WWII B-17 Bombers in action (soft restoration video)

WWII B-17 Bombers in action. Bombing Germany. restoration video
restoration video by Sunrise Rec
Music:
Far Stations Lights - Bombers over the Atlantic
open.spotify.c...
itunes.apple.co...
itunes.apple.co...
Doomdozer - The Piano on the Titanic
Doomdozer - Undocking

[@SunriseRecordings]

Music: Far Stations Lights - Bombers over the Atlantic open.spotify.com/track/5ht5olN4C4dFIv9wUt1vjf?si=f063d44c8f4a4bca Doomdozer - The Piano on the Titanic Doomdozer - Undocking

[@keithmelton4570]

My dad was a B-17 pilot flying right seat on his first (“orientation”) mission in May, 1944. Shot down near Dieppe, France. Returned to England after 4 months with the French underground. He never talked of his experiences. I learned of some of it online. Wish he were still alive. He had a rough life. Heroes all.

[@JoseSantos-bp4eo]

I just wonder what your dad must've gone through.

[@punisher8319]

Keith Melton I thank him for his service!

[@SK-ps1mo]

My grandfather never spoke about it as well British army he seen some some things tho .

[@punisher8319]

scott 675 I thank your grandfather for his service!

[@你好熊熊出没]

scott 675 y

[@dancheesman1752]

My uncle was a Tail Gunner. My mom said he never spoke of the war to anyone. He got really upset with her and her cousin(his daughter) when he caught them looking through his old photos. When I became a pilot in the early 90’s we sat at his Auto Repair shop which he opened after the war. He congratulated me and we sat on the couch in his front office. I’ll never forget us sitting out front and looking into the Bluebird day. The clouds where high cirrus clouds. The kind that are at or above 20,000 feet. The only thing he said was, “looks so peaceful up there.” He just stared at the sky. It was obvious to me that he was caught up in his own thoughts. I just let it go and enjoyed our little moment. I flew for many years while my uncle Frank was still alive. He never once asked me about flying or anything pertaining to flying. He was always quick to share a story about the river or my grandfather, but never about the sky. I miss hanging out with him at the shop. Wish these warriors shared more of their lives with us.

[@howardquinn5911]

Our dad was a tail gunner and aerial photographer on B-17s and I believe B-24s. He flew 52 missions.. Medals , all that. Never talked to any of us about what he experienced. Just talked a bit and wrote letters to our mom. RIP Master Sgt. Daniel E. Quinn

[@InFltSvc]

Yes my grandfather was very much the same. The kids today have no idea what they gave up in the name of freedom.

[@lookronjon]

My stepdad was a B17 pilot. Flew out of North Africa then Italy. Shot down on his 23 mission. Over Austria. Lost everyone else. Almost had his left arm severed. The Germans put it back together. Had PTSD and survivors guilt untill he died. Now resting at Arlington National cemetery. Rip “Jack”John Thomas Farmington. You are a hero and not forgotten.

[@stephenmoore7386]

My uncle was a pilot on a B-17, American Beauty, Captain. 30 missions completed, the last all the way to Berlin. He died in 1960. His brother, my dad, did an infantry tour in the Philippines and occupation in Japan after the war. He is still living on his own at 96. Men like that are rare today.

[@RAVISINGH-ie7lv]

Ur mom bf is ur uncle 🤣 I am right

[@alexanderfiebrandt6732]

My father got bombed as a young boy in Berlin. Though he was allways thankfull to the US for the liberation from the hitler regime.

[@zendarenanda877]

@@alexanderfiebrandt6732 Soviet union conquer Nazy not US, US just conquer Japan

[@bernhardecklin7005]

@@zendarenanda877 You are wrong. Both conquered Germany. Unfortunately, the naive Roosevelt did not continue -as wished by Churchill- into the Soviet Union in order to smash a regime that was not better than the Nazis. It became the tragedy of Eastern Europe that they would be occupied by underdeveloped communist morons and criminals for forty years..until finally Reagan and Wojtila finished the job! Today wokies want us to go back under communist rule. Let's not give them a chance!

[@danielwaters6131]

My wife's uncle was a Tail Gunner on 35 missions over Europe (351st BG, 510th BS) during WWII. He never said very much about his experiences, but did describe it as moments of terror and hours of boredom. He was a smaller man, about 5'4", to tall to be a Ball Turret Gunner, but the right size for the Tail Gunner's position. He described both positions as the loneliest places on the plane, because you were physically isolated from the rest of the crew. Having the opportunity to climb through the Collins Foundation B-17G "909", I can honestly say that anyone over 6' tall would have been cramped inside the bomber. I've read the maintenance officers logs for the time period that her uncle was in combat, and it is a litany of lost and damage aircraft... My hat's of to all the combat crew veterans of the 2nd world war. It took courage and a huge degree of fatalism to keep going out on missions. By the wars end, the 8th Air Force had suffered a staggering 47,000 casualties, with more than 26,000 of those being fatalities. RIP SSGT Edwin C. Vance.

[@georgeford2596]

My dad was just short of 6' and a tail gunner in 43. I look at my grandkids and their friends at 20 and can't imagine them in this film.

[@Dahbz14]

For many a young brave soul this was a one way flight. Thank god such men lived.

