B-17 Flying Fortress - In the Movies

An overview of the Boeing B-17 as featured in numerous WW2 Movies
More War Movie Content: / johnnyjohnsonesq
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The Liberator
Memphis Belle
My Way
Shadow in the cloud
Black Book
The Cockpit (Anime) 1993
Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
Hart’s War
The Mighty Eight
Heavy Metal
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Red Tails
War Thunder (Video Game)
Bomber Command (Video Game)
Fortress 2011
Memphis Belle
Twelve O’Clock High
#ww2 #warhistory #aircraft

[@fortis3686]

One memorable moment with the B-17 was in Call of Duty: United Offensive, where you played as the crewman of a British operated B-17 in 1941. You had to hop from one turret to another, as your crew suffers more casualties, while your formation is swarmed with 109s

[@heroicaknight4735]

God, I remember that mission. I think the funniest part of it was in the beginning "briefing" where Doyle's journal says "enough 50 cals to take on the whole Luftwaffe (though hopefully we won't prove that...)"

[@cadjebushey6524]

Theres a board game from 1983 just like that. B-17 Queen of the skies. They did an updated reprint in 2017 called Target for today. Whats cool is that there are die roll tables for when your crewmembers are wounded or are at risk for frostbite, or if you shoot a German aircraft down, you see what kind of damage you do. The descriptions for the K.I.A table are pretty graphic too: Bullet shrapnel shatters skull; punctures brain. Roll for entry point. Stuka joe has a playthrough of QOTS if your interested. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIfYZoGne9GhmK8

[@strangewolf1261]

YOOOOOO!!!..... T'was my fav mission during that entire expansion! Think it sparked my love for the Aircraft as well honestly. I was just a tiny kid in awe of the crazy atmosphere of being inside that magnificent beast!

[@CrossOfBayonne]

It isn't a surprise because of the lend lease program

[@EDKguy]

When i finally saw a B-17 in person , I was surprised how small it was. When I finally saw a B-29, I was amazed at how BIG it was!

[@hawkeyeten2450]

Have you ever seen a B-36 in person? I haven't myself yet, but I've seen photos of them literally DWARFING B-29s. No wonder the Soviets were so terrified of it in the late 40s and 50s! Strategic Air Command (1954) makes every effort to showcase those monsters and their abilities.

[@EDKguy]

@@hawkeyeten2450 Bigger was better back then. Now, not so much. You could kill something with a pencil

[@jackstecker5796]

@@hawkeyeten2450 you know an aircraft is huge when the crew can crawl through the wing, and service the engines while in flight.

[@cobhc1986]

I’ve been inside the movie Memphis Belle B-17 on the ground and got to walk around and sit in the shade under the right wing of FIFI the B-29 and yes I was also impressed by the size difference

[@grizwoldphantasia5005]

Same here, B-17 smaller than expected. I think it is because the pilot side windows are so small; seen from a distance, one expects a "normal" sized window and correspondingly-sized airplane.

[@velvetrooster5569]

My dad was actually a mechanic and pilot for a B-17 back in the 80s and 90s and that particular B-17 was used in the movie Memphis Belle. At the time the plane was owned by a man named David Tallichet. This plane still makes rounds on the airshow circuit and set up with the Memphis Belle movie paint scheme. My dad Mark Hinzman has told me multiple times that the airplane was originally set up as a fire bomber when they acquired the B-17 in the 80s. he told me that they converted it into the Memphis Belle and removed the chin turret for the movie. As a pilot, my dad‘s flight logs do show him with a significant amount of time as pilot command for B-17. He did not fly in the movie, but he did fly all around California and briefly in New York but mostly California. he was both the chief mechanic for the airplane and pilot for the airplane during the 80s and 90s in Chino California. I also know that me and my brother have a pretty iconic picture in our family that my dad took as he was standing on the ground and my brother and I were in the nose of the movie Memphis Belle B-17.

[@raguimaraes2k]

The B-17s used by the Brazilian Air Force was configured to Search and Rescue missions, they are not used as bombers. Today are at least two remaining B-17 in Brazil, one at entrance of the Recife Air Force Base e another in storage at Aerospace Museum, waiting to be restored someday.

[@stryderprime]

I don't know if you knew this but the B-17 was in a famous show back in the 80s called "amazing stories" where in Episode 5 called "The Mission" there was a B-17 in it. It stared a young Kevin Costner at the time and there was a ball gunner who was stuck under the plane when it was damaged during combat. I won't spoil it for you so you can search it out!

[@Andy-jy9xd]

Very cool and amazing show.I had know one to give me knowledge, on what too do with my life,but I joined the Navy 6 yrs,and the Army 4 years.I wanted too b a pilot, but I was 32 and they offered me a navigater,and I turned It down,what a mistake.Anyway,I met my wife and she is the best,thank you,Andyerika

[@rodati5615]

"Even in death my powers continued..." **Don Felder Heavy Metal starts playing**

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Gets me every time.

[@jenningsrozzell7557]

a relative was a "Rosie the Riveter" my childhood (1960's) is filled with her stories of 20 years earlier of building B-17's and B-25's, working in a War Plant.

