to fly in a straight line, as nimble German fighters swooped in and picked them off.
I’ve put myself in that position mentally, and I’m not sure I could handle it. Like the night before… the pre-flight, the initial point, the moment when our fighter coverage has to turn back leaving us completely exposed… there are so many times that I’d probably completely lose it.
Absolutely the greatest generation. 👍 🇺🇸
I've flown in a Mustang and my adrenaline was pumping for most of the flight. I can only imagine flying in a bomber as an aerial target.
Welldone from across the pond in the UK.
You do such great work.. I love how you're able to get all the little details most people don't know or ever heard of. I love everything aviation especially WWII era and wildland firefighting.
I love your researched detail!!!
My Father was in the 10th Air Force, a mechanic on a B 25 In the CBI. I am 72. I am his daughter. I can sooooo... relate to your passion for WW2 war history!
Certainly a classic emotional documentary brighten by heroism. Deep respect from another fading soldier from a far distant country
This is great storytelling,there were many things i didn`t knew about the Belle.Thank you for telling so many great stories and the animations are super.
Finally we get the record straight on “Memphis Belle”. As much as I liked the 1990 movie it should NOT be based for any Historical research (there’s just too many historical inaccuracies from the movie for me to list here).
I still enjoyed watching the movie.
@@merafirewing6591it was okay for some decent flight cinematography scenes but way too inaccurate on just about everything
@@merafirewing6591 me too...can't seem to find it for free anywhere
They have a label at the end saying this isn't historically accurate they made the movie to honor all the crews they just used name and the last mission of the belle
@@ScAlexlemaster gee like I didn’t know that 🙄
Historical notes - being that I covered such a massive stretch of history in this one, there are some notes I'll mention. First - it is extremely difficult to track the missions of each individual crewmember. In addition, there is even some discrepancy about which a couple of missions in which the Belle did or did not receive credit for. But this is the most accurate list I can put together. Second - Heinz Knoke's name is pronounced "Ka-Nok-a" in German I believe, but that is very awkward for me to say. I'm working on my pronunciations. Also in his Liberty Belle mission, I am not positive if he flew an Me-109 or a Fw-190, as according to the records of his group, they were commonly switching aircraft during this time depending on the target of their intercept. And for those who may ask - these bombs had a fuse and were supposed to explode in the middle of the bomber formations, not contact armed. Third - The crew of the Liberty Belle has some discrepancy as well - Some sources list it as their first mission, others list it as their first mission "with the 91st Bomb Group" - with their crew having a couple missions in other bombers or units in the weeks before. But they were certainly a newer crew. Fourth - I want to make sure I mention - the 1990 movie "Memphis Belle" is a fictional movie, not based on the actual bomber. This is why there are so many inaccuracies there. However, it is still a fantastic film, and in the words of one veteran - "It may not have been the story of the real Memphis Belle, but it was likely the story of some crew out there". Thanks for watching. See you guys next time!
Absolutely and well said on all counts. Fascinating how some aircraft on the same production lines go on to become legends. One to consider for a video would be "Witchcraft", a B24 with the 790th BS, 467th BG out of Station 145, Rackheath. It completed 130 missions without an abort from April 44 to April 45 and M/Sgt Joe Ramirez the crew chief would be awarded the Bronze Star for "keepin em flying". The area on which the airfield stood is now filled with houses but there are streets named for Witchcraft, B24 and Wendover, where the Group trained before going overseas.
Heinz Knoke's name would be pronounced ka-noh-keh in German.
You did better than I did. 😂😂 Stop apologizing. 😮
Remarkable documentary. No Hollywood. Great air footage. An archival piece that will make you producers immortal. Memphis Belle already is
Thanks for watching :)
@@TJ3 Thank you for all your guys great work and making this possible.
Interesting BUT the the image of the ‘ Belle’ is so very very wrong. The ‘Bellle’ was an early production B-17F with a larger near braceless nose cone, enlarged cheek windows fitted for the emplacement of a .50-cal machine gun on each side of the nose. The Video shows an early B-17E.
B17C dummy
Having not known much history of this majestic plane, I still got goose bumps when standing underneath of her at the Wright Paterson Museum she is on display at. And for those that don’t know, this museum is free and open 364 days a year. A definite must see in Dayton Ohio.
I've actually seen the Memphis belle in person. They have it on display at the Dayton air and space museum in Ohio! As well as Bockscar which dropped the bomb on Nagasaki.