[@mach1gtx150]

My best friend, an electrical engineer, was a radar operator on a B-17. He said he was considered an 'old man' at the time because he was 25 then. He wrote his memoirs about his service and typed it himself. He used a standard high school paper report cover for it. It really deserves to be in a real book. He was flying during D-Day and one of the awful things he told me was that our own battleships had accidentally shot down a lot of our own planes. He said the ships were ordered to shoot any planes down they couldn't recognize at the time around their ships. Cloud cover could cause a lot of that. Our B-17's were hurriedly painted with white invasion stripes on the wings at the last minute to help identify our planes from the enemies, but wasn't foolproof. He flew around 40 missions and was awarded a silver star and two bronze stars. I had told my father that, who served in the war too and at Pork Chop Hill in Korea. My father said that the Air Corps tended to 'over award' their crewmen with medals. I'm not sure why he said that. He had the greatest respect for all branches of the service. My father won the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for his heroism at the base of Pork Chop Hill where he re-grouped dis-oriented soldiers to fight and got a lot of wounded men to the rear. All of the war must have been horrible to go through, seeing your best friends killed, having to kill people when all you ever knew before that was maybe living on a farm, going to school, being a teacher, etc. And all of the innocents lost. War never solves any problems, even though we were fighting an evil menace at the time. My father talked little about the horrors he witnessed, but mostly about amusing things that may have happened. But I used to hear him scream in his sleep at night all of the time, sometimes falling out of bed, much to my mother's dismay. He was the greatest man I will ever know. He tried to give his boys the things he never had growing up in the Depression on the mean streets of New Jersey. All of that generation holds my greatest respect and honor. They gave us all so much. WE All need to step up to the plate today to battle the tyranny being dumped on us today by All the World's governments and rich corporations. We owe them that much and All Our future generations. We all want the same thing in Life. It's that simple.

[@adoritowithlegs6468]

Since everyone else is sharing about their relatives that went through this horrible war, I guess I will too. My great great uncle was a ball turret gunner in a B-17. His was shot down near Magdeburg, Germany on September 28th, 1944 during a bombing run due to flak artillery fire. Thankfully, his entire crew survived as they bailed before the plane exploded in mid air. They landed in a potato farm not too far away from their target (a warehouse or factory of some sort). There they were beaten by farm workers, and once Nazi officials got there, they were beaten even more. The Nazis then told all of them to drop any weapons they might have had on them, which they did. However, my great great uncle had a screwdriver on him (he would do maintenance work on the bomber from time to time). He saw it as a tool, but the Nazi officials saw it as a weapon. He was severely beaten before they were all taken away to be sent to various POW camps. My great great uncle stayed in different POW camps until he was finally liberated after the war ended. I know this story was quite long, but I just thought I would share. If you made it this far, thanks for reading :) Edit: Hey, everyone. I really appreciate all of you replying to my comment! It shows me that this kind of stuff fascinates all of you just as much as it fascinates me. That aside, I recently acquired a book written on my great great uncle (my grandmother’s uncle) that was written by his daughter. I thought I would update this comment to post more stories and details about his experiences! I think I should note that from here on out I will refer to him as my uncle for simplicity’s sake. I hope you enjoy reading these stories/additional details :) -First of all, according to the book, my uncle was NOT the ball turret gunner, but the waist turret gunner. Apparently all the websites I’ve used to research him got that wrong. I trust the book more because my uncles was personally interviewed for the information. -In the event of an emergency, my uncle was, however, the person responsible for assisting the ball turret gunner. Surprisingly, despite the position of the ball turret gunner, he was able to jump first due to my uncle’s assistance. -My uncle assisted everyone he could in bailing as their plane was going down, and eventually it was just him and another guy. My uncle had to convince him that they were going to die if they stayed in that plane any longer. He was proven correct as the plane exploded moments after they jumped out. -During transport between POW camps, my uncle got to experience the results of his own bombings. Their transport was delayed due to repair on railroad tracks that have been bombed. -According to my uncle, the conditions he and the other soldiers were in during transportation were not very good. There were 18 men packed into each boxcar on the train with a bucket in the center for bodily waste. There wasn’t even enough room for all of the men to lay down (these were small boxcars). -Yet another story about being transported! While they were in the boxcars described before, they had to stop at a train station during the night for some reason or another. Unfortunately, that was one of the places that was to be bombed by the RAF that very night. Needless to say, there were bombs exploding all around the boxcar for extended periods of time. Of course, everyone was terrified, but there were surprisingly no casualties as a result. -Speaking of casualties, the only POW death on that transport train was due to one soldier having an untreated ruptured appendix. Everyone else survived. This is actually very incredible considering the conditions they were in. That’s all the extra stories and details that I have for now. I hope you all enjoyed reading them, and I will update more if I feel I need to!

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

nice story.....how old is he now? and i read the whole comment, it isnt long, its fun to read u wont feel how long it is

[@ralphrinaldi8649]

Always remember these great men of the "17,s" pass down their stories

[@adoritowithlegs6468]

i game i do research too unfortunately, he passed away in 2011. I believe he was 19 when he enlisted in 1942 (most that were drafted were sent to infantry, he enlisted into the Air Force). Today, that would make him about 97 years old. Thanks for reading my whole comment, as well :). I am also fascinated by this sort of history.

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

@@adoritowithlegs6468 im so sorry to hear that, i also love this history especially ww1 and ww2 ones

[@kirkthomas8113]

Wow, Max....I had to check some records. My father was a lead navigator in a B17 on that same mission.. I was probing him for info just before he died over ten years ago and Sept 28 Magdeburg he could remember. He said in addition to the flak it was the only serious encounter with the Luftwaffe he could remember in the 30 missions he flew. He said 11/12 planes beneath him were taken out in one pass. Glad your uncle and crew made it. "Joe Balls" for an uncle. Where was he based?