[@TakoyaKyono]

I've been in the UK's only airworthy B-17G "Sally B" as I was a member of the supporter's club while living in Coventry many moons ago. My dad and I used to go down to Duxford for the air shows.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Duxford was on my list last time I was over to the UK. But it was right when everything was shutting down due to covid. Maybe next year!

[@TakoyaKyono]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq We used to go all over for air shows. The fly ins were always fun as people would bring in their own aircraft. Saw a couple of old Russian fighters from pre-WW2 but couldn't for the life of me tell you what they were.

[@Atli-Eiriksson]

Love the Duxford museums went with my dad when I was 12 back in 2004, still one of the highlights of my life

[@nigeh5326]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq try to plan for when they have the war birds air show on. Lots of Spitfires, Hurricanes, P51s and more. When I went there were more than a dozen Spitfires that all flew over in formation what a sound, the sound of freedom. Duxford is a great museum and the American Cemetery at Cambridge isn’t too far either

[@SimonHeartfield]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Unfortunately the Flying Legends display pulled out of Duxford a while back so the best bet for a vintage show is the Battle of Britain one in September.

[@Thirdbase9]

You left off the greatest B17 story, Amazing Stories: The Mission.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Well all I can do now is thank you for adding it to the list!

[@thekhoifish0146]

Ah, the B-17. Truly a beautiful bomber

[@mr.8-bit800]

The Catch 22 Series is a good depiction of Bombing missions during WW2. I know they aren't B17's but are B25's, still a very good show.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

That movie and B-25s are certainly on my radar :)

[@justalex2.0]

The b 17 deserves its nickname the flying fortress

[@rolfagten857]

"The Warlover" (1962) with McQueen was very good, shame "Buzz Rickson" crashed into the White cliffs of Dover. Good video Johnny!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

ah shoot! I should have added that one

[@HollywoodMarine0351]

Excellent scene when the B-17, flown by stunt pilot Paul Mantz, buzzes the tower at extremely low level!

[@geordiedog1749]

Oh yeah! Good spot. I couldn’t remember the bloody name. Cheers.

[@richardclarke3924]

Just about to mention that one, you beat me to it, great film and “gritty” for the time.

[@rbrooks2007]

The film The 1000 Plane Raid has some great B-17 grass skimming in that. From 54:55... kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioHZkJeMnstor5I

[@Perfusionist01]

Surprised that you didn't cover "The War Lover", one of Steve McQueen's war movies. THREE B17s were recovered from an Air Force boneyard and were restored to full war time configuration for this film. Famous aviation author Martin Caidin wrote a book about the process and about moving the aircraft to England (although he might have pumped up the adventure part of the story). There was a B17 used for the TV show "12 O'Clock High" and was based at the Ontario, CA airport where I got to see it in 1970. Piccadilly Lily apparently could only taxi, not fly.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Haha yes... I regretted not including it the moment I released this video. Thanks for adding this though

[@PolarizedMechs]

She's still there! Planes of Fame has her today, and plans are to restore her to fly.

[@vger4156]

Grandma installed the pistons into the B-17 engines. Watch Air Force (1944) if you want to see some awesome B-17Ds inside and out.

[@jonbridge8064]

The "Thunderball" B-17 was from Intermountain Aviation - a CIA proprietary organisation. It was fitted with the Fulton Skyhook for picking up agents etc. It's now at Evergreen Aviation Museum.

[@PolarizedMechs]

I think it's been sold--the Collings Foundation purchased it. It's still flyable, but after the loss of Nine-O-Nine, I'd be surprised if they do so.

[@joshuacjleim]

I remember watching Memphis belle when I was 5. It was huge, had 4 propellers, and at the time it felt like it had a million guns sticking out of it. It had everything a five year old boy likes. It was the coolest thing I've ever seen. I rewatched the movie after watching your video and God I felt like I was 5 again. superb video as always

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

It's aged well actually! Shows better than some modern CGI movies actually. Thanks again for the comment/support.

[@elerg2932]

Your comment highly related for me. I watch this movie with my father when i was about 4 or 5 years. As a little boy i was exited saw a lot details of aircrafts inside like guns, bombs, wheels and engines :D Now, when i watch this movie it’s like time travel

[@velvetrooster5569]

Was actually a mechanic and pilot for a B-17 back in the 80s and 90s and that particular B-17 was used in the movie Memphis Belle. At the time the plane was owned by a man named David Tallichet. This plane still makes rounds on the airshow circuit and set up with the Memphis Belle movie paint scheme. My dad Mark Hinzman has told me multiple times that the airplane was originally set up as a fire bomber when they acquired the B-17 in the 80s. he told me that they converted it into the Memphis Belle and removed the chin turret for the movie. As a pilot, my dad‘s flight logs do show him with a significant amount of time as pilot command for B-17. He did not fly in the movie, but he did fly all around California and briefly in New York but mostly California. he was both the chief mechanic for the airplane and pilot for the airplane during the 80s and 90s in Chino California. I also know that me and my brother have a pretty iconic picture in our family that my dad took as he was standing on the ground and my brother and I were in the nose of the movie Memphis Belle B-17.

