Hi all,

Yesterday on TV I saw a film with that name.

The film is about that aircraft - a bomber of 8th Air Force -, used during WWII for daylight bombing of Germany and according to the film the first one to complete 25 missions.

I known very little about aircrafts and haven't been able to identify it. It's big, it has about 10 crewmembers - pilot, co pilot, navigator, radio operator, bomber and several MG mounts - nose, upper, belly, two wings and tail.

Any of the AC expert knows that aircraft and can identify it for me.

TIA

Jose,
I'm not an expert, but I believe the Memphis Belle is a Boeing B-17F. The film was a documentary made during the war. I believe the air crews were told they could rotate home after completing 25 combat missions. That was no easy feat considering what they went through. The plane has been restored and is located in Memphis, Tenn. I saw it a couple years ago when I was passing through the city.

Cob

Everything you could possibly want to know about the Ole M.B. can be learned right here:
The Memphis Belle, B17

And just for fun, does anyone know how she got her name?

Yeah: I think that i read somewhere that is was named after one of the Crew Members Girlfriends. Who was from Memphis. Right?? Or soemthing like that. BTW Ken; Are you familiar with the Tamiiya Hummer w M242 Bushmaster ?? Kit

Dagger-1

The plane in the movie is indeed a B-17, as Cob said. Here's a few links about the Belle;
Memphis Belle info
MemphisBelle.com

YodaMan

Indeedio, she was named after her commander Capt. Morgan. She was his sweetheart in Memphis whom he had affections for. Funny thing, not that funny, happened though, after completing the 25 missions he and his crew were asked to tour the states as sort of a moral/publicity boosting. Well, while on this tour he (Capt. Morgan) was photographed kissing another woman. His sweetheart saw the photo and called off the marriage plans.

Hi,

Thanks guys. I'll check those links.

Yes, the name has been given because of the captain's girlfriend.

Dagger, I built the Hum. w/Bushmaster back in 1988. It was the first kit I experimented with preshading on. Other than that, I don't much recall the building part.

Jose,
There are two films titled "Memphis Belle". The original is a black and white documentary with contemporary footage and commentary. The other is a Hollywood (early 1990's) drama based on the story others have referenced. Much dramatic license was taken in the individual stories of the crew members but much very good flight scenes and excellent special effects.

Hi,

The film I refered is the Hollywood version not the documentary.

I'm really sure that it was a B-17E not an f the movie is not entirely acurate as the bomber finished all 25 missions without that kind of damage depicted in the movie Hollywood put that in as "spice"

no, your right its an F..............oops #:-)

:-) Definately an F, Monogram did a 1/48 kit of the Bell. :-)
Mal