I just got back from the preview of Memphis Belle. I went with my Father, who is a former B-17 crew member (radio operator), and there were a few other crew members in the audience also. I noticed emotional reactions from all of them. The film is about the last mission of the Memphis Belle, which was the first B-17 to complete a 25 mission tour of duty in the European theater of WWII. The film is very well done. Their mission was to Bremen in the film, although I think that the actual last mission of the Memphis Belle was to Wilhelmshaven. The names of the crew members apparently were changed also.

The attention to detail was a lot better than I had expected. The crew, and commanding officers has the correct "wings" on their uniforms, the radio room on the B-17 had the correct radios, the antenna relay in the proper place, and even the (radio) control cables connected. (Something I have been complaining about to the crew of "Sentimental Journey" for several years.) The markings on the plane were accurate also, which is better than I can say for the actual Memphis Belle sitting at the Memphis airport. They used some models in the film, The German "bandits" were models, and one B-17 that was cut in half by a bandit was obviously a model. Otherwise, a lot of stock footage was used. (which was OK, much of it was surprisingly clear and good quality), although one sequence was B & W, and grainy, but this added to the film, as it was obviously authentic. There was one sequence of a one wheel landing in the beginning, which I am curious as to how it was done. It didn't look like it was a model, but the plane explodes. I am sure they didn't blow up a real '17, and it does look suspisously like a scene in an old B & W movie I have taped, (12 O'clock high?) but the camera angles were different. Perhaps they zoomed in on it and colorized it, but I don't think so. The landing gear plot device at the end was a little contrived, but well done. At least they had the switch in the right place, as opposed to the "Amazing Stories" B-17 story where they had the gear switch where the mag compass should be. There was a round of applause from the audience at the end of the movie.

I give it 2 thumbs up. I will definitely go see it again, and buy the video when it comes out.

I am looking to complete my B-17 radio room collection. If anyone knows where I can get any of the following items drop me a line.

ARC-5 high frequency receiver
BC-375 Liason Transmitter
Tu-22 Tuning Units.
APX-2 IFF
ARC-5 control cables.

Disclaimer: My ultimate goal in aviation is a B-17 type rating.

Chris Coffin
coffin@xroads.UUCP
coffin@xroads.CTS.COM

In article 1127@xroads.UUCP
> coffin@xroads.UUCP (Chris Coffin) writes:
> There was
>one sequence of a one wheel landing in the beginning, which I am
>curious as to how it was done. It didn't look like it was a
>model, but the plane explodes. I am sure they didn't blow up a

Several years ago in a Honeywell publication there was an article about how Honeywell Microswitch helped some B17 operators install a mod that would allow them to extend just one of the main landing gears. (or both too :-)

They wanted to have a one wheel landing routine for the airshows.

"Yankee Flying Club ... a real | Timothy Aanerud member own club ... " Al Peterman | Honeywell Commercial Flight Systems | Makers of Laser Gyro IRU's N45.07.9 W93.16.6 | tima@cfsmo.honeywell.com

For some of the shooting of this film, the B-17's were was based at Duxford airfield, the home of the Cambridge University Gliding Club. I don't think they actually filmed at Duxford, but several mornings our flying was suspended whilst five B-17's, a camera aircraft, and two or three fighters formed up on the end of the runway, 20 plus engines running up 50 yards from the launch point - the noise was phenomenal.

Every night the B-17's were repainted with new names (different on both sides) and I am fairly certain at least two Memphis Belle's took off together on one occasion.

Geoff Brown G.B.D.Brown@stl.stc.co.uk

From: coffin@xroads.UUCP (Chris Coffin)
Subject: Re: Memphis Belle (spoilers)
Date: 9 Oct 90 00:48:00 GMT

Geoff Brown (gbb@stl.stc.co.uk) writes:

 For some of the shooting of this film, the B-17's were was based at Duxford
> airfield, the home of the Cambridge University Gliding Club.  I don't think
> they actually filmed at Duxford, but several mornings our flying was suspended
> whilst five B-17's, a camera aircraft, and two or three fighters formed up on
> the end of the runway, 20 plus engines running up 50 yards from the launch
> point - the noise was phenomenal.

You lucky dog you!

Where did they come up with 5 B-17's? I thought there were only about 7 operational ones in the world, and at least 4 of those are in the United States. (Sentimental Journey, Phx AZ, Chuckie, Dallas TX, N17W, Seattle Washington, and Texas Raiders, Harlingen TX. I just remembered Shoo Shoo Baby, Dayton Ohio), So that makes 5 in the U. S. There is one at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson AZ, that they flew in also, but they built a hangar around it, so it's not going anywhere soon.

A couple of other discrepancies I noticed in the film were that the words "Memphis Belle" on the aircraft were painted in a script style writing, and the actual Memphis Belle had the words painted in block lettering. The fighter escourt was made of Mustangs in the Movie, but I think they were still using Thunderbolts at that time. I did notice that the B-17's were all "F" models which was correct for that time.

> Every night the B-17's were repainted with new names (different on both sides)
> and I am fairly certain at least two Memphis Belle's took off together on one
> occasion.