[@kentyler966]

My father was also one of the B17 hero’s. He was a country boy living in northern Wisconsin and found himself in Saipan fuseing bombs in the belly of a 17. These men were all heroes and saved the world from a horrific fate. Pretty sad when you look around as see what we’ve changed into.

[@smurf6262]

Everyone of them, a true hero, that came to our aid and stayed with us throughout that horrible time. Thank you.

[@saidhissin5361]

‘

[@raymondlidy5918]

True words spoken Smurf 62 I myself would like to thank them as well

[@نويرفلاح-ن6ب]

صهغهصهغغغهصههه ان اهغفخفهفهغههغفه

[@Oliver-rh3vf]

So cold up there

[@davidhall4631]

What did you do if you had to use the bathroom in Planes

[@racrx7]

It’s amazing how so many of these awesome planes and men made it back to base after being all shot up. A true testament to the B-17 and the men who flew them.

[@jeromewysocki8809]

flip inheck , the engine failure could likely have caused by all the flack the Germans shot up in the air, in attempt to destroy the bombers. The flack (shrapnel) was shot up in great quantities and messed up many B-17 engines. You can see the flack in these videos, as clouds of black matter, shot up in the path of the B-17s. The pilots could do little to avoid impact, since they had to pretty much stay in formation with the other planes, at least until they dropped their bombs on target. I read somewhere, that flack was a major destroyer of the planes during a bombing run. Needless to say, when a flack tower was spotted from the air, a fighter plane would try to destroy it, if possible.

[@racrx7]

@Steve Russel obviously

[@mikeyoungblood1706]

To watch these Magnificent Aircraft and the Hero's that flew them and realize they are vanishing almost Daily brings tears to My eyes,

[@richardcheney6482]

My uncle Donnie, Dads brother was a ball turret gunner in a B-24 Liberator in 1944 ,completed 30 missions Over Nurinburg , crash landed in england twice . We are still living under freedom be cause of these brave souls. Uncle Donnie dead at 90 years old Mighty 8th

[@johnsturges3139]

They are why we aren't typing responses in German, Thanks to these men.

[@milotorres6894]

My exact sentiments bless there souls on their sacrifices in service for the worlds defense against tyrannical regimes.

[@kline750]

I feel you I always cry about these things

[@livingadreamlife1428]

Uncle Birt flew B17 over Europe and returned. Would only talk about his missions if I asked him a question. Greatest generation.

[@crafter170]

Balls of steel .Every last one of them.

[@svetlanakosic9908]

Balls of steel XD hahaha

[@DannyBoy777777]

Didn't really have a choice; navy, army, marines or army air force.

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

@@DannyBoy777777 they did (maintenance guys)

[@appleceder6271]

The weight of those balls was so heavy and large that the plane needed 4 engines instead of 2

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

XDDD

[@hopfenspergert]

I just recently found some pictures of my grandparents. And my grandpa a copiolet of the B-17. Member of the Lucky Bastard Club. As I watch this incredible video it gives and puts things into perspective of what he did. I have the most respect for him. Yet it was his duty and his job. Still putting his life on the line. Just gives me the wow feeling. My hats off to our vets today and ones who served in the past living and passed on. Thank you all

[@catzepplin]

And to think....to a man, they were all in their late teens early 20s, and the captains were in their early to mid 20s. Young boys who had to grow up fast. Honor them.

[@traviskurtcedilla4377]

20 year old captains Wow mad respect

[@josemoreno3334]

Heroes All. Bliss Them

[@Frank-mm2yp]

If the Officers were in their mid-20s they were often called "The Old Man". In war, the old men talk and the young men fight- and die. Nothing much has changed....

[@lowboy1one1]

These types of men no longer exist!

[@GilbertdeClare0704]

and NEVER forget them

[@jameslyon3750]

Great video. I grew up listening to stories from my father who flew in a B-17 with the 15th AF out of Foggia Italy. He was fortunate enough to have been one of 6 survivors when his plane took a direct hit by flak over the Alps of northern Italy and ended the war being liberated from the Moosburg Germany POW camp by Patton's army.

[@TeamLotus6365]

My dad was a B-17 pilot in the early years, late ‘42 to mid ‘43. Never said a word about the War except to my Uncle, who was a navigator-bombardier in a B-26. They took long walks at night, with my Uncle’s dog. Two cigarettes lighting the way.

[@КоляКуевда]

Спасибо тебе,уважаемый ,неизвестный ,но мужественный кинооператор тех далеких,жестоких,но справедливых в своей правоте времен борьбы против немецкого фашизма.Спасибо ,союзники,ио были времена,когда наши деды ,прадеды не знали,что такое политика холодной войны,а били врага вместе,и в итоге встретились и обнялись как братья на Эльбе.Автору ролика фильма отдельное спасибо,хорошая постановка.Лайк,подписка,вечная память летчикам,не вернувшимся с задания,но до конца выполнивших свой долг

[@gavinking5605]

This is by far the most moving and thought provoking video i have seen so far.A true memorial to those brave young men that were there,and those of us that were not can only imagine what it was like.Thank`s to the photographer(s) who took the footage.Truly amazing video.

[@Lolabelle59]

My Dad was a B17 tail gunner and then a bombardier, out of Bassingbourn. I miss him.

