Memphis Belle (Actual WWII Combat Footage)

This video is for educational purposes and discussion only. Do not attempt to imitate anything contained herein.
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[@thomasleary2814]

My Dad served in the Eighth. I believe his base was Tibbenham Field. He was a navigator on a B-24 ‘Liberator.’ He was involved in the infamous Kassel air raid and crash-landed in Belgium. He survived, got back to England and made it through all 25 missions.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Germs pandemic WW1 veterans

[@babygoldsmith4508]

My great grandfather was the co-pilot of a b-17 in the 8th then halfway through the war he switched to the p-51 and stayed with the 8th.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Black lives matter

[@remnanteighty]

Bless your Dad

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Black WW1 veterans

[@gilmoran6425]

The "Belle" navigator, Chuck Leighton, was my math teacher in high school in 1953

[@DannyBoy777777]

Wow.

[@michaelbuteau4183]

That is so freaking cool.

[@slick51]

Thanks for this. Col Bob Morgan (Memphis Belle commander) was a friend of mine...

[@johanamendoza1649]

Thanks him for his service!

[@parunaleluni6923]

I thought his name waa Robert Morgan

[@slick51]

Yes, Robert "Bob" Morgan...

[@arthurbrunelle9828]

I truly wish I had the chance to shake his hand! Thank you Colonel Morgan and ALL the aircrews for your bravery and for the difficult job you did! God Bless! 🇺🇲🇬🇧

[@codysigmon4937]

You from the Ashville area?

[@ShooterSD72]

Great stuff! My Grandfather was a pilot in the 401st Bombardment Group. I'm told he logged over 300 combat hours in a total of 54 missions. Becoming one of the youngest squadron leaders in the European Theater. He told stories of how those planes held together. Even though most of the crew was cut to pieces by flak or enemy fire. Insane to think of how much of a real man you have to be to do it over and over again!

[@hughmarkestill6941]

PA

[@chucknorris6640]

This is 8 years late but your grandfather is a Heroes all my respcerts thanks for his service

[@52573]

My Uncle, Leland Waldie, of Allendale, MI was a tailgunner on a B-17 bomber and later a B-24. He flew 52 missions. He received an oak leaf, 9 clusters, purple heart medal and several others. His plane was shot down and he suffered a broken neck. He was in a European hospital for about 2 mo. After he was released he returned and enlisted again. He passed at age 83. I have his military scrapbook and a copy of many questions my children asked him that he answered over the years for classroom assignments. He also visited several elementary schools around Veterans Day. Our young soldiers were very brave and patriotic. We owe so much to them.

[@robertwilson123]

This real action documentary and commentary, filmed and directed by Oscar winning William Wyler, is without doubt one of the finest pieces of World War Two filmed history. It is truly outstanding in every respect. .

[@tommykirwan6764]

My dad, a Sgt. in the 82nd AA led a bomber loading crew at a U.K. Airfield before and after the Normandy Invasion. & altho he wasn't involved in literal combat, I'm as proud of him as I am of those who gave their Lives to Defeat Tyranny, Genocide, and just outright Hate. They were Indeed The GREATEST GENERATION!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@alanboots1106]

Ground crew were every bit as important as bomber crew.

[@3chel3]

James Stewart, the movie start of the 40''s and 50's, volunteered to pilot B24's. Amazing thing to do given he was a star and wealthy man who had everything when he volunteered.

[@seashepherds4959]

Col. James Stewart USAAF.

[@maxwellharris507]

@@seashepherds4959 He attained the rank of Brigadier General

[@hughmac13]

Perhaps those facts explain exactly why he volunteered. As a man who had already achieved everything, and whose children's lives were assured financially, he felt more confident about the prospect of being killed.

[@patrickmccrann991]

​@@hughmac13Brigadier General USAFR Retired. He served in the Air Force Reserve for more than 20 years.

[@allgood6760]

Thanks for this.. salute and respect to dads and grandads in the comments for their service from NZ✈️🇳🇿

[@dfdemt]

THESE were real men. Soldiers now come home after a 6 or 9 month deployment. My grandfather didn’t see my grandmother for 3.5 years. THAT took commitment and guts.

[@Trump20-24years]

What a stupid comment.