[@Defiant1940]

Don't forget 'The Thousand Plane Raid,' a typical Hollywood production where they claim credit for the first such raid by the USAAF, when in fact it was the RAF who achieved this feat. All the same, it was an enjoyable bit of flying action.

[@winghungyuen2726]

The B-17 bomber is my favorite WWII bomber ever since I saw them in history books when I was younger. The B-17s also appeared in the anime “Strike Witches: Road to Berlin” where they went on a bombing mission to hit an alien target over Berlin. ( The show has a weird premise but I was so happy to see my favorite US heavy bomber make an appearance.)

[@mister-v-3086]

One Sunday afternoon, in Arlington, TX, I heard a noise that was very familiar to me ---from 12 O'Clock High. I got to my feet, let out an unbelieving "No-o-o-o!" and ran outside. The B-17 that flew over my house was from an air show in neighboring Grand Prairie. To say I stood there, entranced and feeling incredibly lucky, is to shortchange all my feelings. Thanks, Johnny -- good work as usual.

[@anamericancelt6534]

3:34 Best B-17 nose art I've seen so far.

[@CurtRowlett]

Great overview of this classic airplane. I always thought that being onboard one of these during a bombing run would be almost as scary as being a foot soldier.

[@geordiedog1749]

I suppose you can at least run and hide as a foot soldier. No such luxury on a metal box five miles up.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Not many places to hide up there. Must be a wild experience to be exposed like that for so long.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq “Wild”……… If by that you mean absolutely totally terrifying then yeah - wild:) I reckon co- pilot was the worst. Just sitting there…… waiting. At least as a gunner you could shoot back.

[@jantschierschky3461]

Also it's freezing cold

[@skelejp9982]

I loved Air Force (1943), and I can recommend it ! Don 't forget the B-17s mean brother, the B-40 !

[@alessiodecarolis]

Yes, the (in) famous "escort" bomber, it was so heavy that couldn't fly so fast as the aircrafts it was supposed to escort (but at least the chin turret's idea was useful for the G version)

[@sickfarce6275]

Cool video. REALLY looking forward to how "Masters of the Air" will portrait the whole topic. The most comprehensive game about the B-17 has to be 2000s simulation "B-17 Flying Fortress: The Mighty 8th" by MicroProse, although the mechanics might be way to inacessible, complex and/or outdated to many. Same goes for the graphics.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Can't be any less janky than Warthunder 🙂

[@jeremyweaver7689]

My grandfather was a crew chief and as a result was the top turret gunner on one in 1944-45. Didn’t know if he ever saw action he died when I was very young.

[@jimjamauto]

Glad you mentioned Heavy Metal. Overall kind of an ehhhh movie but the B17 scene was great.

[@fortis3686]

The beautiful Flying Fortress Can you do the P-51 and Spitfire next?

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

On the list my friend. Might be a few weeks though 🙏

[@omerashraf9357]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq love your content bro keep it up. Have you ever thought doing a video on a6m zero or p47 scenes in films????

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I have a zero video on my channel but it's all stock footage. P47 also has a special place on my top 5 ground attack aircraft video :)

[@omerashraf9357]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq i know that. I was talking that you should do films

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

@@omerashraf9357 Okay I gotcha! Ya should definitely be enough movies out there for me for those two planes.

[@leecrt967]

Uh uh. You missed "The War Lover" (1962) with Steve McQueen. Great footage of a 17 buzzing the base. And the combat sequences utilizing real footage, edited superbly, are amongst the best.

[@PolarizedMechs]

It was a little weird, but had some great flying. Plus one of the coolest names ever for a B-17--"The Body."

[@plaidzebra5526]

Air Force 1943 is another movie about a B-17 crew starting the war from Pearl Harbor, the fall of Manila in the Philippines, and possible battle of The Coral Sea. It's on Daily Motion and I do recommend the film to check out right now

[@koflynn2159]

the clip of the Ju-88 at 1:48 was from the movie The 12th Man, absolutely one of the best war movies out there. Very gory if you are into that stuff. Also the war thunder clip from 2:30 was the IronArmenian 'So I flew the B-17 lawn mower'. Just added that because I recognised it.

[@ryanvictoria6206]

Its not a movie but if you can find Steven Spieldberg's 1985 TV series AMAZING STORIES theres an episode i saw as a kid back then about a B-17 and its crew particularly one that got stuck in the ball gunner compartment. Kevin Costner and Keiffer Sutherland are some of the guys i remember playing part of the crew in this episode. If you can find it watch it. Great story👍👍🙂

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Steven Spielberg's* series / Kiefer* Sutherland

[@robertthompson2237]

You left out “war lover” 1962 Steve McQueen and Robert Wagner. Yes a love triangle story but the scenes at the end where McQueen’s character (the war lover) tries to keep the plane flying is good

[@robertthompson2237]

I also recommend the “Memphis Bell” documentary made in 1944(?) by William Wellman. The action sciences shot under actual combat conditions (although dubbed in post production) tell it like it was. Excellent story about the dangers the crews faced.

