Memphis Belle: The Story Of A B-17 Flying Fortress | Upscaled Documentary
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- Memphis Belle: The Story of a B-17 Flying Fortress | Upscaled original footage documentary.
This film, shot by Hollywood director William Wyler is a memorable testimony of the missions of WWII. insisted on using only genuine footage and soldiers, showing civilian audiences a more startlingly realistic view of the war than they'd seen before.
This film is about the crew of a B-17 "flying fortress" bomber as it approaches its 25th mission.
They were often under enemy fire, but the cinematographers kept filming, and one lost his life.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater of Operations and dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during World War II. It is the third-most-produced bomber of all time, behind the four-engined Consolidated B-24 Liberator and the multirole, twin-engined Junkers Ju 88. It was also employed as a transport, antisubmarine aircraft, drone controller, and search-and-rescue aircraft.
In a USAAC competition, Boeing's prototype Model 299/XB-17 outperformed two other entries but crashed, losing the initial 200-bomber contract to the Douglas B-18 Bolo. Still, the Air Corps ordered 13 more B-17s for further evaluation, and then introduced them into service in 1938. The B-17 evolved through numerous design advances but from its inception, the USAAC (later, the USAAF) promoted the aircraft as a strategic weapon. It was a relatively fast, high-flying, long-range bomber with heavy defensive armament at the expense of bomb load. It also developed a reputation for toughness based upon stories and photos of badly damaged B-17s safely returning to base.
The B-17 saw early action in the Pacific War, where it conducted raids against Japanese shipping and airfields. But it was primarily employed by the USAAF in the daylight strategic bombing campaign over Europe, complementing RAF Bomber Command's night-time area bombing of German industrial, military, and civilian targets. Of the roughly 1.5 million tons of bombs dropped on Nazi Germany and its occupied territories by U.S. aircraft, over 640 000 tons (42.6%) were dropped from B-17s.
As of November 2022, four aircraft remain airworthy, none flown in combat. Dozens more are in storage or on static display. The oldest of these is a D-series flown in combat in the Pacific on the first day of the United States' involvement in World War II.
General characteristics
Crew: 10: Pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier/nose gunner, flight engineer/top turret gunner, radio operator, waist gunners (2), ball turret gunner, tail gunner
Length: 74 ft 4 in (22.66 m)
Wingspan: 103 ft 9 in (31.62 m)
Height: 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m)
Wing area: 1,420 sq ft (131.92 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 0018 / NACA 0010
Empty weight: 36,135 lb (16,391 kg)
Gross weight: 54,000 lb (24,500 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 65,500 lb (29,700 kg)
Aspect ratio: 7.57
Powerplant: 4 × Wright R-1820-97 "Cyclone" turbosupercharger radial engines, 1,200 hp (895 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton-Standard constant-speed propeller
Performance
Maximum speed: 287 mph (462 km/h, 249 kn)
Cruise speed: 182 mph (293 km/h, 158 kn)
Range: 2,000 mi (3,219 km, 1,738 nmi) with 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) bombload
Ferry range: 3,750 mi (6,040 km, 3,260 nmi)
Service ceiling: 35,600 ft (10,850 m)
Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
Wing loading: 38.0 lb/sq ft (185.7 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.089 hp/lb (150 W/kg)
Armament
Guns: 13 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in 9 positions (2 in the Bendix's chin turret, 2 on nose cheeks, 2 staggered waist guns, 2 in upper Sperry turret, 2 in Sperry ball turret in belly, 2 in the tail and one firing upwards from radio compartment behind bomb bay)
Bombs:
Short-range missions; Internal load only (400 mi): 8,000 lb (3,600 kg)
Long-range missions; Internal load only (≈800 mi): 4,500 lb (2,000 kg)
Max Internal and External load: 17,600 lb (7,800 kg)
Credits: For more information and to download this film, please visit www.loc.gov/it...
#flyingfortress #b17 #aircraft - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Click the link to watch more aircraft, heroes, and their stories, and missions: www.youtube.com/@Dronescapes
SIYUBTUBESA.ESLA.SERIE.MUY.HERMOSA.X.CIERTO!!A.VEGA DE ARGENTINA 🇦🇷 GRACIAS TH-cam!!
I watched this video with my grandfather 40 years ago. He worked on these planes included the Memphis Belle. I never thought I would see it again. Fantastic. Thank you!
Bless him!