[@rory6860]

It wasn't that the men now are bad, but that the war has no heart. In ww2 there was a reason to fight and a lot to lose. Now it's useless occupation of land for financial purposes. The country changed not the hearts of mankind.

[@robertwilson123]

A really superb piece of documentary film making. I place it amongst the top group of all documentary film making for WW2, it is superb in all aspects and detail. William Wyler could easily have been killed making the documentary. A really great and beautiful piece of film.

[@chapmaker46]

those guys had some big balls..my uncle was shot down his first mission over Germany when got out of pow camp after the war he was 109 lbs..he was 6' 2

[@throwback19841]

32:56 "Here's Old Bill. It was a pretty good airplane when it took off. Lost its nose. Lost its navigator. Bombardier wounded. Top turret gunner and pilot hit. Hydraulic system shot out. No brakes. No flaps. But Old Bill came back." Watched this doc when I was a kid about 8 years old, in my Dad's VHS collection. Old Bill always stuck with me.

[@artybarra6054]

Thank you so much for this.. its been a long time since I got to see it again. Great story, great men. Great plane.. the greatest generation. Thank you.🙏

[@zacharyking900]

I actually got to meet the crew ( minus Bob Morgan) and they had many stories to tell. It was a awesome experience for a teenager to be able to talk with them. Got to go into the Belle except for the ball turret.

[@katharinecrumpton6314]

Wow what a dream. Your very lucky. You should write out there stories.

[@chucknorris6640]

O you got mi childhood dreamt the belle crew are my childhood heroes and they inspired me to join the Air Force

[@JoseSantos-bp4eo]

Thanks for the video,is insane. I got to ride on this plane,on Van Nuys,Ca. on a air show.Couldnt believe to actually have that amazing piece of history in front of me, and to get to ride on it, my dream come true.

[@hive71recordinz89]

Courage at its highest level thankyou

[@TWANGnBANG]

Wow! That's cool! My grandfather flew so early in the war that many of their missions made the news reels, so it was relatively easy for me to find what I did. Interestingly enough, though, most of the footage that shows American losses didn't get released until after the war.

[@beedalton9675]

When they drop the bombs and capt morgan gives her full throttle she.s got a nice hum to her engines....brave kids back then .... lucky still going strong I saw his video the bloody 100

[@TWANGnBANG]

The Memphis Belle was the first B17 to complete 25 missions *and* return to the US. The importance was purely for PR purposes in order to raise money to fight the war. The Hell's Angels (with an "s") remained in ETO, flying a total of 48 missions before returning to the US. The plane was also used in a bond tour after its return.

[@jacktaylor7549]

TWANGnBANG I got to get up close it while they refurbished it.

[@HuntHardFishHard]

Thanks TwangnBang! As a resident of Memphis , and growing up visiting the Memphis Belle I love this!

[@kennethhakanson8246]

When I visited Memphis in 92 I had the great pleasure of inspecting the Belle under a big cover in a park, I have a great respect for the brave airmen of the U S. airforce

[@rider4440]

I don't know much about it but my great uncle was in the 303rd hells angels and flew 30 combat missions, he was in primarily the George H. Fielder crew for 10 missions with them (3 as regular crew and 7 as lead crew) aswell as 20 others as far as I can tell with misc crews. The was a co-pilot and I still have his officers crusher cap.

[@dealershiptechtruth]

Fun Fact: the audio was recorded in a studio during the US tour of the Memphis Belle by its crew because the movie producers sound equipment was destroyed.

[@plateshutoverlock]

"sound equipment destroyed" It's amazing that those planes have bullets and shrapnel slicing every which way through them (must've been thousands of pieces going through the MB during flak and fighter encounters) and that not only the planes made it home, but the film survived. We are only getting a very tiny glimpse of that carnage, and what we see on the film is nothing compared to what the bomber crew was experiencing. There is just no way to imagine it without being there.

[@shanefrance7446]

Let's remember those air crew who gave their lives for our freedom..

[@jtprice24]

Love love love watching this, gave me the chills! Thanks for posting!

[@TWANGnBANG]

Nearly half of the original men in my grandfather's bombardment group were shot down, and over a third were killed. Out of 360 guys, he was just one of 63 to complete a tour. The rest were either killed, wounded so bad they were sent home, or transferred out because they cracked.

