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My father flew as a Bombardier on a B-17 over Germany with his 1st mission on D-Day, June 6, 1944, with his 24th mission on December 24th, 1944 over Belgium. 3 of the men on his plane survived. He injured his left foot and ankle landing on a frozen field in Belgium. It took him 2 years before he could walk without crutches. He said that he was sent home on the Queen Mary. Dad lived to 93 years old and he was my hero. Mom and Dad are in Heaven and one day soon I will be reunited. He loved America and what we stood for: Freedom, Hard Work, Structure and always living and helping your fellow! Great documentary!

My great-uncle was a waist gunner and was lost during the war. Found his picture, folded flag, original letter announcing his death, and several other items in my great grandmother's rotting house. All are now in my parents house in a loving framed tribute. He was so close to being forgotten and I just couldn't allow it.

My Pop was a Bombardier & nose gunner on the B17s out of England & did his 25 before coming home with a Purple Heart. Loved your story. Have visited the Belle on Mudd Island on the Mississippi River in Memphis. Pop died 55 years ago today. Thanks for this memory. God bless. ML&R, Joe

I saw Captain Robert Morgan at a presentation at the Museum of Flight in Seattle WA during the summer of 1998 when I was 12. We got a signed photo of him and his crew in front of the Memphis Belle after he gave his talk. It's now one of my prized possessions. That was such a good summer!

She used to be at mud Island in Memphis, Tennessee. She sat outside in a covered pavilion. I remember seeing her there when I was about 10 or 11.

As a kid i played in the Memphis Belle when it was old and neglected outside the Memphis armory near the fairgrounds. I remember being disappointed they had removed the machine guns. Great fun for a 10 year old boy arounf 1967.

My mother was a rosie the riveter in ww2. She worked on bombers at westwillow the westwillow plant

Thanks for giving the mechanics a nod at the end of the video.

I was 14 years old when I saw the 1990 movie in the theater. It brings a tear to my eye to know we still have the plane.

My father was in operations for the 91st and was stationed at Bassingbourn from beginning to end. He's the guy that drew the units insignia - the flying bomb. BTW, Bassingbourn was not supposed to be the base for the 91st, but upon arrival, they discovered that the runways at RAF Kimbolton (the original base) were not sufficient for a B17 at full battle rattle. Colonel Wray did a bit of surveillance, discovered Bassingbourn, and had the entire group moved, essentially under cover of darkness, without any official authorization. The 91st flew 340 combat missions and lost almost 200 aircraft in combat with 40 or more in addition to the combat losses written off as too damaged to be repaired. The first time I saw the Belle was in Memphis in 1965 at the 20th reunion of the 91st. As a 15 year old, I got to meet the Belle's flight crew and that memory will always be with me. The Belle was parked out in front of an Air National Guard Armory and she was in pretty rough shape. Some years later, and I don't know the time line, she was superficially restored and placed on display in a Pavilion down on the Mississippi River which is where I next saw her in the late 90's. Since then, she's been fully restored of course, and sits at Wright Patterson. Thanks for telling the story of the Memphis Belle. It's a remarkable machine flown by some remarkable men to whom we all owe a debt of thanks.

That sounds very similar to our family history: My father, John Allan Martin, enlisted in the Army Air Corps (1942), age 18, and served as a gunner and radio operator on B-17s and B-24s. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force in England and flew 35 combat missions over Europe. Including one shown as "SECRET" on his papers. According to him, later while watching “12 O’clock High” on TV, he thought that it was very well done and he liked the show. He did say that instead of the large letter “A” in the show their planes carried a large letter “P” there. He was in the 387th Bombardment Squadron of 487th Bombardment Group. The records for many crew members were lost during a fire at Fort Benjamin Harrison. His brother, age 20, was a Navy aviator flying in the Pacific area: his plane was shot down . The bad news was wired to the family, who were surprised three months later when he walked in the front door in his Navy uniform. My father had left the service at the end of the war and worked as a TV/Radio engineer. He was called back to duty for the Korean conflict but didn’t have to deploy; and stayed with the new US Air Force. He retired in 1968 after 26 years of active duty and died in 1976. His brother also passed in 2005. Both brothers are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Regards

I knew Margaret poke for 12 years and I miss Margaret very much. I was just her pool, ma'n, but she was like a grandmother to me.

A post script to your well made video: The Memphis Belle was in the boneyard at Altus AAFB in Oklahoma when a girls club in Altus High School discovered her. They initiated the contact with the city of Memphis that led to her rescue and eventual restoration.

