Memphis Belle: A Story of a B-17 Flying Fortress (1944)

This film is a compelling war documentary produced by acclaimed 'Hollywood Colonel' William Wyler, who joined the Air Force Film Unit to document the last mission of the legendary B-17 bomber known as the Memphis Belle—named after pilot Robert K. Morgan's girlfriend. Narrated as the story of 10 crewmen who represent typical American boys facing extraordinary challenges, the film captures their experiences during a bombing raid on the submarine pens in Wilhelmshafen, Germany. Wyler emphasizes that it portrays 'just one mission of just one plane and one crew in one squadron in one group of one wing of one Air Force out of fifteen United States Army Air Forces.' The documentary's remarkable realism comes from handheld 16mm and 35mm cameras used inside the bomber, providing the crew's perspective. Wyler combined footage from several missions to recreate this final 25th flight—a mission notable for its complete lack of casualties and a smooth landing, contrary to the harrowing danger usually anticipated. Footage from the 8th AAF Combat Camera Unit was also included. Wyler spoke candidly about his inability to capture a flak burst on camera, stating: "I could never get one explosion because how the hell do you know where one's going to explode? Once the cloud is there it's too late. All that flak so close to us, and I could never get the explosion." From October 1943 to March 1944, Wyler edited a total of 20,000 feet of film shot in Europe, producing a striking and dramatic 42-minute color documentary. Cast: - Captain Robert K. Morgan (pilot) - Captain James A. Verinis (co-pilot) - Captain Vincent B. Evans (bombardier) - Captain Charles B. Leighton (navigator) - Technical Sergeant Robert J. Hanson (radio operator) - Technical Sergeant Harold P. Loch (engineer and top turret gunner) - Staff Sergeant Casimer A. Nastal (waist gunner) - Staff Sergeant Clarence E. Winchell (waist gunner) - Staff Sergeant Cecil H. Scott (ball turret gunner) - Staff Sergeant John P. Quinlan (tail gunner) Runtime: 45 minutes.