Memphis Belle (1990)was one of my favorite movies as a kiddo. I got so enthusiastic about b-17 my grandparents bought me the model, revell kit if remember correctly, boy i was stoked
I saw the Belle while it was under restoration at The Air Force Museum in Dayton. The entire fuselage was covered in names that had been carved into the metal. Even then, people would show little concern for historical artifacts of such importance. Thankfully, when I visited her after the restoration was complete, none of the vandalism was visible. Many thanks to all of the workers at the Air Museum for saving her. ❤
Considering how hard they flew her around when she returned, and the conditions she was stored in for decades, the museum at Wright Pat had their work cut out for them. How does one restore such a massive piece of crucial WW2 history? Very, very slowly. And it was worth it, she’s immaculate, one of the most beautiful warbirds I’ve ever seen. She’s literally friggin’ perfect. If you get the chance, go say hi to her, I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.
I've been a few times to see her. Had to explain to my 9 year old son why I teared up when I saw it.
I do wish she still flew, but I'll take a static display in a museum.
Cheers
Saw her in 1997 when she resided in Memphis.
Not only that the purring of her engines. I like when morgan pushes the throttles the sound picksup
My Uncle Ned flew on the Belle with that formidable crew in 1944. They flew together and would have died together. Uncle Ned was a real life hero, not like this super hero's films. This Christmas I got my Uncle Ned a DVD of the film, but he didnt want to watch it. He said, "Boy I lived it and never want to live it again" lets just leave it at that.......
Watching this while reading "Masters of the Air" by Donald L. Miller, about a week before the show based on the book comes out. Thank you for keeping this historical film available to view!
Watching this in colour was eerie.
What a tough job these men accomplished. ✌
William Wyler, the great Hollywood director, made this film with a crew which flew many combat missions to do so. As a result, while he suffered severe loss of hearing in one of his ears which, I believe, did return eventually. Wyler's great film "The Best Years of Our Lives" was made after the war which had personal resonance for him due to his own experiences.
Words fail utterly when attempting to describe the caliber of the men who had the courage to fly those missions. 👨✈️
Love when the crew is getting introduced. Makes me so proud of our boys!
Absolutely love the vintage footage. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
The Memphis Belle was NOT the first US bomber to complete 25 missions. That distinction goes to a B-24 nicknamed “Hot Stuff” a couple months earlier. The plane was on its way back to the United States when it crashed killing all but the tail gunner. On the aircraft at the time of the crash was General Mike Andrews. He was heading back to the US for a promotion when he was killed. He was to head the European Theater of Operations. After Andrews death General Dwight D. Eisenhower was given that position and the rest is history.
bomb = boy........bomb = woman
She was the first US bomber to complete 25 missions with all of her crew members
Anyone hyped for Master Of The Air that centers on the 8th Air Force
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this "Story Video".
And here I thought that I knew everything published regarding the "Memphis Belle"...
I learned to speak as a child repeating the narration of this video as a child in the 80s. I happened to stumble upon it today and found myself reciting it again after so many years. Great story brought from unfortunate times. So many more from that era go untold. Those airmen (both sides) deserve to be known.
What's interesting about this documentary is thanks to a German U-boat, Wyler's sound equipment went to the bottom of the Atlantic so when the crew was back in the US doing their war bond tour, he had them swing by hollywood so he could record their voices.
I had this on VHS as a kid. Oh, my god...
Glad she is restored and safe for all to see at the Air Force Museum in Dayton OH.
Filmed at my local air-base RAF Alconbury Huntingdon England. Great to see.
👍
I thought the 91st were at RAF Bassingbourne. I must be mistaken then
@@obvious-troll The church in the background is Great Stukeley. I think they moved to Bourne or Bassingbourn.
Amazing to see the Memphis Belle in flight over your beautiful countryside.
It rests near me now, at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. It and other famous war birds are on display there at the museum, a great place to visit.
Those American aircrews had nuts of steel. And what an aircraft that B17 was. Many young men died, but a great many owe their lives to that beautiful fortress, as she was capable of limping back home with her crew even after sustaining massive damage.
Thank you for showing this
Thank you for watching Peter
I just wish I could thank those brave men.
my father received the signed book by the author who was a friend of his. my father also flew B17s during WW2.
and gabreski flew the fighter plane protecting my fathers bomber plane. my father was in good company.
*Watched the Hollywood version , now the true story!* 👍
And boy was it cold up there . Aircrew got severe frost bite . Some aircrew would take blood pressure pills just to be able to complete their tours . So many stories from those guys .
