Memphis Belle the film (2005 thread)

Or maybe the pilot was killed by a stray round and the ‘109 inadvertantly hit it?

In the Film the co-pilot shoots a ‘109’ down which slices another B17 (poss Mother and Country) in half. Did this happen or is it Hollywood?
Thanks,
sam

During the Battle of Britain Ray Holmes sliced a Do17 in half with his Hurricane. Needless to say he had to bale out shortly afterwards!!

I’ve always been convinced the whole B-17 being torn in two by a 109 scene was influenced by the story of the B-17 shown in this… It was hit by a 109 that was out of control, nearly sliced through and made it home… Though I could be wrong…

In the Film the co-pilot shoots a ‘109’ down which slices another B17 (poss Mother and Country) in half. Did this happen or is it Hollywood?
Thanks,
sam

…….where the Buchon dives through the formation chased by a P-51,

I certainly recollect quite clearly what a 109 half rolling head-on towards you at close quarters looks like! 😮 😮

Just another comment,I remember them practising the scene where the Buchon dives through the formation chased by a P-51,this was done at quite high altitude over Duxord one evening, the camera ship for that was the Avenger, I remember lying on my back in the field at the M11 end thinking how dangerous it looked.They used models in the end I think.

Memphis Belle

All 5 B17s flew together quite a bit while filming from duxford as did the 3 buchons and mustangs. 7 mustangs on occasions were used

On one of the filming days,all 5 B17’s and the B25 started up and taxied on to the apron,3 genuine American vets appeared from underneath Concorde,by chance they were visiting the museum and had no idea what was happening,they all burst into tears at the sight and sound of this amazing spectacle.The B-25 took off first then the B17’s took off east to west followed by 7 Mustangs and the 3 Buchons,the 5 Forts formed up behind the B-25 and flew back east low over the hangars,followed by the Mustangs in loose formation and the Buchons in a vic.Somewhere in my boxes of slides in the storeroom I have all this on film.
One evening all 5 fortresses flew back in a gaggle from the Newmarket direction,that was a sight that put a lump in the throat, as each one did a low pass and break before finals.
Can’t see anyone gliding out of Wethersfield today,is it too cold?

P 51 escort

P 51s didn’t fly escort in the 15th A.F. until mid 1944

Did anyone notice the bomb aimer ‘Val’ arming his bombs? He unplugs his throatmic goes to the bomb bay arms his bombs then holds the throatmic & tells the captain with the comm cord swinging freely in front of him.

Did anyone notice the white van (out of focus and in the background of one shot) that featured in a scene before they took off?

The film-makers originally wanted to use Spitfires, which would have been correct, but I think the American audience statistic would either be confused (associating Spits with the BofB), or would only have Mustangs.

At least three of the B17’s all flew in to Southend for painting, one of the airports leaflets ahs a small photo of the airport on the back showing them parkerd up with a Belfast taking off over them!

Am I correct in saying that the P51 wasn’t introduced to Europe as an escort fighter until December 1943 and the first P51D’s didn’t become operational until May 1944. So the fact that they are shown in May 1943 is totally wrong. Also wouldn’t they have the range to escort the B17’s all the way to Bremen and back ?

If you are’nt too bored yet have a look at these 2 threads as well and feel free to add anymore photos/info you have 😀

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18789&highlight=memphis+belle

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=19840&highlight=memphis+belle

I don’t think they ever say the dog’s name but wasn’t the dog that was the mascot of the real crew named “Stuka”?

Wasn’t Duxford Airfield also used for filming? Correct me if I am wrong!

Duxford was used for all the ‘upper air work’ whereas Binbrook was used for all the take-off and landing scenes.

Brgds

MM

In fact more than one camera man or film crew members were lost on this project in varying aircraft

Good point Dave. I was specific in referring to the lost cameraman on the aircraft which was expected to be first to 25 missions – until it was shot down. 🙁 It was an expensive film to make in more ways than one.

Refferring to the 1944 version…
In fact more than one camera man or film crew members were lost on this project in varying aircraft, and a lot of the footage used wasn’t actually from inside the Belle. Some of it was from other aitrcraft also being followed. And they went on several raids with each potential subject to get enough good shots.

Also a great amount of the footage shot on raids was somehow lost on its way back to the USA – I’m unsure if it was due to enemy action. But they then had to fly again with the Belle and crew and refilm a number of scenes within the USA.

So, like all documentaries, it is as constructed and fabricated as the feature film. They tell you what they want you to see, when you’re seeing something different – the magic of filmmaking. It made a wonderful story in 1944, but don’t take it as gospel truth, remember it was propaganda.

And the 1989 version…
All the answers are on that awesome recent thread that Daz has linked to, except for the Tomato Soup and Dog’s name. Not sure about the dog myself, but that ground mechanic with the bike was the Captain in Red Dwarf!

And here’s a pic of the man himself (taken from the above website). William Wyler

part of the answer JDK – quoting from the website below … name of the camerman and interesting (as yet unsubstantiated) fact that it happened on the Belle’s 25th mission … wonder how many missions the other aircraft was up to?

http://www.455th.ukpc.net/tomfeise/455th/wwyler.htm

On 19 May 1943, Wyler was aboard the ‘Memphis Belle’ on her final mission to Kiel. During this raid, the B17 carrying Harrold Tannebaum was shot down and Wyler had the sad duty of informing Tannebaum’s parents.

edit … as before, I suspect somebody with access to Freeman’s big book should be able to figure out the rest of the puzzle (aircraft probably from same bomb squadron, certainly same bomb group, on that day … etc.)