Description
Object description
American documentary film following the B-17 Flying Fortress 'Memphis Belle' on ostensibly its last mission over Wilhelmshaven in May 1943. The aircraft are loaded up, the crews briefed and blessed by the Chaplain. The group takes off and a detailed explanation with maps is provided of the day's raid on the submarine bases at Wilhelmshafen with major diversions over Hanover. The Flying Fortresses flying at about 30,000' cross the German coast and encounter heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter attacks. There is excellent air-to-air combat Footage. The bombs are dropped and the bombers turn for home where the groundcrews are seen waiting for them and counting the returning aircraft - only 30 out of 36 return. The Memphis Belle returns late but the crew can now return to the States to train new crews. The film ends with each member of the crew being awarded the DFC and official visits by the King and Queen and senior generals.
Full description
REEL 1: Title credits. Scenes of English countryside, church and farmland. B-17F Flying Fortresses of the 322nd Bomb Squadron (including 42-5178, nicknamed 'The Old Stand By') on hardstanding. Ground crewmen carrying out maintenance, cleaning and refuelling of B-17 Flying Fortresses. Scenes of bomb dump, and ordnance depot workers loading 500lb demolition bombs onto trailer. Ground crewmen, including one playing a harmonica, riding atop the bombs on a trailer as they are carried to a B-17 Flying Fortress. Armorers preparing 500lb demolition bombs. Interior scenes of officers- pilots, navigators and bombardiers- receiving mission briefing from Colonel Stanley Wray, providing information on the target: Wilhelmshaven, and heavy bomber formations. Close up of bomber formations on blackboard consisting of Lead Squadron: Barton (Captain Bruce D Barton) , Bader (1st Lieutenant Donald C Bader), Beasley (1st Lieutenant William D Beasley), Hardin (Captain John T Hardin), Green (1st Lieutenant Hilton A Green), Kahl (2nd Lieutenant Paul D Kahl), High Squadron: Clancy, Birdsong (Colonel George P Birdsong Jr), Silvernail (Charles Silvernail), Baird, Giauque (Captain Charles R Giauque), Kethler, Low Squadron: Morgan (Captain Robert K Morgan), Lay, Weitzenfeld (Colonel Richard W Weitzenfeld), Riley (First Lieutenant Earl F Riley), Brown, Wheeler (Lieutenant William H Wheeler), Crumm (Captain William J Crumm), Clothier, Anderson, Cox, Jackson, Smith, Frank, Cliburn (Captain Charles E Cliburn). Officers taking notes during briefing, synchonising watches and then departing briefing room. Interior scene of airmen receiving blessing from Chaplain in the station chapel. Ground crew loading bombs into the bomb bay of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Air crew of 'Memphis Belle' riding on a jeep across the hardstanding at Bassingbourn, and walking to the nose of the aircraft. Shots of Captain Robert Morgan, pilot of 'Memphis Belle' giving a pep talk to his crew before they climb aboard the aircraft. Close up shots of B-17 Flying Fortress engine starting up and rippling grass in front of a Douglas Boston at Bassingbourn. Close up of the pinup artwork and mission markings on the port nose of 'The Memphis Belle'. Shot of trees and grass rippling at a farm on the edge of the airfield. Scenes of B-17F Flying Fortresses including (DF-K 42-29487, nicknamed "Ritzy Blitz") taxying and lining up for take-off in front of the G Type hangars at Bassingbourn. Montage of B-17 Flying Fortresses nose art and names including: 42-2990 nicknamed 'Dame Satan' of the 322nd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, 42-30343 nicknamed "Hitler's Gremlin" of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, 42-3085 nicknamed 'Helno-Gal' of the 331st Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb group, 42-5132 nicknamed 'Royal Flush!' of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, 42-29727 nicknamed 'In Der Fuehrer's Face' of the 331st Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group, 42-29673 nicknamed 'Old Bill' of the 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, 42-3053 nicknamed 'Desperate Journey' of the 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group. Montage of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group and 305th Bomb Group taking off, including 41-24485 nicknamed 'Memphis Belle'. The undercarriage of a B-17 Flying Fortress, shot from the Ball Turret, as the aircraft takes off. Aerial scenes of B-17 Flying Fortresses flying over British countryside, stately homes, towns and Bassingbourn airfield. Air to air shots of B-17 Flying Fortresses flying in formation. Interior shots of the crew of 'Memphis Belle' flying the aircraft, including pilots Captain Robert Morgan and Captain Jim Verinis, Radio Operator: Sergeant Robert Hanson, Navigator: Captain Charles Leighton, Engineer: Sergeant Harold Loch, Tail Gunner: Sergeant John Quinlan, Ball Turret Gunner: Sergeant Cecil Scott, Bombardier: Captain Vincent Evans, Waist Gunners: Sergeant Clarence Winchell and Sergeant Casimer Nastall. Air to air shots of B-17 Flying Fortresses flying in formation, including shots taken from inside the aircraft. Aerial scene of a formation of B-17s flying over the English coast. Montage of interior scenes of the crew at work inside 'Memphis Belle' and the B-17 Flying Fortress formations visible from the aircraft. Shots of contrails. Series of annotated graphic maps of Europe identifying Wilhelmshaven, German aerial defences, and outlining the flight plans of 8th Air Force Bomber Command for the combat mission.