[@arthurbrunelle9828]

My father was merchant marine from the start to the finish of the war. My uncle was US Navy on destroyers....my other uncle was a tanker during the battle of the bulge......my hat off and all honor to all these young men who risked everything that we may all be free....they gave it everything they had, fought with courage and honor...may God Bless them all and may they all rest in peace....🇺🇲

[@littleflower9425]

RIP

[@duggiebader1798]

20:23 you can see a 109 fly towards the formation in the right hand half of the picture. It real quick so you'll need to slow down to .20 I grew up near Grafton Underwood in the 80s. My folks always told us to tread carefully on the old airfield. We loved it when the vets came over. Always bought is sweets and gave us 8th AF badges. One vet in particular gave me his sheepskin air gunners mittens. Still have them.

[@shanefrance5071]

These crew will never be forgotten they skill and bravery was outstanding.....

[@TWANGnBANG]

I love these old archives. I'll be uploading a bunch on a new channel soon.

[@OrbitFallenAngel]

My favorite medium to heavy bomber of WW2! 🥰🇺🇸💗 The Memphis Belle is one of the most beautiful and awe inspiring plane to be built during WW2! All those brave and courageous young men who risked their lives flying bombing raids deep into enemy territory deserve our eternal gratitude and respect! They were part of the Greatest Generation to have ever walked the Earth!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸💗🇺🇸🇺🇸💗🇺🇸🇺🇸💗🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

I saw her at the Dayton Ohio Air Force Museum on Thursday, quite impressive!

[@Aridzonia1]

My mom’s girlfriend’s husband, Ceciel Scott. He was the bottom ball gunner on the Memphis Bell. He passed in the mid 1970’s. A TRUE AMERICAN HERO!!!!!!

[@michaelbuteau4183]

He was probably a short guy. Because, I think you had to be under 5'6" to even fit in there. And that was the most dangerous gunner to be was the bottom turret. First thing that got shut up. That and the tail Gunner.

[@TWANGnBANG]

Glad you like the video showing up on the channel.

[@michaelbuteau4183]

I like the name TWANGnBANG If you had taken out the W, I think the show would have been about a completely different genre.😮😂 Either way, I like the name and this is a great clip.

[@davidgcalderone]

Great piece of history. It is hard to imagine what life was like for a bomber crew. I am always thankful for the men and women who went through the hell of war to keep our freedoms. Only wish more people understood the real price that was paid for the freedoms so many take for granted and so many are willing to give up. You have a great family history and you must make your family proud in the way you fight to keep our freedoms through your videos and your support of the Bill of Rights.

[@DannyBoy777777]

Women didn't serve in the fronline. American women were the safest of any combatant nation.

[@alaskaaksala123]

What a time to be alive!…

[@fattywithafirearm]

I got to fly on the Liberty Bell twice a few years ago before it crashed in Illinois. They are currently rebuilding it.

[@TWANGnBANG]

They were amazing planes, but sadly, too many were lost early in the war.

[@DannyBoy777777]

@ TWANGnBANG The B-17s didn't serve in large numbers until sent to Europe, and then only in about the first quarter of 1943. That isn't early in the war.

[@TWANGnBANG]

Try refreshing your browser and playing again. Sound is fine on two platforms I just tested right now. I do appreciate stuff like this being brought to my attention so I can check on them, so thank you very much for posting that you had a problem. Please let me know how it goes for you from here. Thanks!

[@tnjrcfl1]

fantastic. wish i could find some footage with my papaw, he was grunt in Pacific theater... saw a glimpse of him on one documentary, but didn't have wits to get info on video etc. thanks for sharing your heroic family history. TnJr

[@TWANGnBANG]

I've created a new channel that isn't live yet called the "Military Films Channel" that will be dedicated to archived films like this. I will post a video here announcing it once the channel is up and running.

[@rogermeroundly5085]

Only 14000 views?! Nicky minaj has billions?! We’re in trouble.

[@Thepriest39]

Those guys had balls of steel!

[@poppopscarvinshop]

Thank You for The Upload! Your Grandpa Was A Great Pilot! Thanks Again! :-)

[@shanefrance7446]

Thanku to America for the crews and bombers in England we owe you a big thanku 🙂 you lost a lot of men may we remember them all..