[@jamesbednar8625]

Awesome video!!! One of my most favorite bombers of WWII just because of the movie & TV series, "Twelve O'clock High". In the Play Station 2 video game, "Secret Weapons Over Normandy", there is a mission where your character is a crewmember of a B17 - actually you are tasked to fly into Germany on a B17 and parachute into Germany to steal Germany's latest aircraft. Anyway, during the mission, the bomber that your character is now is attacked by German fighters and your character has to run to ALL weapons stations and render 1st aid to wounded crewmembers and man various weapons. Eventually, the bomber formation reaches its destination and then your character must jump through the bomb bay doors and land in Germany to continue his mission.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Saddened I missed out on this game. I'll have to check out some game play on KZbin!

[@jamesbednar8625]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq It is actually a pretty good game!! You fly various historical aircraft throughout the game and fight in various battles across the globe from Denmark where you have to rescue a scientist; Dunkirk; the Solomon's; North Africa; Midway; Soviet Union; and so forth - been a few years since have played

[@evancrum6811]

My grandfather flew B-17's from late 44-45. Was able to view the missions on a website that has all the missions the 8th and flight crews flew. I didn't know that pilots (and crew) flew different B-17's. He flew three different ones (he flew the same one like 5-6 times). Luckily by late 44-45 they didn't have to deal with the Luftwaffe as much as flack but still...pretty scary.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Took some guts to be up there. At least he would have had fighter escort during the end of the war.

[@evancrum6811]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Yea it did. I will have to look for the website if you want to check it out.

[@guardianoftheledge4966]

My grandpa was the radioman on a B-17 sent to bomb the Ploesti oil fields. Long story short, his crew were shot down with flak forcing them to bail over Yugoslavia. One of his crewmates was scared stiff, unable to jump, and grandpa had to shove him out of the plane (with a parachute, don't worry). Grandpa broke his hip on landing, but nearby villagers gladly took care of him and his crew. There they would come up with an escape plan. Crewmembers with hips intact were in charge of building a runway, and grandpa was in charge of repairing an old radio. The whole process took four months until they were ready to call. A plane was sent to rescue them, and the operation went off without a hitch. Grandpa was awarded the purple heart and went on to live a long and full life, during which he never stopped fixing things.

[@AtomicBabel]

So happy to see the clip from Heavy Metal. On fantasy side, there is also the first episode of Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories, where a ball turret gunner was trapped..much fantasy there. Plus "The Best Years of Our Lives" which have 2 memorable scenes, one flying in one and the later a very very sad scrap yard scene.

[@alessiodecarolis]

My late father saw Rome's bombing when was a boy, he told me how scary was the engines' sound of all these aircrafts, luckyly he was in a safer area of the city, far from S.Lorenzo, where there was most of the carnage.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Glad he was safe 🙏

[@PolarizedMechs]

A German friend of ours remembered seeing mass B-17 and B-24 formations when she was a kid. She said they filled the sky and were utterly terrifying. Fury did a good job of showing that in a deleted scene.

[@mmouseav8r402]

Great video, found this by chance, my grandfather flew B-24s and B-17Gs, he preferred the -17.

[@antartis73]

Love every video I have watched on your channel but for me this particular one is my favourite. The Memphis Belle was the first ww2 I watched in a theatre and it has been a favourite ever since. I have seen a real B-17 in UK air shows several times and it has to be a very memorable occasion every time

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I've seen a couple at air shows. I'd love to get in one one day. Thanks for the feedback 🙏

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

Last year before covid got out of hand my hometown of El paso Texas was visited by a B-17. It flew over my neighborhood several times on a Saturday.

[@johnosbourn4312]

Which one was it?

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

@@johnosbourn4312 on its tail was a K in a white triangle above a yellow S.

[@johnosbourn4312]

@@ricardoaguirre6126 That would be "Ye Olde Pub".

[@johnosbourn4312]

That would be "Ye Olde Pub", which used to be known as "Madras Maiden", and is owned by the Ericson Aircraft Collection.

[@joshboy1st]

Very well put!! well done

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thank you kindly 🙏

[@4thmonitorion731]

Hey Johnny ever heard of the B-17 "666"? That B-17 has more guns than other B-17.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Just looked it up. Pretty wild!

[@velvetrooster5569]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq there was a good show on the history channel that doesn’t episode about it and it’s available on KZbin so I highly recommend watching the story of B-17 666 it’s wild also they install guns for the pilot and copilot to use. they replaced every single gun with twin guns again it’s wild and super Duper hard-core and I actually love this story

[@danbuchman7497]

Hi, I love this. I’m 64, and was 7 years old when 12 O’clock High was aired on TV. Robert Lansing was a superb choice to reenact Gregory Pecks General Savage and pissed when they killed him off to be replaced by Paul Burke which was followed by filming in color (an abomination!). Savage was one of my childhood heroes. It was a few years later when I finally saw the film (in B&W!!!). Combat! With Vic Morrow was my other favorite character (I guess I was always destined to be a blue collar guy😳). I got a chance at an air show to go into a B17G. I’m 6’4” and would never fit into either the tail or belly gun. Amazing heroism to be in one of those planes. As for the movies, I for one love the lists and suggestions. Watched T-34 a couple of nights ago based on your recommendation and absolutely loved it (I’m a sucker for an impossible situation and the guy still gets the girl). Not realistic by a long shot, but the last scene on the bridge had me cheering (maybe because the actors seemed like real humans). Very Russian as compared with films like Alexander Nevsky. Well done and a super trip down memory lane. Best wishes!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Glad I can make some meaningful recommendations for you. I really appreciate the feedback. I've seen some B17s in the air but never up close. One day I'd like to go up in one. Hopefully I fit!