I saw a short interview on TV yesterday with Matthew Modine, who played the pilot in the movie, (the real Memphis Belle pilot was named Morgan, I think.) He said the technical advisor actually had him sit in the left seat of one of the B-17's and fly it for awhile. I AM TOTALLY GREEN WITH ENVY!!!

Chris Coffin
coffin@xroads.UUCP
coffin@xroads.CTS.COM

Tim Aanerud (aanerud@SRC.Honeywell.COM) writes:

 Several years ago in a Honeywell publication there was an article
> about how Honeywell Microswitch helped some B17 operators install
> a mod that would allow them to extend just one of the main landing
> gears. (or both too :-)
> 
> They wanted to have a one wheel landing routine for the airshows.

I have seen Sentimental Journey do this. They haven't done it in the past few years though, because the aircraft is just too valuable and rare to risk an accident.

Chris Coffin (Future B-17 Pilot [I hope])
coffin@xroads.UUCP
coffin@xroads.CTS.COM

In article 1128@xroads.UUCP
> coffin@xroads.UUCP (Chris Coffin) writes:
>
>Where did they come up with 5 B-17's? I thought there were only
>about 7 operational ones in the world, and at least 4 of those
>are in the United States. (Sentimental Journey, Phx AZ, Chuckie,
>Dallas TX, N17W, Seattle Washington, and Texas Raiders,
>Harlingen TX. I just remembered Shoo Shoo Baby, Dayton Ohio), So
>that makes 5 in the U. S. There is one at the Pima Air Museum in
>Tucson AZ, that they flew in also, but they built a hangar
>around it, so it's not going anywhere soon.

There is another one in Oregon, The City of Centralia. It sat in the Corvallis hangar for a couple of weeks, and it was moved to its owner in McMinneville, Evergreen Aviation. Evergreen's new Ford Trimotor also spent time in the Corvallis hangar. It is suspected a new museum will be built for these and many other beauties by Evergreen's founder when he has time...sometime after the end of the current Persian Gulf conflict. You can bet these aircraft will be kept in flying condition.

Evergreen Aviation does a lot of *stuff* for the government--they are also part of the SAC (strategic Air Command).

mpucket@jacobs.cs.orst.edu (Margaret Puckette) writes:

>Evergreen Aviation does a lot of *stuff* for the government--they are also
>part of the SAC (strategic Air Command).

Weren't they once one of the CIA's captive airlines, like the more famous Air America? That's the scuttlebutt around here.

When I took my PP-SEL checkride, I had to fly over to Terre Haute to meet the examiner. When I landed and asked for taxi instructions to where I needed to go I was issued them along with the warning "Remain clear of the white Evergreen 727 on the ramp. It is loading convicts." Sure enough, there were guys with automatic weapons all around the damn thing and a train of convicts going in/out. For those of you who haven't done time for murder or anything, Terre Haute is home to a big federal prison.

There is a flyable B-17 in Geneseo, NY at the warplane museum. I'm pretty sure it is named "Fuddy Duddy", but it is not the original.

I've missed their Wings of Eagles 1941 airshow for the last two years (sacrilige I know), but in 1987 they had seven flyable B-17s there. At one point there were six in the air and one under repair on the ground. Plus a few P-51s and a P-40 flying escort.

Jeff

In article 1129@xroads.UUCP
> coffin@xroads.UUCP (Chris Coffin) writes:
> ...[actually two or three articles]

You said that the "bandits", presumably Me109s, were models. But in the previews I've seen on TV some of the 109s actually appear to be real -- Hisso-engined, Spanish-built 109Gs. There are quite a few of those flying, especially in Europe. So I'm curious, were there actually flying 109s in the movie, or was it all model work?

As to your count of B-17s, you left out EAA's airplane. I'm looking at a picture of it now, so unless they've destroyed it recently there is at least one more in the US. Theirs is a G.

As to whether all B-17s in the movie were Fs, how can you tell? The only obvious difference I know between B-17F and G models, and granted I don't know much, is the chin turret on the G. But not all Gs had them, and Fs were retro-fitted. Whether they were or were not Fs though, at least the film crew went to the trouble to see that they looked like Fs.

Anyway, I plan to see the movie, too. I'm glad to hear that at least one knowledgeable person thinks it's ok.

-- mike

Memphis Belle isn't sitting at any Memphis airport. She is now displayed at the Mud Island in the Mississippi River (at the Memphis waterfront). It is a "hands off" display.

Steve Williams (swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil) writes:
> Memphis Belle isn't sitting at any Memphis airport.  She is now displayed
> at the Mud Island in the Mississippi River (at the Memphis waterfront).
> It is a "hands off" display.

A few years ago a friend of mine from Memphis went back there and said she was at the Airport. (Brought me back a few pictures of her too!) They must have moved her since then. From the pictures I noticed that the markings on the plane were incorrect.

He said when he was a kid, she was sitting on a concrete pedestal, and all the neighborhood kids would climb up inside here and play. He wrote his name inside her somewhere, so I can understand why the display is "hands off".

Have they put the correct markings on her yet? (squadron letters DF A, and tail number 124485)

Chris Coffin
coffin@xroads.CTS.COM