EXCELLENT documentary . Thank you for your efforts. My father flew B-25’s during WWII. I was born between Memphis Belle’s third and fourth mission (January 20th) Lest we never forget that freedom is not free.😂

The museum at Wright-Patterson AFB is amazing. And free!

If you are ever in Asheville, North Carolina, visit downtown. On the way out of town after fundraising, Robert W. Morgan flew the Memphis Belle between the City Hall and County Courthouse buildings of his hometown.. This was no easy task to fly between these two buildings. Robert had to tilt the wings sixty degrees to clear both buildings. There is a commemorative plaque that marks the event in the gap between the two buildings. To stand there reading the memorial and see the tight space he cleared, brings a deal of respect to his ability as a pilot and the faith and trust that his crew had in him.

$350, what a buy! Priceless today from a historical standpoint!😊

It's amazing to look at the Belle up at the museum. All the hell that plane and her crews went through many years ago...... and she now looks like she just came off the assembly line. Impeccably well restored.

Chuck Leighton was my high school guidance counselor at East Lansing high School in the early 70's. Very low key guy

My Dad went into Normandy on D-Day+3 to service the planes at temporary fields as the infantry moved forward. He spoke about the B-17's, P-47's, & P-51's & the brave men who flew them. Years later I had the chance to 'walk thru' the interior of the Memphis Belle & several other famous warplanes at an airshow exhibit, Andrew's AFB. Everlasting memories.

I had a chance to fly on a B-17 up front with the pilots it was an amazing experience and I will never ever forget that as long as I live

As a young boy, my father remembers seeing the Bell in Asheville, North Carolina during its war bond tour. Captain Robert Morgan was from there.

My mother was a child in Bremen during the war. She carried trauma from that for her whole life. Its wild to see the story from both sides of the conflict.

I remember how good it felt when I heard those wheels screech the ground at last when I saw the movie for the first time.

I got to see the Memphis Belle with my family at Mud Island while I was stationed at NAS Memphis (Millington) in the late 80s. She was in fair shape then and out of the weather, under a pavilion.

Not to dismiss what this crew did for the war effort but the Memphis Belle wasn't the first to complete 25 missions so it's nice to see this fact acknowledged in this video..

Lots there I never knew. That's what I like about this channel. They always tell you stuff from the pages you never read about. Excellent.

My gratitude is profound and eternal for ALL in the Greatest Generation, work like this informs and inspires. Thank You, Thank You.

I love the old movies of that period and one of my favorites, The Best Years of Our Lives, about post war veterans returning home to a fictitious town called Boon City. The opening sequences are the most fascinating with them riding home in the nose of a B17 bomber and upon approach to their air field, flew over a huge mass of B17s and other planes on the ground. This was very authentic so I love watching it over and over. It’s one of my favorites in my large library of movies. Another of my favorites is the War Lover with Steve McQueen. These movies are motion picture time capsules as the Wyler film, The Memphis Bell is one as well as the movie made in the 90s.

@TJ3 your work never ceases to amaze me.. well done! The “Belle” has played a major part in my life… in the early days of the internet, my Mom was able to contact Colonel Morgan who called me on Christmas Day when I was 10. Mr. Morgan and his wife were so incredibly nice to me (never charging for any memorabilia) and actually met us for dinner in Cincinnati when they were in town for an air show. Your work here I’m sure would make him proud! Thanks for what you do!

I visited a a tribute B-17 Flying Fortress that flew to James Island s.c. In 1992 . It was a Memphis bell replica and also a p-38 mustang and a B-24 liberator , spent 6 hours exploring, still have the pictures. They also had the film Memphis bell in one of the flight hangers. Was a good day. God bless the veterans ❤🎉🇺🇸🏁

This was an amazing video! So professional and very informative! This is the Gold Standard of what KZfaq should follow. On a personal note, I had the distinct honor to meet Col. Morgan at an air show. I had no idea he was going to be there. Such a gentleman! I have a magnificent WWII poster and book he signed and dedicated to my wife and I. Years earlier, I got to gi aboard the B-17 they used in the movie. I am still amazed how Col. Morgan and the crew survived the war -- God, prayer, skill and an amazing ground crew certainly help the crew!