Now she proudly sits beautifully restored in the Wright Patterson Airforce Base Museum in Ohio. Got to see her in 2018. I got chills standing in the presence of a an actual combat aircraft. I've gotten to see both the Enola Gay and Bockscar. The atomic bombers didn't have the chill factor, but still amazing to see since they helped end the war.
It's May 7 today. Tomorrow is the 78th anniversary of VE Day, lest we forget. I have a version of this on VHS and its a lot more grainy, they have done a magnificent job of restoration to a film the so rightly deserves it.
👍🙏
the Memphis Belle ? what a legend !
31:26 someone commented on IMDB that his father was that B-17 pilot that made the emergency landing.
Decades later he and his father saw the movie of the same name; understandably he was not amused with the way the movie depicted that final mission.
Brilliant footage
Those guys had balls of steel.
Yes they did
The first time I flew in a 17, Aluminum Overcast, and it dawned on me there’s a mere 1/8” of sheet metal between me and a 20mm round, my stomach dropped. Suddenly, all at once, it hit me just how large those steel balls were. I’m honestly shocked those 4 large radials could lift that many massive balls off the ground, WITH a bomb load. Hell, I’d bet you could just drop their balls on an enemy city and come damn close to crushing it.
They were ordinary men doing an extraordinary job, with quite courage, in spite of the fear they may of felt. Every WW2 veteran i met had a dignity about them.
@@c1ph3rpunk great comment,and thanks for the laugh brother😄
@@JohnnyRocker2162 very true
The Memphis bell was not the first to complete 25 missions. That honor goes to Teggi Ann then another B-24 made the 25 missions, Memphis Bell was the third bomber to do so. Sadly Teggi Ann Crashed on her way back to the US for the War bonds tour.
You mean the Memphis BELLE?
agree on the b-24 .. one this .. one that. All PR lies like everything else
Just 0.025 gauge aluminium sheet fuselage, between the aircrews and enemy cannon shells/flak steel splinters.
And it’s cold too, touch it at even 7000’ and it’s cold. I can’t even imagine it at 30,000’.
@@c1ph3rpunk
A bit like being stuck on the summit of Mt. Everest for 8hrs.🥶
Chilling combats😬
Humbled to have been close family friends with a B-17 copilot and his wife growing up in the 90s. He was shot down over Holland in early 1944, suffered severe back injuries landing unfortunately in his parachute. Was a prisoner of war and was taken care of by other Allied airmen until American troops liberated the camp over a year later.
Good from a different perspective.
A perfect example of good over evil. Makes me proud of Americans and that generation.
And sad at many youth today would be ok with socialism and be wards of the state and take your property and fruits of your labor as long as they had internet, all in the name of ‘equality’….
Here! here!
When I was a kid Al my friend grew up watching cartoons and admiring superhero, celebrities and sport start, meanwhile I grew up watching WW2 movies and documentaries and admiring WW2 heroes.
Currently I am half way through college and if it’s in god’s plan after finishing collage I will apply to the Air Force or the Navy as an officer
So all the other nations that fought Nazi Germany did f all did they? Typical blinkered yank view point. Treating history like it's a Saturday morning cartoon. Do you think Venom was the German chancellor?
La historia de este avión y su tripulación de Memphis Belle B17 es como muchos jóvenes tripulantes dejaron su vida en esas incursiones aéreas para bombardear objetivos alemanes también decir de los pilotos germanos que también cayeron en esas batallas del aire .
Ricardo Alegria Zambrano Popayan cauca Colombia
That was war. Better this, than a world under dictatorship.
excellent
Thanks!
Deberían traducir las al español para entender su grandeza en combate aéreo.
thank you Memphies Bells
Gostei m legal muita aventura e adrenalina valeu!!!
Was at bassingbourn once upon a time they had the propeller as Gate guard I think
British / American Bomber Boys , and German U - Boot Sailors , suffered the Worst Attrition of Any Services.
My Biggest Respect for these young men.
I don't know how those U-boat crews kept their sanity.
fernando fernandez siempre me gusto la Historia de Memphis Belle en español seria mejor para escuchar lo que habla la tripulacion es una gran pelicula
Wow I can see it a lot clearer now. Can you do The fight for the sky next?
Jose Ferrer just has a cool voice.
Old Bill was a helluva resilient plane. Chills watching this documentary. Bless those brave souls.
