William Wyler's "Memphis Belle: The Story Of A Flying Fortress (1944)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G28ys4TEpao
William Wyler's "Memphis Belle: The Story Of A Flying Fortress (1944)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G28ys4TEpao
It was at an air show here in Atlanta a few years ago. Flew in, flew out. I don’t know where this article is getting its information.
Catch-22....................
Today they’d all be drummed out of the service after painting that pinup on the nose of the plane. Who needs heroes, we have feelings to worry about.
Is that 8 Nazi Luftwaffe shot down?
Awesome
GREAT movie, too!
“The plane, known for its risque nose paintings featuring a pin-up girl, was celebrated...”
As nose art goes, the Memphis Belle is pretty tame.
That said, now that we have to put up with all the out and about LBQSRXY crap, I think it’s time to bring back nose art.
Our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, great uncles, cousins.
DEATH OF THE BALL TURRET GUNNER
“From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.”
Randall Jarell 1945
Beautiful bird!
The Flying Fortress is such a gorgeous aircraft.
On interesting note, speaking of markings on the plane. Photos from the time (like the one you posted) show swastikas symbolic of something German they destroyed. Aircraft factories, whatever. Anyway the restored plan faithfully recreates the markings EXCEPT the swastikas. I presume they presume some snowflake would accuse them of glorifying nazis or something, ignorant of the true point being made.
In the air with bomb bay doors open. I love it! What a worthy way to display the old girl.
It was photos like that which caused my 18-year-old daughter and my 45-year-old Webelos co-leader to exclaim, during a recent visit to a historic site, “Was absolutely everyone in World War II so cute?!?”
Revell 04297 B-17F ‘Memphis Belle’
1/48 Scale Plastic Model Kit
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When they show the scenes where the planes are coming in to land, and they pass down the runway on the far side, banking gracefully, timing it so they are lined up perfectly by nearly completing a perfect half circle just as the runway appeared under their wheels...
Such grace and beauty in a weapon of war. Watching that maneuver, you could see how pilots loved flying it...
They didn't like the B-24 as much, as it had to be manhandled and fought with as much as flown, or so I am told.
Great photo. Sad to hear that at some point the great bird was left to vandals.
Years ago, a friend of mine of the WW II generation, told me of how he knew the gal that the bomber was named for. He confided that she was a good gal but more on the side of homely than pinup beautiful. Pictures support his assessment.
I have a signed/numbered lithograph fo the Belle in flight and Franklin Mint Die cast . not sure of the scale but almost 1 20” wingspan. The Sentimental Journey was a great ride,