[@hayabusa-iii9282]

12'0'Clock high T.V. series. 1964-67. The War Lover. Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner 1962.

[@Wookie120]

Interestingly, the Germans would try to shadow bomber formations over Europe and US formations got to where they would engage any lone bomber with dubious markings trying to join their formations. You do realize one of the RAF's highest scoring aces was named Johnny Johnson?

[@PolarizedMechs]

The 8th AF adopted temporary "markings of the day" that would supposedly prevent that. A few weeks later, a suspicious B-17 started shadowing a bomber group, then broke off when the Germans started shooting. It had the correct markings of the day. The 8th abandoned the idea after that.

[@velvetrooster5569]

My dad used to be the mechanic and pilot for the plane known as Memphis Belle which is a replica of obviously the real Memphis Belle that was used in the 1990 movie by the same name Memphis Belle when he was working at Chino CA airport in the 80s and 90s

[@velvetrooster5569]

Was actually a mechanic and pilot for a B-17 back in the 80s and 90s and that particular B-17 was used in the movie Memphis Belle. At the time the plane was owned by a man named David Tallichet. This plane still makes rounds on the airshow circuit and set up with the Memphis Belle movie paint scheme. My dad Mark Hinzman has told me multiple times that the airplane was originally set up as a fire bomber when they acquired the B-17 in the 80s. he told me that they converted it into the Memphis Belle and removed the chin turret for the movie. As a pilot, my dad‘s flight logs do show him with a significant amount of time as pilot command for B-17. He did not fly in the movie, but he did fly all around California and briefly in New York but mostly California. he was both the chief mechanic for the airplane and pilot for the airplane during the 80s and 90s in Chino California. I also know that me and my brother have a pretty iconic picture in our family that my dad took as he was standing on the ground and my brother and I were in the nose of the movie Memphis Belle B-17.

[@jackstecker5796]

I got the chance to tour the Collins Foundation B-17G, the "Nine-Oh-Nine" several times in my youth. I was dismayed a few years back, to hear that she had crashed and burned somewhere in Connecticut. Worse, lives were lost. Here's the weird part, though. Maybe a month later, I was doing volunteer work for the local Boy Scout Hall, stepped outside for a smoke break, and heard radial engines. I'm looking around, because that was a sound I hadn't heard in quite some time. All of a sudden, a B-17 roars overhead, maybe 400" AGL. I was thrilled. Must have had crosswinds aloft, because they were "crabbing" it down their heading.

[@MGB-learning]

Great video

[@andrewmontgomery5621]

One of my personal favourite bombers

[@johnnypopper-pc3ss]

I've flown in "Yankee Lady" twice and walked through the "Movie Memphis Belle" once.

[@Outstralian]

I think that 'Memphis Belle' is a great example of a film with a perfect script. Good pacing, all of the characters are well defined and have their arcs, the action is tense and moves serves the plot well.

[@jmace5964]

I have really high hopes for Masters of the Air filming now.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

It looks very promising!

[@velvetrooster5569]

Dude, I’m absolutely in love with this show. Episode three was absolutely insane. Also Austin Butler is still doing the hell. His voice.

[@bfineducation1035]

Many years ago, I played a game named ‘Secret Weapons Over Normandy’ using my PS2 console. There was a mission where the player is assigned to man the ball turret of B-17. It was amazing back then💁🏻‍♂️

[@lukeleng5901]

I am a 3rd generation pilot after my Dad & Pop. (His dad.) My father’s first cousin was the first female airline ATP pilot in history. I looked this up, as my father actually once flew the exact B-17 from the movie, Tora, Tora, Tora! So much pride here. 😊

[@leoperidot482]

Of course older movies always get overlooked. But they are the best source materials. AIR FORCE. COMMAND DECISION. TEST PILOT. THE WAR LOVER.

[@PolarizedMechs]

The John Wayne Test Pilot? That movie's awful.

[@leoperidot482]

@@PolarizedMechs I think you're thinking of John Wayne in JET PILOT. Clark Gable, Lionel Barrymore, and Spencer Tracy were in TEST PILOT, 1938. For the record I detest John Wayne propaganda movies. I cringe and flip the channel every time I see his movies come on. I don't mind the man making movies, but what I didn't like was John Wayne running his BIG mouth off about patriotism and telling young boys to go fight and die for their country when he and his own kids were too chickenshit to do it themselves. John Wayne had no problem calling pacifists cowards and yet he was a draft dodger himself. The hypocrisy of it all is what's infuriating.

[@PolarizedMechs]

@@leoperidot482 You're right about Jet Pilot...but wrong about John Wayne. Read up on the guy. He did try to join up, only to have RKO tell him he wasn't going anywhere; he was under contract. One of the reasons why he was so superpatriotic was because he didn't have a chance to serve, and so he was overcompensating a bit. He didn't dodge the draft--he tried to volunteer. Up to you if you want to continue to believe what you believe, but it's not true.