It’s a good to see the Memphis Belle is saved now displayed in the National USAF museum today. I think the famous C-47 skytrain that lead of D-Day (That’s all brother) should be displayed alongside the Memphis Belle at the museum too after her flying tour rides great story TJ3.

Historical notes - being that I covered such a massive stretch of history in this one, there are some notes I'll mention. First - it is extremely difficult to track the missions of each individual crewmember. In addition, there is even some discrepancy about which a couple of missions in which the Belle did or did not receive credit for. But this is the most accurate list I can put together. Second - Heinz Knoke's name is pronounced "Ka-Nok-a" in German I believe, but that is very awkward for me to say. I'm working on my pronunciations. Also in his Liberty Belle mission, I am not positive if he flew an Me-109 or a Fw-190, as according to the records of his group, they were commonly switching aircraft during this time depending on the target of their intercept. And for those who may ask - these bombs had a fuse and were supposed to explode in the middle of the bomber formations, not contact armed. Third - The crew of the Liberty Belle has some discrepancy as well - Some sources list it as their first mission, others list it as their first mission "with the 91st Bomb Group" - with their crew having a couple missions in other bombers or units in the weeks before. But they were certainly a newer crew. Fourth - I want to make sure I mention - the 1990 movie "Memphis Belle" is a fictional movie, not based on the actual bomber. This is why there are so many inaccuracies there. However, it is still a fantastic film, and in the words of one veteran - "It may not have been the story of the real Memphis Belle, but it was likely the story of some crew out there". Thanks for watching. See you guys next time!

during air shows here in norfolk, va, i can tell you Nothing is as awesome as B-17s roaring over your house, landing at Chambers Field. i can only imagine the roaring rotary engines of hundreds of flying fortresses filling the skies above and the terror of knowing what was coming...

Outstanding content; superbly edited, detailed, well narrated , well researched , respectful of the context and the characters, and answering the question of what happened to these brave young men afterwards. Very entertaining, educational and worthwhile watching. Many thanks.

Certainly a classic emotional documentary brighten by heroism. Deep respect from another fading soldier from a far distant country

Welldone from across the pond in the UK.

Simply terrifying. I’ve flown a few “long” flights (by long, I mean only ~4.5hr or so) crewing a WWII torpedo bomber going to airshows. Hopped up into the turret for a bit one time, and just contemplated… we are typically focused on the Pacific theater, but it isn’t hard to imagine being 20,000’ higher up, freezing, and stuck in that turret knowing those controls in your hand may save your life and/or the lives of those in your aircraft (or the aircraft around you.) It’s one thing for me to think about it at home watching great documentaries like this, but I’ll never forget how it felt up there. Today the scariest things people do are team-building activities and jumping off the platform for a zip-line. 🤦‍♂️ These guys got into a plane with 2,800 gal 100 octane fuel, flying 5 miles above the earth, and (at any cost) had to fly in a straight line, as nimble German fighters swooped in and picked them off. I’ve put myself in that position mentally, and I’m not sure I could handle it. Like the night before… the pre-flight, the initial point, the moment when our fighter coverage has to turn back leaving us completely exposed… there are so many times that I’d probably completely lose it. Absolutely the greatest generation. 👍 🇺🇸

Remarkable documentary. No Hollywood. Great air footage. An archival piece that will make you producers immortal. Memphis Belle already is

I love your researched detail!!! My Father was in the 10th Air Force, a mechanic on a B 25 In the CBI. I am 72. I am his daughter. I can sooooo... relate to your passion for WW2 war history!

You do such great work.. I love how you're able to get all the little details most people don't know or ever heard of. I love everything aviation especially WWII era and wildland firefighting.

Having not known much history of this majestic plane, I still got goose bumps when standing underneath of her at the Wright Paterson Museum she is on display at. And for those that don’t know, this museum is free and open 364 days a year. A definite must see in Dayton Ohio.

This is great storytelling,there were many things i didn`t knew about the Belle.Thank you for telling so many great stories and the animations are super.

I had the honor of being at the dedication of the Belle at the Wright Patt museum as a photographer. My best friend, also in attendance, is the son of a 17’s tail gunner. My father was an army Lieutenant, flying 24’s, yet flew no combat missions as the war ended. Glenn and I spent the evening chatting with a few of the Greatest Generation. Greatest indeed.

In the 388th Bomb group, the Jamaica Ginger flew over 300 missions, highest in that group. Top planes should all be recognized in EVERY group. Memphis Belle was just one of many that were highlighted, but many others went unsung.

