Memphis Belle (1990)

Post date: Jan 30, 2011 10:21:19 PM

This film is about the crew of the "Memphis Belle," the B-17F Flying Fortress that flew 25 combat missions in World War II. The film takes place essentially in two locations - at an airfield in England and in the air above Germany in the B-17.

The airfield used was the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, England. Today it has been expanded into a huge museum of military history. The last airworthy B-17 in the UK, the "Sally B" was used for the film (playing the Belle in one scene) and is still on display here.

The plane that portrayed the "Belle" in the film was actually a modified B-17G firebomber that was transported to England for filming. It is now on display at the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum in Geneseo, NY. It still maintains the same paint scheme used for the film.

As for the real "Memphis Belle," it is currently under restoration for eventual display at the National Museum of the United State Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.