[@joeg5414]

my dad shot a few of those down.

[@Lolabelle59]

Thanking your dad. : )

[@joeg5414]

@@Lolabelle59 and I thank yours. Some of the best there have ever been that climbed into those planes and went to war - from both sides. It's crazy to even imagine

[@Lolabelle59]

Thank you. Yes and yes it is. Feeling sentimental for my Dad and watching this. vimeo.com/97359676

[@viper1320]

Condolences, Honour and Respect

[@tompipes9454]

My father was a radio operator-waist gunner in the Army 8th Air Forces in '44. 12-13 2019 would have been his 100th birthday.

[@olegpilat2543]

Спасибо американским и британским лётчикам за их боевую работу.

[@summeeric]

God bless you! Your Dad is a hero.....

[@punisher8319]

tom pipes I thank him for his service!

[@ericharmon7163]

Sorry to hear that. It saddens me more and more to know these guys are going to all be gone. My grandpa was 15th Air Force WW2. Africa, Sardinia, Italy. He just past 6 months ago at 99. RIP to your father.

[@madlybackwards5611]

God Bless Your Father and the many who served during WW2..." No greater love hath a man..."

[@drew7155]

My grandfather John R Davis was top turret gunner and bomb prepper/ pin-puller in Pale Face (aka Berlin Sleeper II). He pulled the pin on D-day, was struck with flak, and survived 29 missions (despite average 15 missions before being shot down). Google Pale Face b-17. First plane to make it through 100 missions. That's 4 generations of new crews. The most cherished relics I have are the shard of flak metal that he pulled out of his flak jacket, and two unrecognizable silver dollars that have been worn paper thin that he would anxiously rub as he rode through flak storm. True hero. Truly lucky. RIP

[@ericlindsey7751]

My father was a B 29 pilot in WWII and also in the Korean War, he also flew U-10's in Vietnam, he passed Christmas Eve 2014, am so proud of him and all the brave men and women of "The Greatest Generation". Miss you, Lt. Col.Louis Herman Breininger!

[@ralphrinaldi8649]

My dad was a bombadear on a B17 8th air force. I never realized what he went thru. I miss him

[@frankcorner8716]

No one can imagine what those boys went through. It took the planners a long time to figure out that putting 13 to 15 guns on a plane does not give you much protection.

[@enriqueeskenazi9866]

i didn't know your father but i miss him too . THANK YOU VERY MUCH

[@frankcorner8716]

Your dad was in the most dangerous place in the American armed forces. Big plane relatively small bomb load and too many boys exposed to death. After 1943 most of the B17s were shot down by flak . Gunners are not much good against flak . It is next impossible to hit a fighter traveling at between 400 & 650 mph with a hand operated machine gun. We shot down very few fighters until they got an escort. The last place I would want to be is in B17 or B24. At least the Lancaster carried three times the bomb load of a B17?

[@ralphrinaldi8649]

@@frankcorner8716 Frank thank you for your comments. They helped me realised what he and orhers went thru. Will pass this to by brother and sister. Than You Ralph

[@roadtoad7704]

My stepfather was ACOE on Omaha Beach, got a Purple Heart. He passed in 1984, I was 30 YO then, too busy with "me". I really like to talk to him now.

[@samuelhinkle9370]

My Uncle , Samuel DeWitt Hinkle flew the Flying Fortress' . He should've been at least a Major , ten times over. But he took care of his men , and they took care of him. A true hero . God bless You Sam. And thanks to all the brave men who fought for our feeedom.

[@matthewcharles5304]

My paternal grandfather was a b17 mechanic stationed in England who frequently flew missions as a gunner and was part of a reclamation squad. My maternal grandfather was a mortar man who fought in Bastogne. Both came home.

[@robertmayer2071]

do you know where he was stationed? my dad was b 17 mechanic stationed in watton england 44-45

[@toyshop101]

the greatest generation to walk the earth

[@srgmiller340]

@Palestinian Rambo No they were not never have been never will be

[@StriderGTS]

Them and WW1 vets

[@srgmiller340]

@Palestinian Rambo Utter claptrap

[@srgmiller340]

@Palestinian Rambo Polite way of saying bullshit

[@wolfzyplayz9981]

Palestinian Rambo so your telling me that you little shitheads that just sit on the couch all day are better then men who fought till they were a bunch of bones and fought for there whole entire country to bring peace and sacrificed themselves for the future of a America? Wow, selfish

[@johncrawford3446]

My father was a Ball Turret Gunner on B-17, 15th Army Air Corp, 416 Bomb Squadron out of Italy. Flew 35 combat missions. Miss him!

[@vondumozze738]

I was an aviation ordnance man with F-4's during Nam. It was interesting to see a few seconds of my WWII brethren at the beginning of this video. And this is one great depiction of the horrors of air combat yet it shows the joy in the faces of those who made it through another mission. I salute all who served.

[@tomanderson1129]

As you watch this magnificent tribute to a great airplane and its crews, notice how tight the stacked "box" formations were. General Lemay insisted that the pilots maintain formation through the bomb run to ensure maximum protection and coverage of each plane's machine guns. It took a great deal of courage and discipline to stay in formation while fighters and flak are coming at you from all sides. A few years ago, I heard the almost unbelievable sound of multiple piston engines, and I looked up to see a restored B-17 flying few thousand feet above me. I started to tremble, and tears welled up in my eyes as I beheld that magnificent sight and sound.

