Was the movie Memphis Belle true?
Based on a true story, the film concerns the famous B-17 bomber Memphis Belle, which delivered 25 successful missions before the plane and its sterling crew retired from the skies. The entire action of the story takes place just before and during the Memphis Belle’s last mission.
What is the Memphis Belle famous for?
Of the 12,750 B-17s produced, Memphis Belle is famous for being the first Eighth Air Force bomber to complete 25 combat missions over occupied Europe without a crewman being killed and returning to the United States.
What happened to Margaret Polk?
Margaret Polk died of cancer at her home on April 5, 1990, just after this story was published. She was 67.
Are there any members of the Memphis Belle crew still alive?
Robert Hanson, the last surviving member of the storied Memphis Belle B-17 bomber crew, which was the first to fly 25 bombing missions in Europe during World War II, has died. Hanson, the radio operator of the famed aircraft, died Oct. …
Where were the crew of the Memphis Belle from?
The young men assigned to the Memphis Belle represented a typical Eighth Air Force heavy bomber crew. They ranged in age from 19 to 26 and came from states across the US, including Washington, Indiana, Texas, and Connecticut.
Where was the Memphis Belle built?
The actual Memphis Belle, a Boeing-built B-17F-10-BO, serial 41-24485, was delivered in September 1942 to the 91st Bomb Group at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. It deployed to Prestwick, Scotland, on September 30, 1942, and then to its permanent base at Bassingbourn, England, on October 14.
What happened to Robert Morgan?
After completing his European tour, Morgan flew another 26 combat missions in the B-29 Superfortress against Japan in the Pacific Theater….
| Robert K. Morgan | |
|---|---|
| Died | May 15, 2004 (aged 85) Asheville, North Carolina |
| Buried | Western Carolina Veterans Cemetery Swannanoa, North Carolina |
What is the story of Memphis Belle?
Memphis Belle is a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress used during the Second World War that inspired the making of two motion pictures: a 1944 documentary film, Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress, and a 1990 Hollywood feature film, Memphis Belle. The aircraft was one of the first United States Army Air Forces…
When did Memphis Belle crash?
Five airworthy B-17s were used in the filming of the 1990 British-American war drama film Memphis Belle, two from the US (N-17W – now on display in Seattle and Movie Memphis Belle 44-83546), B-17G Sally B from the UK and two French geographic survey B-17Gs, one of which crashed on take-off near the end of filming.
Who was the pilot of the Memphis Belle?
In 1996, Colonel Robert K. Morgan, pilot of the original Memphis Belle, received the opportunity to fly in this aircraft, while she served with the Georgia Air National Guard ‘s 116th Bomb Wing at Robins AFB , Georgia.
Who was the crew of the Memphis Belle?
The crew for the Memphis Belle are as follows: Pilot: Captain Robert K. Morgan. Co-pilot: Captain James A. Verinis. Navigator: Captain Charles B. Leighton. Bombardier: Captain Vincent B. Evans.