It’s actually the National Museum of the United States Air Force not an air and space museum
lot of nukes on display there too...many in cross-section....heard they
re up to three hangers now...plus the outdoor display and the ones stored on the base...[presidential aircraft]
@@frankpienkosky5688 4 buildings, 4th opened in 2016 and I was there for the grand opening. They have the Presidential, R&D, Global Reach (which is just the C-141, C-130E, and C-82), and Space galleries in it. All stuff on base now is stuff needing to be restored or stuff that just needs a home and they don’t have room atm.
@@HankyInTheTanky like the X-3?
....one of my favorites in my model building years...all the kids thought that one was really cool...couldn't believe I could walk right up to it just setting there looking a bit forlorn on the hanger floor...the real plane was a bit of a failure,,,not living up to expectations....
Saw it at Lancaster Ohio Met Morgan and had him sign my wife's Memphis bell tee shirt. I got such a kick out of it. Endorsed it right on the boob. Old boy still in the game. LOL
William Wyler went on to create " Friendly Persuasion " , a remarkable double paced Civil War flick, honored as film No. 34 of the Humanities Film Forum Must See List. Memphis Belle was Movie 38. Memphis Belle was filmed with hand held Bell and Howell hand cranked Filmo cameras and possibly 16 MM Kodachrome reversal or Kodak Aerocolor negative film.
Great documentary! This justifies my suscription! Excellent work TJ3 !!
You don't "win" a Medal of Honor, or any award for that matter. You are awarded the commendation.
Nice comment dork
@@user-km2os3ru6m ask a MoH if they won it and I guarantee you they’ll say the same thing, dork
What a great video. You never let us down TJ. Thanks for all the hard work you put into all your videos you are amazing and enjoyable. I already can't wait to see the next one. Please keep 'em flying flying.
Thank you!!
Very educational and entertaining video. Thank you for creating it. Cheers.
Your videos are always so enlightening and interesting to watch. Loved this one! 👍 I am proud to say that the Memphis Belle now resides in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio as you said, at the U.S. Air Force Museum. I have been there many times, both as a child and an adult, and it is quite a place!
Excellent excellent excellent one of the best UA-cam videos I have ever watched very well done
I just wish to comment as to how far you have come from initially posting video game clips to the production of well researched historical mini-documentaries which sometimes feature the actual veteran the story reflects. It is clear you research your stories rather than simply relying on previous information. This is clearly presented by this video where the "story" from the 1991 movie was just that - simply a story attached to the name "Memphis Belle" I can't imagine how many may have believed that movie as the actual story of the "Belle!" TJ, I had not know you previously but I'm certain you will agree these videos and all the work involved have made you a better person.
Continue all this great work for all to enjoy!
This was a really good one too, TJ3. I really like how in depth you went with the mission by mission breakdown. I’ve got a large scale model of this plane I have yet to build and seeing videos like this makes me look forward to building it, even more.
Hells Angeles was the name of the first B 17 to complete 25 missions!
what's the story?
"Ooo-oo, you can take my gun... you can have my bullets too."
An excellent TJ3 video is just what i need to get my day started. Happy friday yall
Thanks! Enjoy!
When I was a kid, the Massachusetts Air National Guard used to use the old WWII B17 aircraft as crew & airtime aircraft, all the way through the 1970s! We used to see them all the time on maneuvers over Northborough, Massachusetts. It's absolutely amazing that a lot of those old planes were still being used over 30 years after the war!
In the 388th Bomb group, the Jamaica Ginger flew over 300 missions, highest in that group. Top planes should all be recognized in EVERY group. Memphis Belle was just one of many that were highlighted, but many others went unsung.
Excellent, excellent, excellent! The closest I've ever been to the Memphis Belle was a flight aboard the Sally B in 1985 at Duxford.
Another maximum effort! Very well done. Thank you sooooo. much!
Well done. I've watched the MB movies multiple times. As many youngsters wanted to fly. I didn't know until I watched this video that the MB went into service the same week when I was born...... I have visited the Air Museum (2x)and saw the restored MB. I never liked the 17's for some strange reason. I was in love with the 29's.
Great work, I have followed the BElle for years, and you did a great job with this.
Amazing documentary brother!
Excellent! Thank you for this.
Great video!
Never knew the whole story with all those details.
Congrats!!
This is a remarkable review and one of your longest videos yet - well done!!
Thank you for putting this together TJ, excellent work, it brought back good memories, as my father owned a small blimp company and parade inflatables in Memphis, in the 1980s and spoke about it often and always had a special place in the heart. Godspeed and keep up the excellent work 🇺🇸🎗🪖🐾
Wow!! Thank you very much :D I'm so grateful for your support!
