Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Banshee7 on January 16, 2009, 04:04:04 PM

Title: Memphis Belle
Post by: Banshee7 on January 16, 2009, 04:04:04 PM
I know the Memphis Belle was a B-17F, but my question is:  Was there ever a B-17G named Memphis Belle?
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Ack-Ack on January 16, 2009, 04:58:15 PM
Yep.

B-17G "Memphis Belle" (http://www.warbirddepot.com/aircraft_bombers_b17-marc.asp)

But to be more accurate, no, there was no wartime B-17G "Memphis Belle". 

The one in the site I linked to was a B-17G  (B-17G-85-DL, serial 44-83546, registered N3703G) "converted" to a F model for the movie by installing Sperry top turret, early-style tail gunner's compartment and waist gunner's positions, and getting rid of the chin turret.


ack-ack
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Hajo on January 16, 2009, 05:26:09 PM
The Belle is currently at WPAFBM being restored.  It will be several more years until it is finished.
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Steel on January 16, 2009, 05:31:12 PM
I would like to see this skin in the game regardless of model issues......
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Widewing on January 16, 2009, 06:03:23 PM
Did you guys know that the Memphis Belle was NOT the first 8th AF B-17 to complete 25 missions?

Hell's Angels of the 358th BG was the first, doing so 6 days before the Belle.

For reasons never publicly disclosed (although widely assumed to be related to its name), Hell's Angels was passed over.

After 48 missions, Hell's Angels was finally flown home and did a war bonds tour.

Another side note: Most of the Belle's crew on the last flight did not return home with the bomber as few had the required 25 missions.


My regards,

Widewing
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Banshee7 on January 16, 2009, 07:03:07 PM
I was wondering because of the skin issue.  I know the F and G are two totally different birds, so skinning an F on a g would be hard and wouldn't qualify anyway.
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Larry on January 16, 2009, 07:16:05 PM
They wont let you do a F on a G mainly because of the chin turret.
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Ack-Ack on January 16, 2009, 07:21:26 PM
I was wondering because of the skin issue.  I know the F and G are two totally different birds, so skinning an F on a g would be hard and wouldn't qualify anyway.

As Larry mentioned, they won't allow a F model skin to be used on a G model B-17.  Though, I hope against all hope that eventually we will get the B-17F as an early war bomber for the US.


ack-ack
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Larry on January 17, 2009, 01:06:15 AM
Yep B-17F would be good to have.
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Angus on January 17, 2009, 04:10:55 AM
Memphis Bell from the movie is Sally B right?
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Serenity on January 17, 2009, 01:50:48 PM
Did you guys know that the Memphis Belle was NOT the first 8th AF B-17 to complete 25 missions?

Hell's Angels of the 358th BG was the first, doing so 6 days before the Belle.

Actually, being the fan of the 303rd that I am, I DID know that! lol. The Hells Angels (The group, not the plane) had a lot of great accomplishments. 42-38050 (Thunderbird) for example, never lost a single member of her "normal" crew in combat. IIRC, there weren't even injuries. They were also one of only a few to send a YB-40 into combat (Tampa Tornado).
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: lyric1 on January 17, 2009, 05:29:18 PM
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070405-037.ppt#256,1,Slide 1
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: fyvsix on January 17, 2009, 06:21:49 PM
Got my vote for the 17F!  :aok
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Ack-Ack on January 18, 2009, 03:49:29 PM
Actually, being the fan of the 303rd that I am, I DID know that! lol. The Hells Angels (The group, not the plane) had a lot of great accomplishments. 42-38050 (Thunderbird) for example, never lost a single member of her "normal" crew in combat. IIRC, there weren't even injuries. They were also one of only a few to send a YB-40 into combat (Tampa Tornado).

My fianceé's uncle flew in the 303rd, in the 360th Bmb. Sqdn as a bombardier.  His flight (he was filling in as a bombardier on another crew) was forced to land in Switzerland and was interned.  His escape from Switzerland is a pretty cool story.

Charles Cassidy (http://www.west.net/~macpuzl/internee.html)


ack-ack
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: MiloMorai on January 18, 2009, 03:59:26 PM
A link to the 303BG
http://www.303rdbg.com/index.shtml
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Angus on January 18, 2009, 04:34:18 PM
Ack Ack  :aok
Very very good read!
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: Serenity on January 19, 2009, 06:09:47 AM
My fianceé's uncle flew in the 303rd, in the 360th Bmb. Sqdn as a bombardier.  His flight (he was filling in as a bombardier on another crew) was forced to land in Switzerland and was interned.  His escape from Switzerland is a pretty cool story.

Charles Cassidy (http://www.west.net/~macpuzl/internee.html)


ack-ack

lol. Somehow it seems you always have some connection to EVERYONE I am a fan of! lol
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: BigPlay on January 23, 2009, 12:39:43 PM
I know the Memphis Belle was a B-17F, but my question is:  Was there ever a B-17G named Memphis Belle?

Not in WW2 however Morgan did fly B-29's in the PTO. I believe his 29 was called Dauntilin Doty, something like that.
Title: Re: Memphis Belle
Post by: colmbo on January 23, 2009, 01:22:01 PM
Not in WW2 however Morgan did fly B-29's in the PTO. I believe his 29 was called Dauntilin Doty, something like that.

Bob Morgan led the first B-29 raids to Tokyo.  His airplane was Dauntless Dotty.  Bob flew 24 missions in the B-29 before going home.