[@spreadeagled5654]

It’s great to see this vintage 1940s archival film in COLOR!

[@BadRussian77]

I'd be scared to death, seeing all that flak fire.Those guys were real heroes.

[@henrysiahaan9604]

I agree Truly respect all the heroes. Salute !

[@Reptile61]

what's heroic in throwing bombs on civilians?

[@barfuss2007]

or real murderers

[@justdoit4834]

@@barfuss2007 Ne, dass war dein Opa im KZ.

[@barfuss2007]

@@@justdoit4834 Anzeige läuft

[@karenrussell2091]

My uncle was a waist gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress, based in England. Won a Purple Heart. I have nothing but respect for our service men & women, current & past.🇺🇸👏

[@vikingdad.3678]

My great uncle mark was a tail gunner in one of those beauties and he lived to a ripe old age long enough to pass on stories that would curl your toes. Much respect to those men thank you for doing what needed to be done to give us a world worth living in..

[@luna.sparkle]

These men went through a lot for us to live in peace.

[@murfkuhls3494]

Utmost respect and admiration to them! So thankful for their service and all the men and women that serve currently.

[@joshuacedriccamamrista4254]

Alien 00 they are brave US pilots fly b17 bomber to bomb Nazi germany military base railways and military industries bases and city’s its sucide mission without escorting fighter planes like North American P51 mustang or P38 thunder bolt the b17 pilot always fuck by German flak guns like flak 88 etc and they encountered large group of German squadron tries to hit and run attacks by BF109 or a FW190 but german Luftwaffe can’t stop them for bombing that’s why they are the best pilots US have the US8th airforce

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

now we need MICRO bomber XD

[@ToreDL87]

And now we're breaking that peace anyway thanks to people that mongers war against russia and the middle east.

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

@@ToreDL87 i live in the middle east, i get lots of offensive replies usually, thank you for this amazing reply (its not offensive towards me like all other replies people reply me)

[@chriskelly6285]

Great composed video with a great background music. As a guy who's so moved by the mighty eighth's time here in the U.K. and their determination in what was almost impossible odds of survival I feel this video captures everything this group and young men were all about and the inevitable price most of them paid. Let's make sure they're never ever forgotten.

[@6548ww]

These B-17s were some well built Planes getting shot all to pieces and most were still able to fly back home my hats off to the men and women that built these Planes and to the Brave Young Crews that flew them into Battle God Bless those that served and gave their lives so we could have the freedoms we have today...Thanks

[@taxburdett]

My grandfather was a waist gunner in the USAAF (8th AF) during the war. He was in three different B-17s that were shot down. Once close enough to crash land in England. The other two times over occupied territory. Fortunately, for me and my dad, he evaded capture both times and eventually made it back to England. He flew in 72 combat missions overall. A handful of cancelled missions as well. He became a hero to me when I found and read his paperwork in the 80’s as a teenager. I realized he wasn’t that much older than I was at the time all of this happened to him.

[@daxtonbrown]

My dad was a tailgunner in B24s. Miss you Dad. A better man than me.

[@Venik56]

Да, поистине массированная бомбардировка, такой армадой налететь один психологический фактор чего стоит! Отутюжили на славу. Вечная память вам ребята.

[@chriskelly6285]

The audio/soundtrack really hits me in this video. The few mins of music as the bombs hit their targets and the muffled radio talk comes in as bombers fall from the skies gives me the absolute chills. I was only 8 and in the uk when the 1990 film Memphis Belle came out and I was hooked on the WW11 air war from the first watch. I watched that movie most days for years. This was a time long before we had the internet etc and any real ability to learn the historical facts about the eighth and what they endured. There’s not much that I haven’t read or seen since then and with the fact we can now read and watch the real truth from a device in our hands we have a real duty now to show the young boys and girls of today more than could have ever been shown to me. With the fact that these were essentially kids on both sides that were fighting this air war and depicted in this video to me just boggles my mind. Great video/upload and humbling to say the least.

[@ThatsWhenItkickedin]

My dad was a B-17 bomber pilot in the South Pacific. He got deaf from these planes. He is gone but I respect him now.

[@bryanmahon7866]

Why do we have to get older to get wiser. God bless you young lady. Just finished watching this clip, and you must be incredibly proud of your Father. I am (incredibly) in great gratitude..

[@jeromewysocki8809]

silverbird58 , I wonder what they cost then. I read somewhere that each of the thousands of B-17 bombers made, they cost $500,000 each, of 1943 value dollars. No wonder the country's Social Security funds were raided then, as well as other cash reserves! But those are the sacrifices we had to pay to enjoy the freedoms we have in our country today. I hope the USA will survive all the crap going on today, and still keep our freedoms.

[@InFltSvc]

My Grandfather was in this war as a combat engineer. He fashioned a bracelet from a B-17 and sent it home to his daughter ,my mother, on it he stamped (souvenir from a B-17 France, love daddy). My mother still has this bracelet and wears it from time to time. Now that I am older I look back at how so many brave men did what they did and what they had to go through. So many never made it back but my Grandfather was one of the lucky ones. While he has passed on I miss him so much and have so many more questions that have gone unanswered even though he would almost never talk about hating he saw, in fact he would get ver6 upset when asked. We were told he saw a lot of bad things. Dam war! While I see them dropping all those bombs all I can think is, so many innocent people that suffered and died instead of those who actually should have that caused the war, just a few people hungry for power. God Bless all!

[@FreeWorldAllDay]

We don't know them all, but we owe them all.