Anyone know how to download a copy of this without a premium subscription?
This is a brilliant documentary and all shot in colour- fascinating insight into the mighty 8th...
BUT ABSOLUTELY SPOILT AND SATURATED WITH ADVERTS EVERY 2MINS.. find this else where or give it a miss...
Perhaps you are not aware that you have options…If you have TH-cam Premium, for example, you will never see an ad ever again.
The name "THE GREATEST GENERATION" has never been more deserving..they were so young and yet they fought like men ..the average life expectancy of a bomber crew was 5 weeks , the average for a fighter pilot was 5days.. and still they went up day after night till they ether died or went home..we are the home of the free because of the brave!!.♥️🇺🇸🇺🇦
7:50 Royal Flush ... is that the same plane that survived the Munster raid?
Compare and contrast this superb documentary with the trash Hollywood movie of a few years ago -it was pathetic. Here you can cut the tension on the crews faces with a knife, its a superb piece of work !
Actually the actual pilots had to go to Hollywood to redo their actual voices and soundeffects were added this a a non audio motion camara camara
Pin points on a map that mean Rubber, Guns, Ball Bearings, Shells, Engines, Planes, Tanks.....T A R G E T S!
All American bomber crews were death-defying heros !!! 👍👍👍
And those Asiatic black pilots who saved there asses.
Muy buena.
この映画は最高の爆撃機マニュアルである。
저들의 용기와 헌신이 있었기에 오늘의 우리가 있다...
Cuando veremos la serie MASTER OF THE AIR en nuestras pantallas...vamos TOM HANK ..
The pilot came back to USA and then join the wing flying B29 to bomb Japan. A brave man indeed.
Special delivery to the Third Reich. Well done allied powers!
Forever gratuful!
ironic this has shown up on my feed , i am uploading a vlog tomorrow as i found a story and possibly the legend who inspired the making of the movie , i found my self in some woods just off an old RAF site in Wing about 4miles from my home in Bletchley ( yes of bletchley park fame ) anyhow , this is the spot where Manny Klette deliberately crashed his B17 Flying Fortress into the woods to save the lives of himself and his crew , out of fuel and all engines out , smashing that 20tonne aircraft into the trees ay 130mph .
สงครามในยุกไหนคราฟค์ คงไม้ใช้ชีนุกที่ถามญี่ปุ่น
Looking at B-17 stories an British mosquitoes, wondering if B-17 was a mistake? Mosquitoes had 2 engines instead of 4 so twice as many mosquitoes could be made. Mosquitoes only required crew of 2 vs B-17 crew of 10, making 5 time kill rate if downed. Mosquitoes were really fast an made of wood making them hard to spot with radar. Mosquitoes were way smaller making them easier an cheaper, lower production time to build but smaller target than B-17. Should allies have had huge fleets of mosquitos, an dumped slow B-17 targets?
There's always an argument over heavy bombers versus medium and light bombers. But while the Mosquito was fast that obvious burned a lot of fuel and to get the maximum range out of one the cruising speed was 190 mph. Also with no defensive armament ( okay you could use fighter-bomber versions but the bomb load was obviously a lot smaller and of course they only had fixed forward firing guns ) they would rely more heavily on fighter cover and would be sitting ducks if overwhelmed by enemy fighters.
10 men vs 2 in mosquito, 2 engines use half as much fuel as 4 engines. Less time making with less materials in mosquito. I see all kinds of advantages an mosquitos were not arms in beginning but armed in later models! More I think about comparisons, B-17 was big mistake!?
The real story behind the movie of the same name. While the movie was entertaining it didn’t need embellishment.
Im not gonna lie, "the royal flush" sounds like my kind of bomber crew. I want to find out what happened to it now.
Respects to the crews Owned the Lithographic Print，signed by the Pilot “Homeward Bound” once before fungus got it
Burt Lancaster is a great narrator.
This True WW2 Famous Legendary USAAF Surviving B17G Flying Fortress Heavy Bomber Memphis Belle as the Most Successful in completing All 29 missions
Actually , the Memphis Belle is a B17F, the G model had the chin turret, but your sentiment is smack on.
Não imaginava que enviavam bombardeiros sem bombas apenas como isca. Para mim se atacavam alvos simultâneos.
Dope ass video fr fr
Una historia que hay que tener muy presente
Too bad it was semi abandoned for many years outside in the memphis area,,vandalized etc,,
Where were most of the B17 based in the UK.