[@leoperidot482]

@@PolarizedMechs Oh great another John Wayne apologist who believes all the John Wayne BS PR stories. Studio refused to release John Wayne but let all the other box office actors go to war? I wish people like YOU would use some effing common sense. USAAF even had its own unit in Hollywood to make propaganda films but John Wayne refused to enlist in that too. Who did join? Ronald Reagan. William Holden. DeForest Kelly. Alan Ladd. Burgess Meredith. Clayton Moore. There were plenty of popular actors who enlisted in WW 2, some even served on the front lines like; Eddie Albert. Gene Autry. Henry Fonda. Clark Gable. Robert Montgomery. David Nivens. Tyrone Powers. Cesar Romero. Mickey Rooney. James Stewart. Of course there were more big name actors who served in WW 2 and became famous after serving their country like; Don Adams. James Arness. Ernest Borgnine. Mel Brooks. Tony Curtis. Kirk Douglas. James Doohan. Charles Durning. Jack Lemon. Lee Marvin. Ed McMahon. Paul Newman. Don Rickles. Jason Robards. You know what the sad part is? John Wayne had the gall of all people to call some of these combat veterans un-American and unpatriotic. Some people talk the talk, others can walk the walk. Too many Americans can't tell the difference. It's up to you to continue believing in all the John Wayne lies. Why? Because it's easier to believe in a lie you believed in all your life than the truth.

[@audiosurfarchive]

So stoked for Masters Of The Air.

[@velvetrooster5569]

I just watched episode 4 and let me tell you. This show is so good. Also, Austin Butler has never stopped doing the Elvis voice and is still doing it here in this show.

[@calebtodd1874]

can't wait for the review of masters of the air

[@_Boz]

Another outstanding B-17 movie is "The War Lover" starring Steve MacQueen.

[@nostradamusofgames5508]

Shame the "Red Tailed Angels" haven't got a proper film.

[@aidanpolzin9243]

My great grandpa was a tail gunner for these things

[@aidanpolzin9243]

He flew missions in Africa and Germany.

[@raptorcaliber5165]

I was lucky enough to see one of these bad boys fly along with a P-51 and Bf 109 yesterday :)

[@christophersnyder1532]

Great video again. a great film that I have is Unbroken, and another film that I own is, In Harm's Way/The Chinese Widow, I don't know if you will ever discuss those, but if not, then that is perfectly fine. Take care, and all thebest.

[@kaletovhangar]

"Air force" (1943 movie) which depicts fictional bomber crew of early B-17D model from flight from California to Pearl Harbor,than to Phillipines during December of 1941 up to their mission near Australia.Not a bad movie, although typical of war time propaganda.

[@adzha825]

Memphis belle my favourite film

[@nguyennguyenkennobi9029]

Very nice and best aircraft in Ww2

[@flymax4066]

Memphis Belle is one of my top 3 favourite movies! Im excited for Masters of the Air!

[@velvetrooster5569]

Was actually a mechanic and pilot for a B-17 back in the 80s and 90s and that particular B-17 was used in the movie Memphis Belle. At the time the plane was owned by a man named David Tallichet. This plane still makes rounds on the airshow circuit and set up with the Memphis Belle movie paint scheme. My dad Mark Hinzman has told me multiple times that the airplane was originally set up as a fire bomber when they acquired the B-17 in the 80s. he told me that they converted it into the Memphis Belle and removed the chin turret for the movie. As a pilot, my dad‘s flight logs do show him with a significant amount of time as pilot command for B-17. He did not fly in the movie, but he did fly all around California and briefly in New York but mostly California. he was both the chief mechanic for the airplane and pilot for the airplane during the 80s and 90s in Chino California. I also know that me and my brother have a pretty iconic picture in our family that my dad took as he was standing on the ground and my brother and I were in the nose of the movie Memphis Belle B-17.

[@blue387]

I read Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg are making a Band of Brothers style miniseries on B-17 bombers called Masters of the Air for HBO in the near future

[@velvetrooster5569]

Well, it’s out now on Apple TV and there’s four episodes available at the moment and it’s awesome. Episode three so far is the most action packed and intense episode yet also Austin Butler who played Elvis is still doing his Elvis voice because the running joke is that Austin Butler learned how to talk like Elvis and then never stopped talking like Elvis ever since, and that is true because in the series he is still talking like Elvis getting back to the series it is I think you won’t enjoy it very much. It’s on Apple TV+ and I highly recommend the show after watching four episodes.

[@Graham-ce2yk]

One film missing was the '1000 Bomber Raid' from 1969, while a cheaply made production that plays very fast and loose with history (The first 1000 Bomber raid was carried out by the RAF on Cologne, not the USAAF.), it does have some interesting low flying scenes for which one of three B-17s the film makers managed to procure was used. One of the trio, still wearing the markings used for the '1000 Bomber Raid' later appeared in the MacArthur biopic.