[@richt8297]

The great generation. God bless them all and thank you for my freedom. I will never forget.

[@mikeforte7585]

My father fought in both WWII and Korea ...none of this is tought in our schools especially colleges...as a result we are one election away from losing everything....hopefully we as a country will WAKE UP

[@H43339]

@@mikeforte7585 You are correct, very scary times we are living in, if they get away with it our Great Nation will be turned into a Socialist Third World Country.

[@henrysiahaan9604]

Yes. I agree. A great generation indeed !

[@jeromewysocki8809]

Mike Forte , you are spot on. How tragic the present situation is.

[@michaelcuff5780]

The people that fought in WW2 were amazing. Thank you for the real footage.

[@ДартВеидер-р6в]

Ваш подвиг не забудут никогда ...в глазах ветеранов тои воины горит огонь ада....

[@NEMES1-S]

This is a masterpiece of ww2 history. Unashamed real life companion to Memphis Belle. The music track is utterly stunning and very moving. Thank you.

[@陳兆軒-n1s]

They were heroes who risk their lives to finished these horrible missions ,and they were the bravest young boys.

[@kbfg-hfjy4872]

Anyone going through that hell is my hero

[@lyon4646]

My uncle was a co-pilot on a B17 that was shot down over Germany. A few of the men bailed out but the pilot and my uncle stayed with the plane and turned it away from a village. They were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The Lady Jennette. There is a lot of controversy about this incident.

[@bodazaphfa]

My paternal grandfather was a radioman and gunner in “4th Term.” I love you Grandpa. I now understand why you didn’t talk about certain things. I miss you and wish I could talk to you again knowing what I now know in my current maturity.

[@galigaliev8546]

Спасибо вам, союзники, за вашу тяжелую работу. Наши дедушки были умнее нас, они сражались вместе против нацистов. Помогали друг другу победить врага. Thank you, allies, for your hard work. Our grandfathers were smarter than us, they fought together against the Nazis. Helped each other to defeat the enemy.

[@barfuss2007]

@Gali Galiev The same Nazis which had been supported by the russians until summer 1941...

[@olegpilat2543]

Да ты прав друг.

[@janlange2086]

@@barfuss2007 or Ford Trucks from the USA...a bad Game...

[@robertszota1210]

USSR atack Poland 17 September 1939 as frend of Hitler nazi just after Polish heros fight the Nazi then 1940 morder polsh hero oficers in Katyn !!!!!!!! and polish pilots fight in RAF bravely

[@alexandrivanko5293]

Gali Galiev а внуки ваших дедушек стали фашистами! Это прискорбно!

[@jakobc.2558]

That footage is amazing. Everything is colored and very detailed. Not only that but you also made it fit the music. I tip my hat to you, you are a legend. This video is 15 minutes long. People dont even realise the effort that goes into makeing such a long video.

[@kylejohnson3382]

Man..... this hits hard! True heroes of the sky! Torn from their peaceful homes and brought over to fight a war on the other side of the world. And to the volunteers, Hats off! Salute all these brave men for the hell they went through.

[@SBStruzzo1]

Men in my father’s extended family have been ambassadors, congressmen, and one was a member of Teddy Roosevelt’s cabinet. But the one that really makes me proud was a B-17 pilot with the 8th Air Force. He was one of the lucky ones - 25 missions completed and he and his crew returned home safely.

[@rondaharmon1788]

My dad was a 17 pilot in the early years of the bombing campaign. Completed 25 mission. Flew both Schwienfurt mission. Never talked about his wartime experience... at least not with me. Flew for Eastern Airlines after the war.

[@davegeisler7802]

You know why he never talked about it , because he saw things a man should never see , death all around him and many were his friends that he was probably talking and joking around with during the preflight meeting and 6 hours later blown out of the skies over Germany 😢

[@saifhasan4717]

What that day must be!!... Salute to all the soldiers 👏👏👏💪💪💪. Respect from India 🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

@Palestinian Rambo respect to humans in general, now look im a muslim too, allah didnt put us in this world for war and hate, but for peace and respect to everyone

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

@Palestinian Rambo why do i shut my mouth? what did i do to you?

[@lawrencewright2816]

i game i do research too Muhammad’s mother was a whore.

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

@@lawrencewright2816 what do you mean by that? i dont really care anyways cuze i am just muslim, but im saying that we should STOP this fight over here in the comments, this is the last reply ill send here

[@lawrencewright2816]

i game i do research too If you are a Muslim, that’s your problem. I didn’t ask you to be a Muslim, so don’t ask me to withhold my opinions about it. It’s called free speech. Get over it.

[@australianmade2659]

They were the greatest of men. Their lives were a roulette wheel. Just chance. They stared death in the face with every mission. Lest we forget 🇦🇺

[@lenmatthies9626]

My dad was in a B-17 squadron in the Pacific Campaign. He never talked about it much. But he was afraid of nothing. I honor him everyday and I miss him.

[@theoldschoolconnoisseur2991]

I swear those are some of the most bravest men on the face of the earth. Could never imagine the unparalleled fear of what could happen on a mission. Respect and prayers 🙏

[@DerekDtj]

We in the next generation who flew the B-52s and KC-135s during the cold war and Vietnam were also proud to have followed these brave young men and we also defended the greatest country ever. Many of us survived over 100 combat missions, but unfortunately some of us did not get the same welcome home that the earlier generation did.