Poderia dublar para o portugues.
Sadly none of the other crews in the 91st Bomb Group that flew with Memphis Belle on her final mission would survive their tours.
Bless them
@@Dronescapes Yes it really puts into perspective just how the odds of surviving were heavily against both the 8th AF and our own RAF bomber crews. In addition to enemy action bad weather, mechanical failure, human error and faulty ordnance could spell doom for a bomber crew. The amazing thing is that anyone could survive the nightmare they endured.
日本語訳がかなり変
I don't want to watch to the end. Pity the pilots.
So many precious lives lost because of one diabolical COWARD-
Yet the youth of today are fighting among themselves with their own sexual identities 🙈🙈🙈 these brave men and women gave the tomorrows for our todays 😢
Ummm that goes back long befor ww2 the great Alexander had homo relationships , and julisus ceaser had relationships with men.... sometimes to do research befor you leave gender identity comments,,,,some of the high up nazis was homo.s.
Here after watch Masters of Air series(2024)
And this is the real deal
cool
Keren❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😮😮😮😮😮
Ist one very good bomber aircraft
А Наши деды прадеды воевали от начала и до конца войны. А тут 25 и домой.Умора.
In the first two years of the war, losses were hellish and almost nobody managed to complete 25 missions. The average life expectancy was 13 missions.
7:47 hehe that was pretty scandalous to public audiences in 1944
❤
The memphis belle was shot down by ground fire from the german youth group who chopped up the airplane and sent the pieces to German aircraft companies making the fighters for Hitler.
Que distintos esos jóvenes a los jóvenes actuales , generación de cristal o copito de nieve
This seems more like an old Disney show🤔
Did the Germans have funny cartoonish art on their planes or is this lack of humor banned in autocratic empires?
Probably simple lack to humor. Watch this if you have time: th-cam.com/users/live7OqK_kVIcJY?feature=share
Vat is dis humour you speak about? 😀
@@christopherwelch136 If you have time, watch this interview about "Nose art". Owen Hughes' laugh is contagious, and his stories of WWII are very interesting: th-cam.com/users/live7OqK_kVIcJY?feature=share
Most Probably Centuries of Strict Military Traditions behind them ...
Germans? Humor?
Now that’s funny.
❤❤❤❤❤❤ 😊
Un claro homenaje a la infamia.
A aquellos que bombardeaban a fábricas y también a civiles.
No nos olvidemos de lo que hacían los ingleses por la noche. 😡
The movie does not show the role of the British Lancaster bombers, which is unfair.
Well, it IS an American made documentary about a specific B17 Flying Fortress. Why would it mention the Avro Lancaster?
The British, who did fight bravely, didn't suffer near the aerial losses that the USAAF did. And like the man said, this movie is about the Memphis Belle. As a Matter of fact, if it hadn't been for the USAAF, you would likely be a German subject now.
@@stargazer5784 "The British, who did fight bravely, didn't suffer near the aerial losses that the USAAF did"
RAF Bomber Command losses: 55,000 KIA
USAAF 8th Air Force: 26,000 KIA
RAF Bomber Command fatality rate: 44.4%
USAAF 8th Air Force fatality rate: 7.42%
Also how would Britain be German when they won the Battle of Britain and had a overwhelming naval advantage?
アメリカにそんな偉そうな事を言えわれる筋合い無し
🇺🇸😁😍
Que feo eso
Ya fine rotated out after 25 missions while our dad's did over 50 interesting
Your dad flew over 50 where? Vietnam? As bad as Vietnam was, it was a cakewalk compared to WW2.
This was out of foggia Italy b24 according to his flight diary three were overpolesti
LEAVE IT TO THE AMERICANS TO COME UP WITH THE CONCEPT OF A "DOUBLE ACE".
i wonder how many german children and women this marvelous machine fryed back in the day, a few thousands for sure.
Far less than the number of jews they fried on their disgusting camps. They had it coming. War is hell.
Dear Nazi Germany: Play stupid games, win stupid prizes
You might ask the same of the SS and the luftwaffe. Also let's not forget the evil use of the V-1 rocket over England designed to strike terror in the cities citizens. There IS enough blame to go around
ถ้วยภารกิจ.12ครั้งถ้าคุณทำสำเร็จทั้งหมดคุณก็จะได้กลับบ้านไปหาครอบครัวที่รักที่พวกเขารอคุณอยู่