[@roccobilly2973]

Thanks for the good infos. However one great B17 movie was to be quoted, too: it's the Howard Hawks' masterpiece ""AIR FORCE"" sometimes titled the ""Mary Ann"", too, which was the nose art of the B17 of the movie.

[@roelvanex]

The War Lover is already mentioned by some, but there is also The Testpilot with Clark Gable (who was a B17 gunner in WWII) and Spencer Tracy. It is about a testpilot and they testfly a B17 and crash it. Great movie, a classic..

[@nathanmeece9794]

My first encounter with a B17 was when I worked with the North Carolina Forestry Service. It was converted to drop retardant on forest fires. My next encounter was at Wings Over Wayne Airshow at Seymour Johnson AFB. The B17 that portrayed the Memphis Belle ws there. It was open for people to go through. It was amazing to see what a B17 looked like inside.

[@velvetrooster5569]

My dad was actually a mechanic and pilot for a B-17 back in the 80s and 90s and that particular B-17 was used in the movie Memphis Belle. At the time the plane was owned by a man named David Tallichet. This plane still makes rounds on the airshow circuit and set up with the Memphis Belle movie paint scheme. My dad Mark Hinzman has told me multiple times that the airplane was originally set up as a fire bomber when they acquired the B-17 in the 80s. he told me that they converted it into the Memphis Belle and removed the chin turret for the movie. As a pilot, my dad‘s flight logs do show him with a significant amount of time as pilot command for B-17. He did not fly in the movie, but he did fly all around California and briefly in New York but mostly California. he was both the chief mechanic for the airplane and pilot for the airplane during the 80s and 90s in Chino California. I also know that me and my brother have a pretty iconic picture in our family that my dad took as he was standing on the ground and my brother and I were in the nose of the movie Memphis Belle B-17.

[@richardsawyer5428]

I've got an Airfix model depicting "Take It Easy" of 100 Group Bomber Support, RAF. An electronic warfare version. They were also used by RAF Coastal Command.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Its true RAF were using B17s before the Americans in WW2 funny enough.

[@peter2023]

While watching the Battle of Britain being filmed ,, my dad took me to a American bomber crews grave yard ,, to me , it looked like a never ending field of white crosses, thank good for young brave american boys , young commonwealth boys in Lancaster and spitfires,,, we owe these boys everything

[@TRockett55IRISH]

The B-17 the greatest plane ever built really looking forward to the Masters of the Air mini series in the New Year if you have not read the book I highly recommend it .

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Good stuff, RAF Cosford museum is worth a look next time you are this side of the pond...cheers / slainte....E

[@zerotonic2659]

Thank you for your videos. You are (nearly^^) a genius. Please go on. Greetings from Germany.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Just an amateur movie/history fan! Thank you so much for watching!

[@michaelfrench3396]

If you like the twelve o'clock high movie, check out the television series from the 60s. It's absolutely amazing

[@johnosbourn4312]

Actually, the normal bomb load of the B-17 was 4,000lbs, the 6,000lb load was only for short range missions, when fitted with the little used external bomb racks.

[@fives9515]

I got to see the one that they used for Memphis Belle at an airfield

[@velvetrooster5569]

My dad was actually a mechanic and pilot for a B-17 back in the 80s and 90s and that particular B-17 was used in the movie Memphis Belle. At the time the plane was owned by a man named David Tallichet. This plane still makes rounds on the airshow circuit and set up with the Memphis Belle movie paint scheme. My dad Mark Hinzman has told me multiple times that the airplane was originally set up as a fire bomber when they acquired the B-17 in the 80s. he told me that they converted it into the Memphis Belle and removed the chin turret for the movie. As a pilot, my dad‘s flight logs do show him with a significant amount of time as pilot command for B-17. He did not fly in the movie, but he did fly all around California and briefly in New York but mostly California. he was both the chief mechanic for the airplane and pilot for the airplane during the 80s and 90s in Chino California. I also know that me and my brother have a pretty iconic picture in our family that my dad took as he was standing on the ground and my brother and I were in the nose of the movie Memphis Belle B-17.

[@daltonsteedgaming2872]

Three facts you didn't know about the Memphis belle: yes these are true facts... 1: In real life you actually had to limit your talking and radio silence 2: The Memphis belle was sent on easier missions. 3: The whole movie and most of the events that happened in it didn't actually happen, like the scene where the P-47's broke off due to fuel. IRL it was P-51s and they encountered hardly any fighters on the way. I know these because my great grandfather served in the same formation....

[@SmoothCriminal69]

One movie that stars the B-17 (& is very underrated) is the movie "Air Force", made in 1943 & stared about 9 B-17s

[@somethingelse4878]

I talked to a b17 pilot in the uk when i was 19 He told me he was about 20 when he was last here What a nice guy While no rich English would talk to us workers, he did

[@Jd-jb9fs]

Plz continue the aircraft in movies , n do the F4u corsair , i know ull also have to do the mustang too at some point but keep up this series

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I can do that. Give me a couple weeks and I'll do another aircraft forsure.

[@indygeo4267]

My favorite American heavy bomber from WW2 is the B-17. The B-29 comes in at a close second.