Great documentary! This justifies my suscription! Excellent work TJ3 !!

Finally we get the record straight on “Memphis Belle”. As much as I liked the 1990 movie it should NOT be based for any Historical research (there’s just too many historical inaccuracies from the movie for me to list here).

William Wyler went on to create " Friendly Persuasion " , a remarkable double paced Civil War flick, honored as film No. 34 of the Humanities Film Forum Must See List. Memphis Belle was Movie 38. Memphis Belle was filmed with hand held Bell and Howell hand cranked Filmo cameras and possibly 16 MM Kodachrome reversal or Kodak Aerocolor negative film.

I've actually seen the Memphis belle in person. They have it on display at the Dayton air and space museum in Ohio! As well as Bockscar which dropped the bomb on Nagasaki.

Interesting BUT the the image of the ‘ Belle’ is so very very wrong. The ‘Bellle’ was an early production B-17F with a larger near braceless nose cone, enlarged cheek windows fitted for the emplacement of a .50-cal machine gun on each side of the nose. The Video shows an early B-17E.

Excellent excellent excellent one of the best KZfaq videos I have ever watched very well done

You don't "win" a Medal of Honor, or any award for that matter. You are awarded the commendation.

Very educational and entertaining video. Thank you for creating it. Cheers.

What a great video. You never let us down TJ. Thanks for all the hard work you put into all your videos you are amazing and enjoyable. I already can't wait to see the next one. Please keep 'em flying flying.

Your videos are always so enlightening and interesting to watch. Loved this one! 👍 I am proud to say that the Memphis Belle now resides in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio as you said, at the U.S. Air Force Museum. I have been there many times, both as a child and an adult, and it is quite a place!

I just wish to comment as to how far you have come from initially posting video game clips to the production of well researched historical mini-documentaries which sometimes feature the actual veteran the story reflects. It is clear you research your stories rather than simply relying on previous information. This is clearly presented by this video where the "story" from the 1991 movie was just that - simply a story attached to the name "Memphis Belle" I can't imagine how many may have believed that movie as the actual story of the "Belle!" TJ, I had not know you previously but I'm certain you will agree these videos and all the work involved have made you a better person. Continue all this great work for all to enjoy!

"Ooo-oo, you can take my gun... you can have my bullets too."

This was a really good one too, TJ3. I really like how in depth you went with the mission by mission breakdown. I’ve got a large scale model of this plane I have yet to build and seeing videos like this makes me look forward to building it, even more.

An excellent TJ3 video is just what i need to get my day started. Happy friday yall

When I was a kid, the Massachusetts Air National Guard used to use the old WWII B17 aircraft as crew & airtime aircraft, all the way through the 1970s! We used to see them all the time on maneuvers over Northborough, Massachusetts. It's absolutely amazing that a lot of those old planes were still being used over 30 years after the war!

Excellent, excellent, excellent! The closest I've ever been to the Memphis Belle was a flight aboard the Sally B in 1985 at Duxford.

Hells Angeles was the name of the first B 17 to complete 25 missions!

When John Lithgow's character says " and went on to fly 24 missions without a scratch" he is obviously referring to the crew as he just talked about them volunteering. My Grandfather was a radio op in the 8th he met my Grandmother while stationed in England flying in B17's and she was one of many "War Brides" to leave the UK post war.

I live in Memphis and the Belle was placed on the Fairgrounds initially, and later on Mud Island by the Mississippi River in an outside open pavilion with a tarp canopy roof. It had become a rust bucket with the canopy deteriorating until fortunately it was saved by the museum.

As a young boy 6 or 7 years old my dad would take me fishing on a lake here in Va. There was a small place you coul rent jon boats and get bait. My dad knew the owner and his son very well as he would fish there every week. I vividly remember the old man and him telling me "boy get your daddy to take you to see the movie Memphis Belle. That was me and my buddies" i will always remember him telling me that. His name was Levy Dillon. Rest in peace.

Another maximum effort! Very well done. Thank you sooooo. much!

Thank you for putting this together TJ, excellent work, it brought back good memories, as my father owned a small blimp company and parade inflatables in Memphis, in the 1980s and spoke about it often and always had a special place in the heart. Godspeed and keep up the excellent work 🇺🇸🎗🪖🐾

I’ve enjoyed this story. I remember the movie as a child. I visited the Belle on Mud Island in Memphis and it was a wonderful connection to history.

Excellent! Thank you for this.