@@TJ3 And greatful for the hard work and life dedication you have to our veterans, my life to them as well, just boarding their animals during deployment and getting thier stories on film as well. I'll be over on patreon soon! 🇺🇸🎗🐾🪖
When John Lithgow's character says " and went on to fly 24 missions without a scratch" he is obviously referring to the crew as he just talked about them volunteering.
My Grandfather was a radio op in the 8th he met my Grandmother while stationed in England flying in B17's and she was one of many "War Brides" to leave the UK post war.
Wow! Great job on tons of research..very interesting.
Thank you for this fabulous piece of history!
I’ve enjoyed this story. I remember the movie as a child. I visited the Belle on Mud Island in Memphis and it was a wonderful connection to history.
Epic video. Thank you so much
Amazing video you have done there!!! Congrats!!!
Fantastic video TJ!!!
As a young boy 6 or 7 years old my dad would take me fishing on a lake here in Va.
There was a small place you coul rent jon boats and get bait. My dad knew the owner and his son very well as he would fish there every week. I vividly remember the old man and him telling me "boy get your daddy to take you to see the movie Memphis Belle. That was me and my buddies" i will always remember him telling me that. His name was Levy Dillon. Rest in peace.
Bought the Memphis Belle in air-worthy condition for $350. Wow! 49:00
Another wonderful video! Keep them coming!
I grew up watching Wyler's film and never have watched the 90's movie. Finally got to see her in 2018 in her restored glory.
This was brilliant! It's so well put together that it puts the Likes of the today's History Channel to shame.
I loved this documentary. Well done
Not a bad video, but the research could have been better.
1:00 - NOPE! It was new to England, but not fresh off the production line. The Belle was delivered to the USAAF on 15 July '42. It was originally delivered in Seattle, Washington, at Boeing Field. From there, it was flown to Olmstead Field in Middletown, Pennsylvania, then to New Castle Field in Wilmington, Delaware, and on to Dow Field in Bangor, Maine. After that, it was flown to Memphis, Tennessee on a "shakedown (training) flight." It was flown to England on 29/30 September '42.
1:16 - Nope again. It was called the US Army Air Forces. It was changed from "Air Corps" on 20 June '41.
18:00 - ??? There was a mission on 26 February '43, to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The crew flew that mission in B-17 41-24515 (No Name). Why was this not mentioned?
25:57 - ??? The mission on 5 April '43 was NOT flown in the Belle. It was flown in B-17 41-24480, named "The Bad Penny." Why was this not mentioned?
35:59 - ??? The mission on 4 May '43 was NOT flown in the Belle. It was flown in B-17 41-24527, named "The Great Speckled Bird." Why was this not mentioned?
44:01 - Nope x 3! The Belle would fly one more mission, to Kiel, Germany, two days later, on 19 May '43. It was flown by Lt. C.L. Anderson.
48:40 - Nope x 4! After the war bond tour, the Belle became a training aircraft at MacDill Field (Tampa, Florida) until after VE Day. After that, it was sent to Altus Field in Oklahoma, for storage.
Brilliant video Brilliant graphics thourghly enjoyable.😊
Another excellent video!
Wow Man!!, Absolutely a awesome job
Thanks
Well done!
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION.....
Excellent video.
Thank you 🇺🇲
Great work!
Great Documentary.
Great video!👍🏻🙂
First off Great detailed history, great graphics for sure great job on this video, TJ3H!!
The B-17's performance, payload, durability, defensive firepower, ceiling, speed and elegant beauty earned the bomber it's reputation. But the sacrifice of the crews is forgotten. In 1943, those that flew missions in the 8th Air Force got shot down. All of them except the Belle. With losses at 20% every mission, odds were 5 to 1 you'd be dead by your 5th mission. And you had to win 5 times to make 25 missions. Nobody did. Until the 'Belle did. Then the Mustang showed up with cover all the way in '44 and it was a game changer. Plus the B-17G models were out with that cool little chin turret packing a brace of .50 cals. I got to talk to a '43 Vet once. 'Course he got shot down. His son had told me he bailed out and parachuted directly into a German POW camp! Imagine the luck! When I met the man and thanked him for his service, I remarked on the bad luck to land right in a POW camp. He got a sad look on his face and told me it was actually incredibly GOOD luck, as he was the only survivor of his crew, the rest hunted down and murdered as "Terrorfliegers" by the civilians. Wow...
In 1991 I was stationed at NAS Millington and on weekends we would go to Memphis, Tennessee. One weekend we were at Mud Island and for $5 you could take a self guided tour of the Memphis Belle. I have a picture of me at the right side waist gunners position.
good narration with a voice you can listen too, well done
Meh like a 30 year old 4th grader
Great documentary..
What i needed to listen a good honest report. Thanks
Excellent narrating.