[@jmw9904]

From an early age, I grew up watching this documentary and despite my not watching the movie from the 90's, this one is the best. Another thing that amazes me is the fact that people say the Holocaust never happened and this footage is not real.

[@roberthart6297]

My father was in the 390th bomb group. Framingham. 571st bomb squadron. Co pilot on "Cabin in the sky. Lost every plane in that squadron except his. On black Thursday. Swientfort

[@jeffcharlton9660]

Fantastic documentary. Watched it several times.

[@michaeljohnson2566]

"Pull her up, Chief, pull her up, hurry." 26:36

[@konrad6157]

Authenticity is more valuable than special effects

[@albertbenny4334]

Listen to the words.... Realise the power of speach....it can make you change your perspective,feel hate,feel love.... embrace the feeling...words are destructive

[@txrick4879]

War is hell and some of these guys came back .

[@abdul-kabiralegbe5660]

Goodness! I love these corny sensational music they used in motion pictures back in the day!

[@TWANGnBANG]

Awesome! Glad you like the video showing up here.

[@Peter-bg5gy]

Brings real tears to my eyes❤️💔😢 The courage, the commitment, the only way we can beat covid19. Thank you Belle crew, and our fathers, and the Lord🙏🏻☦️

[@lucyterrier7905]

Huh? The only way we can beat covid 19?? Covid is a minor blip compared to WW2. Are you serious?

[@tomorrowmaybetoolate5853]

Thank you U.S.A from the Brits

[@HangtownTactical]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing this footage.

[@liampaterson3424]

Whenever you are in a comfortably warm, pressurised modern airliner at 30,000ft sipping your gin and tonic - look out of the window and imagine being in a B-17 at the same altitude in WW2 and seeing a swarm of Luftwaffe fighters approaching to come and attack you.

[@thedensecheesewiz]

I respect each and every person who died during the war, doesn't matter what side, they were brave.

[@TWANGnBANG]

Doh! I will have to check these videos for that in the future. I can fix that before uploading. I didn't notice it at all when playing on my desktop or iPad. Thanks for letting me know!

[@dp3352]

The Memphis Belle was NOT the first B-17 to complete 25 missions. That distinction actually fell to a B-17 called "Hell's Angel". Not trying to denegrate the Memhpis Belle, just wanted to set the record straight.

[@chucknorris6640]

But it was the first one to return to America and also the first one to never loss a crewmember

[@paulfisher6142]

The "Belle" flew it's 25 missions ... . with the same crew. 10-4 . .. ...... . . ....... .

[@shanefrance5071]

We will never forget their sacrifices

[@TWANGnBANG]

It came by here a while back, and I thought about flying on it. I wish I did.

[@jmw9904]

What came by? The Memphis Belle?

[@keithwhisman]

I don’t get why they didn’t use Bomber formations on enemy formations more than a couple occasions throughout the war. The times they used bombers on enemy formations they completely or very nearly totally wiped out the enemy ground formation. One was again a Heer infantry and the other was a panzer formation where the celebrate panzer ace was killed.

[@ferdievanderwalle7631]

When has this been recorded? Usually these kinds of films only get published only after the war has ended. So I'm assuming footage recorded from 42-43 and published 46-48?

[@-oiiio-3993]

This film was released in the U.S. on April 13, 1944. The Memphis Belle and her crew, having completed 25 successful missions, were widely publicized and underwent a lengthy series of bond sales tours upon their return to the States.

[@charn1960]

Thanks for that ,history that needs to be remembered the sacrifice that these guys and thousands more made should all ways be remembered, thats why we are free today,GOD BLESS THEM ALL.

[@danr1920]

With luck a few bombs out of the group would hit their target. Now a couple of fighters with a couple of smart bombs would do more damage to the target while doing less harm to civilians.

[@jwise7114]

I have been inside the "belle" its cramped and primative but at the time very effective .

[@safehousedelta9766]

A famous general once said, we may have chosen the wrong side. We should have fought against the communists and joined with the fascists.

[@leerumble4571]

My dad was a lancaster pilot from australia would be nice to know his service records

[@rich1958]

The greatest generation. Most entitled brats today couldn't shine these guys shoes.

[@shanefrance5071]

Fabulous sound them taking of

[@eschdaddy]

Thanks for this fantastic addition!