My science teacher was Charles Leighton at Cantrick Middle School in Monroe Michigan in 1959. I had lost several months of school that late winter having contracted pneumonia. Mr Leighton called me into his office, knowing that I needed credit in his class to go on to my next grade level. He prepared a verbal test of questions on the science curriculum for that semester I had lost. I passed, knowing every answer correctly. I never knew his history but asked him how he became a scientist and his training. I was very shocked when he mentioned that he was a navigator on an airplane in WW2. I later looked up his name in aviation history of the war. Still to this day, i can remember that very day we talked in late April of 1959. I had the honor of also meeting a Tuskegee airman many years later, but my fondest memory of Mr. Leighton will always be my favorite educator. He was one of my science mentors who shaped my life in science and as an individual. His courage and kindness will always be a guiding light for my life.

Great video! Never knew the whole story with all those details. Congrats!!

Wow! Great job on tons of research..very interesting.

Well done. I've watched the MB movies multiple times. As many youngsters wanted to fly. I didn't know until I watched this video that the MB went into service the same week when I was born...... I have visited the Air Museum (2x)and saw the restored MB. I never liked the 17's for some strange reason. I was in love with the 29's.

I loved this documentary. Well done

This is a remarkable review and one of your longest videos yet - well done!!

Thank you for this fabulous piece of history!

Great work, I have followed the BElle for years, and you did a great job with this.

44:50 Charles (Chuck) Leighton was the librarian of East Lansing High School when I attended back in 1975-1979. He always memorized the yearbooks of the local middle schools so when I and my classmates went to the library for our academic activities, he would address us by name. He eventually retired from ELHS, and finished his life in peaceful retirement near Traverse City, Michigan. He was the nicest man among many great teachers I encountered in my youth. RIP Captain Leighton.

Amazing documentary brother!

Epic video. Thank you so much

Bought the Memphis Belle in air-worthy condition for $350. Wow! 49:00

Amazing video you have done there!!! Congrats!!!

Enjoyed you Documentary on the Memphis Belle. The true story. Thanks for sharing! 💯❤️👊👍

This was brilliant! It's so well put together that it puts the Likes of the today's History Channel to shame.

I grew up watching Wyler's film and never have watched the 90's movie. Finally got to see her in 2018 in her restored glory.

Great Documentary, Thank You 🙏

Another wonderful video! Keep them coming!

Fantastic video TJ!!!

First off Great detailed history, great graphics for sure great job on this video, TJ3H!! The B-17's performance, payload, durability, defensive firepower, ceiling, speed and elegant beauty earned the bomber it's reputation. But the sacrifice of the crews is forgotten. In 1943, those that flew missions in the 8th Air Force got shot down. All of them except the Belle. With losses at 20% every mission, odds were 5 to 1 you'd be dead by your 5th mission. And you had to win 5 times to make 25 missions. Nobody did. Until the 'Belle did. Then the Mustang showed up with cover all the way in '44 and it was a game changer. Plus the B-17G models were out with that cool little chin turret packing a brace of .50 cals. I got to talk to a '43 Vet once. 'Course he got shot down. His son had told me he bailed out and parachuted directly into a German POW camp! Imagine the luck! When I met the man and thanked him for his service, I remarked on the bad luck to land right in a POW camp. He got a sad look on his face and told me it was actually incredibly GOOD luck, as he was the only survivor of his crew, the rest hunted down and murdered as "Terrorfliegers" by the civilians. Wow...

You have served the memory of all the men who fought and died flying these bombers, to free the world of the darkness of that time. well done

In 1991 I was stationed at NAS Millington and on weekends we would go to Memphis, Tennessee. One weekend we were at Mud Island and for $5 you could take a self guided tour of the Memphis Belle. I have a picture of me at the right side waist gunners position.

Father flew as photographer in a B-17 recon. V- E day he was in Belgium and a Frence painter did his portrait for a Hershey Bar and a few beers. Its fine art but ill never let it go.

good narration with a voice you can listen too, well done

Brilliant video Brilliant graphics thourghly enjoyable.😊

Wow Man!!, Absolutely a awesome job Thanks

Had no idea about air to air bombing and I can't believe that worked even once, just gotta appreciate the insane level of skill and nerves it would take to make a hit.

The old man and I really enjoyed the video, brilliant as ever TJ. 😎😁👌

A friend on mine and Vietnam vet worked on the renovation of the Belle at Wright Patterson.