Content description
REEL 2: Air to air shots of B-17 Flying Fortresses flying in formation during combat mission. Interior shots of Captain Robert Morgan donning a steel helmet inside 'Memphis Belle'. Aerial shot of Lorient, France (described in the voice over as the 'German coast'). Aerial shots of countryside interspersed with interior shots of 'Memphis Belle' crew. Sequence of flak bursts. Aerial shot of submarine pens at Wilhelmshaven. Air to air shots of thick clouds of flak bursts. Air to air shots of B-17 Flying Fortress formations opening their bomb bay doors. Captain Robert Morgan and Captain Vincent Evans at work inside 'Memphis Belle'. Aerial shots of flak bursting over Wilhelmshaven. Sequence of waist gunners inside 'Memphis Belle attacking German fighters, air to air shots of a German fighter aircraft and aerial shots of Wilhelmshaven intercut with shots of Captain Vincent Evans trying to operate the Norden bomb site inside 'Memphis Belle'. Shaky footage of flak bursts and a B-17 Flying Fortress with a damaged engine. Interior scenes of Captain Vincent Evans positioning the Norden bomb site, and Captain Robert Morgan piloting 'Memphis Belle' intercut with aerial shots of Wilhelmshaven and Lorient. Sequence of B-17 Flying Fortresses releasing their bomb loads and 500lb bombs falling and bursting over Lorient, Saint Nazaire, Wilhelmshaven and Rennes (the film implies that Wilhelmshaven is the sole target). Captain Vincent Evans giving an 'OK' hand sign, indicating bombing completed. Aerial shot of smoke clouds caused by bombs over a target (possibly Saint Nazaire). Air to air shots of B-17 Flying Fortresses flying away from smoking targets. Low air to air shot of B-17 Flying Fortress closing its bomb bay doors. Pilots and waist gunners looking out for German fighters from inside 'Memphis Belle'. Shaky sequence of combat footage of German fighter aircraft attacking B-17 Flying Fortress formation inter cut with shots of waist gunners firing back at attackers from inside 'Memphis Belle. Shots of B-17 Flying Fortress crashing and some of the crew bailing out. Shaky combat footage of aerial gunners attacking German fighters, a German fighter aircraft getting shot down and an interior shot of Ball Turret rotating inside 'Memphis Belle'. Air to air footage of a B-17 Flying Fortress with a damaged engine falling out of formation and flying through flak before fading to black. Scenes of ground crewmen waiting for the aircraft to return at Bassingbourn, some tossing horseshoes, smoking cigarettes and fixing bicycles. Shot of female personnel using binoculars in front of the control tower at Bassingbourn to look out for aircraft. Air to ground shot of B-17 Flying Fortress formation dropping coloured flares, indicating wounded men on board. Ground crew watch B-17 Flying Fortress land at Bassingbourn. Ambulance driving across the airfield to meet the aircraft. Shots of air crew disembarking from their aircraft including an airman with bandaged eyes. Wounded airmen being stretchered into ambulances including one with 'shock' and internal injuries from a 20mm cannon shell explosion, one injured by shrapnel, one with a wounded leg, and one who has died of wounds. Interior shots of a flight surgeon administering a blood transfusion to an injured waist gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress. Montage of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group and 305th Bomb Group returning to base, some with battle damage, or feathered engines, including 41-24617 'Southern Comfort' of the 364th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group. Interior shots of air traffic control personnel at work in the control Tower at Bassingbourn. Shots of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 305th Bomb Group making a bumpy landing. Montage of battle damaged parts of B-17 Flying Fortresses including a close up of the damaged nose of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-2990 nicknamed 'Dame Satan' of the 322nd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, reversed shot of the damaged tail of 41-9023 nicknamed 'Yankee Doodle' of the 91st Bomb Group, the damaged tail of 42-29699 of the 94th Bomb Group intercut with shots of air crew smiling and joking after the mission. Interior and exterior shots of B-17 Flying Fortress of 42-29673 nicknamed 'Old Bill' of the 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, showing the extent of the damage the aircraft sustained (the aircraft received a 20mm cannon shot to the nose on a mission over Wangerooge on 15 May 1943). Scenes of air crew conversing by their aircraft after a mission. Interior shot of Colonel Stanley Wray inside the Control Tower at Bassingbourn, holding binoculars ostensibly looking out for the return of the last flight of aircraft. Crew members aboard 'Memphis Belle' celebrating their final mission. Aerial shots of Bassingbourn airfield, taken from inside 'Memphis Belle', while buzzing the control tower. Shots of the undercarriage and silhouette of B-17 Flying Fortress landing at Bassingbourn (voice over implies the aircraft is 'Memphis Belle' while the aircraft shown touching down is from the 305th Bomb Group). Shots of 'Memphis Belle' taxying around an airfield and crew waving from inside and atop the aircraft. Crew of 'Memphis Belle' disembarking, one of them kissing the ground and Captain Robert Morgan and Captain Jim Verenis shaking hands with the others, before they boost Morgan up to touch the aircraft's nose art. Ground crewman painting the 25th mission marker on the nose of 'Memphis Belle'. Brigadier General Haywood Hansell, awarding the crew of 'Memphis Belle' the Distinguished Flying Cross. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth congratulating the air and ground crew of 'Memphis Belle' (18 May 1943). General Ira C Eaker and General Jacob L Devers attending a farewell ceremony for the crew of 'Memphis Belle' (10 June 1943). Shot off 'Memphis Belle' taking off from, and flying over the control tower at Bassingbourn, ostensibly on its return to the United States of America before fading to black. Annotated graphic map of Europe indicating the air routes the 8th Air Force have used to bomb Germany fading to reconnaissance photo showing bomb damaged to an industrial area. End credits
Physical description
35mm
