The Memphis Belle, a B17 "Flying Fortress" was assigned to the 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England, during the early part of the USAAF strategic bombing campaign during World War II. Between November 1942 and May 1943, the Memphis Belle and its crew flew 25 bombing missions, including strikes against targets in Germany, France, and Belgium. This film portrays a bombing mission over Germany during World War II, including preparations for the raid, the takeoff from England, the flight over the English Channel, the bombing of the submarine base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and the return to base.
Names
Wyler, William, 19021981, film director
Koenig, Lester, screenwriter
Clothier, William, 19031996, photographer
Tannenbaum, Harold, 18961943, photographer
Sturges, John, 19101992, film editor
Kubik, Gail, 19141984, composer
Ising, Rudolf, 19031992, contributor
Kern, Eugene, 19142010, narrator
United States. War Department, presenter
United States. Army Air Forces. Motion Picture Unit, 1st, production company
Paramount Pictures, Inc., film distributor
Created / Published
United States : Paramount Pictures : 1944.
Headings
Memphis Belle (B17 bomber)
AirmenUnited States
United States.Army Air Forces.Bomb Group, 490th
Bombing, AerialGermany
World War, 19391945Aerial operations, American
World War, 19391945GermanyWilhelmshaven
Morgan, Robert,19182004
Verinis, Jim,19162003
Hanson, Bob,19202005
Leighton, Chuck,19191991
Loch, Harold,19192004
Quinlan, John,19192000
Scott, Cecil,19161979
Evans, Vincent
Winchell, Bill,19161994
Nastal, Tony,19232002
Hansell, Haywood S
GeorgeVI,King of Great Britain,18951952
Elizabeth,Queen, consort of George VI, King of Great Britain,19002002
Devers, Jacob L.(Jacob Loucks),18871979
Eaker, Ira,18961987
Genre
Documentary films
Nonfiction films
Feature films
Notes
Cameramen, Maj. William C. Clothier, Lt. Harold Tannenbaum ; edited by Capt. John Sturges ; music by Gail Kubik ; animation of maps, Maj. Rudof Ising.
Narrator, Eugene Kern.
Appearing: Capt. Robert Morgan, Capt. Jim Verinis, Sgt. Bob Hanson, Capt. Chuck Leighton, Sgt. Harold Loch, Sgt. John Quinlen, Sgt. Cecil Scott, Capt. Vincent Evans, Sgt. Bill Winchell, Sgt. Tony Nastal, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Gen. Haywood Hansell, Gen. Jacob Devers, Gen. Ira Eaker.
Photographed in 1943 and 1944 in Cambridgeshire, England and flying over the English Channel to Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
"All aerial combat film was exposed during air battles over enemy territory"beginning credits.
This film was selected for the National Film Registry.
Sources used: Eagan, D. America's film legacy, p. 369370; MI Film and Television catalog card; National Museum of the United States Air Force WWW site, The Memphis Belle: American Icon page viewed May 31, 2023; Chris Kern: Essays and Photographs WWW site viewed June 2, 2023; Motion picture herald, March 25, 1944, p. 40 viewed June 13, 2023 via the Internet Archive.
Medium
1 video file (digital) (40 min.) : sd., color.
Source Collection
U.S. Government Films Collection (Library of Congress)
Digital Id
https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mbrsmi/ntscrm...
Library of Congress Control Number
2023602007
Online Format
image
video
LCCN Permalink
https://lccn.loc.gov/2023602007
Additional Metadata Formats
MARCXML Record
MODS Record
Dublin Core Record