World War II · Film · 1990
Memphis Belle
In May 1943 the ten young men of a B-17 crew in England fly their 25th and final mission over Germany, hoping to be the first bomber crew of the Eighth Air Force to finish a tour and go home.
Where it happened
Follow the story across 2 places.
Stop 1: B-17 base in eastern England
The crew watches a damaged bomber explode on landing, then spends one last night at a dance before their final mission.
Stop 2: Bremen
Key location
Over Germany the formation fights through fighters and flak, and the Belle must find its target through the clouds without hitting the town.
What really happened
In early 1943 the US Eighth Air Force was still proving that unescorted daylight bombing could work, and losses were so heavy that few crews expected to survive 25 missions. The real Memphis Belle of the 91st Bomb Group, based at Bassingbourn, became famous as one of the first B-17s to complete a tour, and was sent home for a war-bond tour.
The film was produced by Catherine Wyler, daughter of William Wyler, whose 1944 documentary about the Belle inspired it. It invents the crew's personalities and a dramatic final raid on Bremen; the Belle's actual 25th mission, on 17 May 1943, was against the U-boat base at Lorient in France.
Where to watch
Checking streaming services…
Full details
- Original title
- Memphis Belle
- Directed by
- Michael Caton-Jones
- Countries
- United Kingdom, United States
- Languages
- English
- Released
- 1990
- Period
- –
- Theaters of war
- Western Europe
- Themes
- Air war
- Combat
