I am continuing to write my book on aviation films and have three questions about the 1990 ‘Memphis Belle’ film which I hope you can help me with i.e.
1) In one scene in the DVD a crew member of the Belle says ‘SNAFU – Situation Normal’. I am sure you all know what SNAFU stands for. My recollection is that in the actual cinema release the crew member says ‘SNAFU-Situation Normal All ********d up but this was edited out for video /DVD releases. Can anyone confirm what I say is correct?
2) According to various magazines written at the time of the filming (1989) there were at that time 11 airworthy B-17s in the world. 8 in the USA,2 in France one in the UK. However on ‘You Tube’ you can see a BBC news report of the crash at Binbrook of F-BEAA. At the end the commentator says that there are now 13 airworthy B-17s left i.e. there were 14 before the crash. So how many airworthy B-17s were there in the world before the Binbrook crash – 11 or 14?
3) None of the film aircraft had machine guns actually fitted in the nose perspex. But photos of the real 1943 ‘Memphis Belle’ shows two 0.50s mounted at different positions in the nose perspex. I have also seen photos of some B-17Fs with twin machine guns projecting from the exact centre of the nose perspex. Were either of these factory modifications or were they done in the field? Also did the twin mount use 50s or 30s?
Thanks for your help. Colin
By: MN138 - 27th May 2016 at 11:42
3) None of the film aircraft had machine guns actually fitted in the nose perspex. But photos of the real 1943 ‘Memphis Belle’ shows two 0.50s mounted at different positions in the nose perspex. I have also seen photos of some B-17Fs with twin machine guns projecting from the exact centre of the nose perspex. Were either of these factory modifications or were they done in the field? Also did the twin mount use 50s or 30s?
I think the mounting for extra nose guns was included on certain productions of the B17 at a factory level.
However the twin gun modification were done in the field usually utilising 50 calibres.
By: bradleygolding - 27th May 2016 at 09:09
I seem to recall that the whole crew in unison repeated the meaning!
Steve
By: DazDaMan - 27th May 2016 at 09:03
I am continuing to write my book on aviation films and have three questions about the 1990 ‘Memphis Belle’ film which I hope you can help me with i.e.
1) In one scene in the DVD a crew member of the Belle says ‘SNAFU – Situation Normal’. I am sure you all know what SNAFU stands for. My recollection is that in the actual cinema release the crew member says ‘SNAFU-Situation Normal All ********d up but this was edited out for video /DVD releases. Can anyone confirm what I say is correct?
Funnily enough, I had a recollection of that being in one version of the film that I saw, but after a while I thought I had possibly imagined it, since the VHS and DVD version didn’t have it. However, the blu-ray release that I have DOES have the full line in it.
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May 27, 2016 at 7:30 am