Memphis Belle vs. Hot Stuff

[Lightninglover]

A friend sent me this. Interesting story.

Subject: Memphis Belle vs. Hot Stuff: How history came to celebrate the wrong WWII airplane - The Prescott Daily Courier - Prescott, Arizona


http://dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID= ... eID=138461

[bipe215]

The article contradicts itself. The 'Belle was the first to come home after 25. Iceland isn't "home"

[Pathfinder]

I believe Hells Angels was the first PLANE to complete 25 missions--WITH VARIED CREW--but the Belle was the first PLANE AND CREW to complete 25 together.

[Invader26]

There was a war on. Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story. The PR machine often "created" or modified events to meet the public interest. Losses were another area of cover-ups which were really trying to keep the GP happy...just like today only we call it "spin"...

[flightsimer]

There was a war on. Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story. The PR machine often "created" or modified events to meet the public interest. Losses were another area of cover-ups which were really trying to keep the GP happy...just like today only we call it "spin"...

Like the flag raising over iwa jima... They raised the flag, then took it back down to put a bigger one up. But the famous photo is of the second flag.

[Jack Cook]

but the Belle was the first PLANE AND CREW to complete 25 together.

Not true and oh vey really not true! The famous crew is the "war bond" crew.
While Tony Nastal flew only 1 mission he is the belle rt waist gunner.
Jim Verinis flew 1 mission has MB pilot and 16 more flying his own B-17F.
2 other pilots (Anderson & Miller) flew MB on 3 missions.
Scott Miller flew 15 missions on MB.
Levi Dillion flew 4 missions on MB.
Gene Adkins 6 missions on MB.

[bipe215]

The only proper statement is that the Belle was the first aircraft to survive 25 missions and come back stateside.

[Jack Cook]

The only proper statement is that the Belle was the first aircraft to survive 25 missions and come back stateside.

Would be interesting to see which and when PTO based B-17s came back.

[bipe215]

That it would.

[Pathfinder]

Thank you, Jack. I stand very much corrected

[hang the expense]

Somewhere I have seen pictures of some early B17s being disassembled in south pacific and transported back stateside to airframe,engine,maintenence etc.I think one of the bases was hobbs new mexico and some others in that area.

[mustangdriver]

Jim Verenis flew his first 5 missions as the co-pilot on the Belle. He flew it on one mission as the command pilot. He was never supposed to be a co pilot. He had qualified to fly fighters and after an accident was given leave. While on leave he heard about the need for B-17 crews and transferred to bombers. They didn't have a plane ready so he shipped out as part of the Belle crew as he had flown with them on some training flights. The Morgan crew flew all but 4 missions in the Belle.

[mustangdriver]

Whether it was 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 18th. Surviving 25 missions in that role was damned near impossible. The Memphis Belle played a very important role in WWII even after its missions.