[@AlaskaTrucker]

You did a nice job on this video, Johnny. I recently got to walk through the B-17 "Sentimental Journey" in Arizona - I want to go for a ride and KZbin the experience this winter. Somehow, the B-17 seems to have as much allure for some of us as a beautiful woman, at least with my generation. I remember once when I was in grade school during the 70s that Leonard Nimoy narrated one of our school's educational films and in the film there was a B-17, still commissioned by the U.S. Government, as a weather research aircraft. This particular B-17 had been festooned with all kinds of weird and stupid looking antennas which totally destroyed the exterior flow of the B-17's esthetics but the aircraft hadn't been modified to the point of no return. I've often wondered what ever became of that B-17. Great video, thanks for posting!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm going to look up that Nimoy video forsure.

[@AlaskaTrucker]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq It may be a hard one to find, Johnny. The publication was an educational film created for school districts and the mention of the B-17 was just a quick off hand mention but I would love to see it again. BTW Are you any relation the the Spitfire ace?

[@PolarizedMechs]

That B-17 *might* (emphasis on might) have become the Collings Foundation's B-17G, Nine-O-Nine. That aircraft was a former weather research aircraft. Sadly, she was lost in a fatal crash a few years ago.

[@AlaskaTrucker]

@@PolarizedMechs Wow, that's interesting! Yes, very sad about the people involved and also the loss of that airplane, 909.

[@mattmckee6255]

All the movies mentioned but left out the 1943 film 'Air Force', which follows the crew of a B-17D.

[@Salafiddin]

Well done bro👌👍👍👍✅✅✅ next M26 Pershing movie 🍿🍿🍿

[@ponyboy481]

You should look up the 1000 plane raid from mid 70s great movie with great B17 stunt work really worth looking at

[@grizwoldphantasia5005]

My first ever sight of a WW II plane was in the late 1950s in the Sierra foothills of Northern California watching a B-17 or two flying overhead, low enough to recognize the turbochargers on the bottoms of the engine nacelles. At some point, I assumed they were forest fire bombers, but perhaps not at the time.

[@yoinks9907]

Can you do a video on the ppsh

[@mugsnvicki]

Another great presentation Johnny. May I add John Garfield's Airforce (1943), looks like a B1-7 B no tail gunner but with American ingenuity and a hacksaw, voila, .50 cal. stinger. And I think Robin Hood's Richard Greene was in a '43 film called Flying Fortress. Maybe Mosquitos next??

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I love the Mosquito. A personal favorite. Thanks for adding a few extra videos to the list as well 🙏

[@mugsnvicki]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Stairway to Heaven aka A Matter of Life and Death. A Mossie flies right over David Niven's head. Blink and you'll miss it. 633 Squadron - ok, Mosquito Squadron, 3 thumbs down. Can't think of any others.

[@danzmitrovich6250]

They where used for search and rescue mission as well like the uss Indianapolis story

[@panzerivausfg4062]

Can't wait for Spielberg's "Mighty Eighth" to finally come out. I have seen the trailer four years ago and we're still waiting for the series to be released...

[@s2eforme]

Yeah man Masters of the Air is going to be awesome. At least I think that's what you're talking about.

[@panzerivausfg4062]

@@s2eforme Ah, yeah, i forgot it was renamed...

[@sickfarce6275]

If it's anything like these trailers from years ago, it will be terrible. They are SO bad and unrealistic, using sound clips from other movies and the action is worse than any video game. I don't know who was behind them, if it was a students project or some kind of concept trailer. But anyway, the real mini-series, "Masters of the Air", just started shooting this spring and there is no footage or trailer available as of yet. And I'm literally praying they get it right.

[@panzerivausfg4062]

@@sickfarce6275 It's Steven Spielberg's... I'm sure it will be like BoB and The Pacific. If you search "Mighty Eighth" trailer, it seems like a nice teaser, except of the fact that during the Luftwaffe attack on the B-17s it's like the whole German Air Force is attacking.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I think they are staying clear of that old trailer. I'm expecting Band of Brothers greatness. I'd accept even half of that though.

[@SamsulBahri-tz1sh]

One mist the movie ' The Thousand Plane Raid' 1969...

[@george217]

I think it was William Wyler who did a documentary on the "Memphis Belle" that was far better than the commercial movie.

[@nathanreilly2726]

My fourth cousin flew a B-17 in the 8th air force

[@kyowamushi5119]

I just watched masters of the air . I could only imagine the horror those airmen saw and experienced in WW2

[@Frank-mm2yp]

In an interview, the Director/Producer Steven Spielberg ("Saving Private Ryan", etc.) said that when making a commercial/ historical movie, if historical accuracy conflicts with the drama-the drama always wins.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Well at least he was being honest about his work I suppose

[@Frank-mm2yp]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Professional film makers do what they do to achieve fame , prestige and to make lots of $$$$. They are very serious about their work. That's why its called show business and not show play .

[@kevwebb2637]

Don't forget the animated story Sabaton did with their song No Bullets Fly.

[@Coolit2683]

What planes are being used in band of brothers on the second episode when they drop everyone behind ennemy lines? Such an awesome scene.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

C-47s. I'll have to do a video on them sometime soon.