[@michaelboyle7938]

My Uncle was in B-17 in the Mighty 8th in England. My Dad was a P-51 Mechanic stateside in Texas Training base They Were truly part of great generation. I miss My Dad....

[@dmr122003]

yes they are the bravest people i know ,thank your uncle and father, they are the bravest generation that will ever be , god bless them

[@questionauthority7377]

So do I and never met him they were heroes, this coming from a Vietnam veteran

[@79byob]

What a awesome ending with the guys on top of the B17

[@frankschuler2867]

I can’t see a B-17 and not think of my Grandpa. He was a radio operator and self-proclaimed “A-1 Champeen Chaff Chucker” in the 360th Bomber Squadron/303rd Bomber Group flying out of Molesworth, England. He enjoyed talking about the war. His plane was shot down over the English Channel during one mission and he bailed out and landed in the water. I believe he was one of only a few to survive. He said he didn’t have a scratch on him until the rescue boat came along, hit him on the head and knocked him out cold. He got to join the goldfish club for bailing out over water. No Purple Heart for the bump on the head, though! That was friendly fire...lol. I miss my Grandpa. He was just a good man.

[@brandyf4088]

What a story!! It sounds so similar to a B17 crew member interview by Raymond McFalone (KZbin channel with the same name) that reminds me of your Grandpa's story. Raymond interviewed dozens of B17 crew members over a period of years. Each telling their individual stories and one stands out in reqards to bailing out over the English channel and being picked by a rescue boat. Though there was no mention of one of the "boys" getting knocked in the head by the vessel, the fact that not all the crew survived the bailout is similar. The story I'm referring to was that after they were fished out of the water, German fighters (if I remember correctly) shot up the boat and several of the surviving (B17) crew were killed. I apologize for not being able to remember the exact video, but indeed it was an interview by Raymond McFalone. Your Grandpa was a real hero from the great generation ever. RIP Sir and thank you!! Have a blessed New Year.

[@frankschuler2867]

@@brandyf4088 Thank you very much for passing along that information. I’ll check out Raymond’s YT channel. The incident my Grandpa was involved in occurred on June 22, 1944. The B-17 was named the “Mary Cary” and was piloted by Robert Lynch.

[@lukasb7293]

My grandfather was an AA assistant at the age of 13 and tried to protect his city.

[@vivexn9256]

Was your grandpa German? If so I still feel bad for him if he died doing what he wanted to protect

[@kevinnorthfield5097]

@@vivexn9256 if he’d died he wouldn’t have been a grandfather.

[@chaosXP3RT]

How many Americans did he kill? Did he kill any Jews?

[@Bustin_cider00]

@@chaosXP3RT thats a very tone deaf statement. If he was 13 i doubt he killed jews, though he was no doubt indoctrinated into Nazi culture. And as an AA assistant he would do things like spot targets and reload the guns. Although what he was doing was morally different he was still brave as fuck

[@chaosXP3RT]

@@Bustin_cider00 So he helped kill lots of Americans! Do the Chinese call the Japanese brave for killing them in WWII? Is it normal for enemies to celebrate the killings each did of their friends and families? Did Israeli's congratulate the Egyptians for invading them in 1973? "Your grandfather celebrated when his country invaded mine. Him and his friends were very brave when they shot my grandfather in the head." WTF

[@milkywayexplorer942]

I am not ashamed to have tears in my eyes.

[@glenn5903]

Neither am I!😢

[@martinstrnad9734]

These are true heroes who should never be forgotten. Thank you for liberating Europe from madness.

[@joesmith389]

God bless these heros who kept us free.

[@HakanE.]

😂

[@edwardschmitt5710]

But I can't have a cigarette in a bar anymore, can't drive a car without airbags if I don't want to pay for them, and can't build what I want on my property, or even hire a hooker....

[@janlange2086]

You can't even fuck an ass without getting jailed😂🤣😂🖖

[@michaelcuff5780]

I cant say enough about the courage and determination of these young men! Heros in my mind! They never knew when it could be their day to be hit. And to watch a friends plane go down mustve been horrible.

[@samr5125]

Thanks to all heroes of WW II. Their feat will never be forgotten.

[@GTAGGARTIST]

My father, Co-Pilot, 8th AF, 390th, 570th, "Square J", "Jokers Wild", Framlingham, England. SO PROUD! Thanks for the video.

[@francisoswald935]

These men & their bravery was the reason I joined the air force

[@jonathangant251]

In one day 60 B-17's don't return from their mission . Thanks for your service so we could live free ...

[@americanusterminus5632]

The musical score fits like a glove with this awsome yet terrifying time in American as well as world history. This footage is footage of heroes and their machines that gave the world the freedom we all have today and many oh god so many of these selfless courageous men gave their lives as payment for this freedom Thank You Every One of You YOU ARE ALL MY HEROES YOU ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE GOD BLESS YOU

[@stevenklinkhamer9069]

This video should be required viewing in our high schools & college campuses. Awesome! America at its best. Great video compilation.

[@TheAnonymous1one]

Respect for all these brave men that gave their lives to keep us from falling under enemy power. I cant believe there are evil people out there trying to erase our history.

[@MaverickSeventySeven]

Bless all these guys even so long after the war that I and everyone else can live as we do! Good choice of music!

[@thorny6021]

One of the best films on the air war ever made. I remember watching it when I was a kid. No voiceover, no pep rally speeches. Just the men and their war in the clouds. I was in awe of them then and I still am.

