The B-17 Flying Fortress Memphis Belle (Serial No. 41-24485) was one of 12,750 B-17's built by the Boeing Aircraft Co. The Belle was the most famous B-17 in the war, because she was the first heavy bomber in Hitler's European war theatre to complete 25 combat missions and keep her entire crew alive. She flew for 10 months from November 7, 1942 to May 17, 1943. The command generals had set 25 missions as an incentive for air crews to gohome. Morale was extremely low because 80% of the bombers were shot down during the first three months of America's combat flights over Europe.

The Belle shot down eight enemy fighters, probably destroyed five others, and damaged at least a dozen more. She dropped more than 60 tonsof bombs over Germany, France and Belgium. During her 25 missions she flew 148 hours, 50 minutes, and covered more than 20,000 combat miles. She is the only B-17 to have her own file in the Air Force Film Depository.

This gallant lady was bullet-ridden, flak damaged; on five separate occasions had engines shot out and once came back with her tail nearly shot off. There was not one major injury to the crew members. The crew met their plane in Bangor, Maine for the first time in September, 1942. They flew their ship to Memphis, TN on a shakedown flight, where she waschristened MEMPHIS BELLE in honor of the pilot's wartime sweetheart, Ms. Margaret Polk. From there they flew across the Atlantic to their home base in Bassingbourn, England, just north of London. Bassingbourn is still an active English army base today.

The 26th mission of the BELLE was to return to the States during the summer of 1943 on a public relations tour to thank the American public for supporting the war effort. The crew visited more than 32 cities where they received a heroes' welcome. Their mascot, a Scotty dog named "Stuka", traveled across the Atlantic with them and participated in the PR tour.





Pilot - Col. Robert K. Morgan
Copilot - Lt. Col. James A. Verinis
Navigator - Charles B. Leighton
Bombardier - Vince Evans
The First Engineer/Top Turret Gunner - Leviticus "Levy" Dillon
The Second Engineer/Top Turret Gunner - Eugene Adkins
The Third Engineer/Top Turret Gunner - Harold P. Loch
Radio Operator - Robert Hanson
Ball Turret Gunner - Cecil Scott
Right Waist Gunner - E. Scott Miller
Right Waist Gunner - Casmer A "Tony" Nastal
Left Waist Gunner - Clarence E. "Bill" Winchell
Tail Gunner - John P. Quinlan
Crew Chief - Joe Giambrone
The Memphis Belle - Miss Margaret Polk

1	7. November 1942	Submarine pens at Brest, France
2	9. November 1942	Submarine pens at St. Nazaire, France
3	17. November 1942	Submarine pens at St. Nazaire, France
4	6. December 1942	Locomotive Works at Lille, France
5	20. December 1942	The air field at Romilly sur Seine, France
6	3. January 1943	Submarine pens at St. Nazaire, France
7	13. January 1943	Locomotive Works at Lille, France
8	23. January 1943	Submarine pens at Lorient, France
9	4. February 1943	Submarine pens at Emden, Germany
10	14. February 1943	Railroad center at Hamm, Germany
11	16. February 1943	Submarine pens at St. Nazaire, France
12	26. February 1943	Navy base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany
13	27 February 1943	Submarine pens at Brest, France
14	6. March 1943	Submarine pens at Lorient, France
15	12. March 1943	Railway Yards at Rouen, France
16	13. March 1943	Air Field at Abbeville, France
17	22. March 1943	Naval Base at Wilhemshaven, Germany
18	28. March 1943	Railway Yards at Rouen, France
19	5. April 1943	Airplane Engine Works at Antwerp, Belgium
20	16. April 1943	Submarine pens at Lorient, France
21	17. April 1943	Airplane Factory at Bremen, Germany
22	1. May 1943	Submarine pens at St. Nazaire, France
23	4. May 1943	Ford truck factory at Antwerp, Belgium
24	15. May 1943	Naval Yards at Heligoland, Germany
25	17. May 1943	Submarine pens at Lorient, France

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Heavy Bomber:
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing Company / Douglas Aircraft / Lockheed Vega - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1937
Production: 12,731
Crew: 10
Length: 74.74ft (22.78m)
Width: 103.74ft (31.62m)
Height: 19.09ft (5.82m)
Weight (Empty): 36,136lbs (16,391kg)
Weight (MTOW): 72,003lbs (32,660kg)
Powerplant: 4 x Wright Cyclone R-1820-97 radial piston engines generating 1,200 hp each.
Maximum Speed: 287mph (462kmh; 249kts)
Maximum Range: 2,001miles (3,220km)
Service Ceiling: 35,597ft (10,850m; 6.7miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 541 feet per minute (165m/min)
Armament Suite:
STANDARD (Most Models):
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered dorsal turret
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered "belly" turret
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail gun position
1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left front "cheek" position.
1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right front "cheek" position.
1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left waist position
1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right waist position
1 x 12.7mm machine gun at radio operator's midship position (removed on later models).

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