[@0121moho]

thank you for this excellent footage, but the stereo sound on this video is only coming through on the right side. I have tried several audio devices and other videos, it's definitely this piece which is the issue.

[@gmonsen]

Great footage and commentary. Is that Jose Ferrer narrating?

[@johnwilson4158]

EUGENEKERN

[@mmahoney9448]

Does anybody know the name of the B-17 "out of control" at 25:20. Did everyone make it out? You see that clip shown in many other B-17 videos.

[@samuelcastillo7414]

Pride of America. The strong and brave.we owe them our graditude

[@06marykay]

My dad flew in this Mission. His plane Dame Satan. Ball Turret Gunner.

[@kevinpurcell2093]

God Bless those men who were in B-17, 's or B-24's that risked their lives every time they went up.

[@JohnBruffett-tw4ul]

Happy Fourth of July from John Robert Bruffett Junior 🌧️🇺🇸🌧️🌧️🇺🇸🇺🇸😎🇺🇸🇺🇸🧬🧬☕🧬🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️ thanks Grandpa Beasley Ozark Missouri!

[@wandahelmer1038]

God Bless these Brave Brave souls, America will always be indept to them.

[@stevenrega9109]

My father-in-law was a tail Gunner on one of these 26 missions 200 holes inplane he was wounded made it back home praise God

[@TroyaE117]

German fighter pilots learned to make head-on attacks. The B17F model was not well-defended from the front. The later B17G had the chin turret. These graceful bombers really did need a fighter escort, arriving later. Brave young men, far from home.

[@DannyBoy777777]

TroyaE117 That actually isn't accurate. JG 2 pioneered the head-ons with the GK Egon Mayer. But most fighter pilots couldn't do it. The most effective attacks didn't come until later in this year, 1943. The appearance of the Fw 190A-6 began the sturmbock era which led to the A-8, the ultimate variant. First 1./JG 1 was a test unit, then from staffeln to Gruppen-size. They usually attacked line abreast from the rear. The slow closing speed didn't matter too much. More time for the gunners to hit them, but they were heavily armoured and armed by then.

[@haroldadkins770]

Such Great men how I admire them God bless them for are freedom we owe them so much

[@matthewteague288]

The sound was actually remixed because the original sound recording equipment destroyed in a submarine attack on the way back to the States. The voices you hear are the original crew recorded in Hollywood after the completion of their US War Bonds tour.

[@TheFORMULA409]

Back when men were men and the woman were proud of it.

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

I'm offended 😆

[@viperfanaccount688]

@GenZhumor Icewallocome he was being sarcastic

[@drgnslyr221]

Who knew the greatest generation would raise boomers, the absolute worst generation ever.

[@TWANGnBANG]

That's an interesting point of view you have. Thanks for the comment!

[@jlinnlinn4241]

Ok. If everyone in america...watched this...i could sleep at night. God bless us all.

[@johnrohlfs5304]

Awesome From John Robert Bruffett Junior of United States of America!!!!!!!!

[@jgonzalez101]

What an awesome and amazing film! Thank you Almighty God for using and protecting these precious Airmen; American and All our Allies! ❤🙏🇺🇸

[@TWANGnBANG]

It was a fun film.

[@throwback19841]

Re the disclaimer "Do not attempt to imitate anything contained herein." that is sound advice. Bombing Germany was decidedly unhealthy for all involved. No disrespect intended.

[@elmerlarimer9026]

my dad was 8 army air force 896 MO CO

[@MrHoefnix]

Dammit don't yell on that intercom.

[@jeffpotipco736]

Love these guys.

[@TWANGnBANG]

Thanks so much!

[@dalebechtel8904]

Amazing video

[@angelofjustice913]

True heroes such we cannot find in this nowadays generation

[@shanefrance5071]

We owe it to all these men

[@IceglacierArnar]

I feel sorry for all innocent German people dying in the air raides. People who just wanted to live normal lives and had nothing to do with National Socialism.

[@chucknorris6640]

The first country nazis invade was Germany

[@balsachopper7]

And what about the English civilians that were killed by German bombs and buzz bombs?

[@Carolinacaveman]

23:45. The flak stops.

[@davedruid7427]

Narrator sounds like Orson Welles!

[@VinnyS9143101982]

Johnny was from my hometown.