[@jessieweber636]

My Dad was a B-17 pilot, he loved that plane.

[@thungchakikon811]

Considering the fact that B-17s were easy targets for the Luftwaffes, Salute to those pilots and gunners who flew them.

[@lachlanpike5469]

Slow and lumbering but man the took a beating and gave it back

[@knarftrakiul3881]

Not so easy of a target when they were grouped. Only way luffwaffa could really do damage is come straight at them at same flight level, playing chicken,,, this is why they came out with the B17-G with added front gun turret

[@danielrousseau4842]

When I was six and seven years old I used to watch the B-17s take off from Morrison Field (now Palm Beach International) in West Palm Beach. I remember the drone of the engines as they lined up, waiting to head down the runway. I started first grade in 1843, and remember the day our teacher received word her brother had been killed in the Pacific. Our entire class was crying.

[@danielrousseau4842]

@Masa Suzuki You are correct, 1943, NOT 1843. WWII was a massive waste of humanity. Every race suffered horribly. Countries were destroyed. I often think of the human talent we lost from every country: inventions not invented; brainpower and culturepower we will never be able to enjoy. And all because people were convinced they were superior to others. That is the danger in today's politics in America---some people believing they are superior to others. Thank you for your response, Masa.

[@leong5527]

The scene of base people waiting for their planes to return made me tearing.

[@carlosteran5617]

One of the BEST videos of this thing called KZbin/internet!!

[@benjaminaltamiranomayorga302]

They are all Heroes, who died so that we could live in Freedom. Honor them.

[@philip1675]

we will remember them all

[@barfuss2007]

the bombing shortend the end of war for no single day.

[@arimatchch2634]

I remembered the movie Memphis Belle. from Japan. I'm Japanese.

[@LynnRC1957]

The Crews had a love and support for each other that kept the men always going back up again and again May the Lord bless them and May we Remember!

[@donmacuha2511]

I don't know if I'm the only one who is amazed in the concept of war, Just look at it dude it's beautiful

[@meteor2012able]

Right after WW2 ended, a short stature Mexican-American young man I met was a ball turret gunner. He told me of what it was like... no bragging just telling it like it was. A real American hero! ( He was walking in front of my house on a hot summer day and asked me for a glass of water. We sat on my porch chatting is when he told me of his service over Germany.)

[@davegeisler7802]

Truly the Greatest Generation ! Sadly there aren't too many left now. 😢🇺🇸

[@JoseSantos-bp4eo]

Back then I didn't know anything about it's magnificent and incredible past.What a past it has, unbelievable.No doubt, it had both, the best pilots and gunners and the best of luck.Love you, Memphis Belle.

[@fredblonder7850]

Lovely film. The fact that you use no narration, but let the pictures tell the story, is particularly effective. A few years ago I took a flight in the Collings Foundation’s “909”. Yes, that’s the one that crashed. It was pretty scary even without anyone shooting at you. The plane is very “open”. There are too many places you can fall out. The roof over the radio compartment retracts into the bomb-bay, and you can stand up and stick your head out at 200 Mph.

[@ericgomez9601]

Because of these men we have freedom they sacrificed there life for us to have freedom they made sure the world is in peace bless the men who sacrifice for all of us to have freedom 🙏🙏now in days people dont realize how lucky we are to have freedom

[@danielrousseau4842]

Early in the war, mid-1942, you had to survive 25 missions before you were recycled back to a training command or elsewhere. As the war progressed, the required missions moved up to 30 and then 35. Most of us today watch these old films and think, "Wow, I'd have been happy to survive just one mission." Well, many were lost on their first or second mission. Some died on mission #25. Brave men, they were. Very brave. I started my first year of elementary school in 1943, and remember watching B-17's take off and land at what is now Palm Beach International. For a kid in America, those days were exciting.

[@leader-6522]

Freedom and peace for all!! Best regards from Germany

[@wacoflyer]

I wish those crazy anti-American protesters could experience just one day as these brave men did. Just imagine.

[@dral9971]

I wish that we Europeans can continue to trust the USA when the next Nazi leader starts to threaten us.

[@leninvasco]

I dont think any "anti-american protesters" dislike ww2 veterans except for nazists.

[@i5ionut]

Now the anti-Americans are the Americans. The US girls don't need man's anymore snd stuff.

[@CommackMark]

Exactly.... take freedom for granted. Tyrannybis the norm of human history.... freedom the exception.

[@mikeurdiales9304]

This war was not about America. It was about the world.

[@IgorMint-tp2wm]

Ребята молодцы."Боинги" тоже аппараты выносливые.

[@crimsonshadow1477]

in my opinion these are some of the coolest aircraft to come out of the ww2 era of history...it'd be something to see them going over for sure

[@frankcorner8716]

But your opinion does not jive with reality. The B17 B24 were the biggest myths of WW2 they were in fact death traps. The poor lads that flew them had no idea what they were getting into. Ten men in one plane with little or no chance of defending themselved. Read some of my other posts to understand how the Flying Fortress was obsolete in 1939 why do you think more than 105 German fighter pilots shot down over 100 of our planes? Our Best shot down 40? Their best shot down 357?

[@crimsonshadow1477]

@@frankcorner8716 oh i dont doubt it...but you cant deny that seeing full squadrons of them flying overhead (assuming you werent the bombing target) would have been something to see

[@jerrywebb2717]

These Young kids that flew the b17 bomber,and a lot that never came home are truly the lucky ones,and these kids in school today should see, God bless them