This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
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Fri Mar 27, 2009 1:20 pm

Read Major Winters' book Beyond Band Of Brothers to get the story from his eyes, then read Brothers In Battle, Best Of Friends by Bill Guarnere and "Babe" Heffron to get the point of view of a leading NCO and a replacement enlisted soldier. Both are very good reading.

Scott

Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:08 pm

Funny story....

Catherine Wyler was at the Geneseo Airshow this past year, heading up a Talichet family reunion/Dave Talichet memorial of sorts. It looked like the whole family was there on Saturday in a tent next to us in the Top Gun tent. She was in charge of setting this up and had Austin and Patty jumping through hoops to help get it done her way. Austin and Patty obviously wanted to impress as they sure don't want that B-17 leaving Geneseo anytime soon and would love for it to call Gennie home for good.

But Catherine clearly still thought she was in Hollywood. She was demanding catering items and wine that the local farmers and inhabitants of the Genesee Valley were sure to never have heard of before. Patty was going crazy getting the stuff brought down from Rochester or Buffalo at great expense if they even could get it at all.

I sure hope Catherine was as impressed with the effort, and with Geneseo as we all are? I can't think of a better home for the family bomber.

Pete

F4U-7 wrote:A little bit of useless trivia for you all....

    As noted David C. Tallichet was a USAAC vet flying B-17s.
    David Tallichet was a brother-in-law to William Wyler director of Ben Hur, Little Foxes, Memphis Belle, Thunderbolt, Wuthering Heights etc. etc. etc. Wyler married Tallichet's sister in 1938.
    Catherine Wyler was the associate producer of the Memphis Belle remake and daughter to the illustrious Mr. Wyler.
    Catherine Wyler asked her uncle to fly his B-17 over to England for the movie !!!

Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:26 pm

Another fact, the movie was going to be called Southern Belle. It was changed to Memphis Belle after some politics. The nose art in the movie Belle was done in the more fancy lettering due to a clause that the Memphis Belle Memorial Association had worked out with the movie company and Mr. tallichet so that the movie Belle would never be confused for the real one. HHHHHMMMM

Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:32 pm

mustangdriver wrote:Another fact, the movie was going to be called Southern Belle. It was changed to Memphis Belle after some politics. The nose art in the movie Belle was done in the more fancy lettering due to a clause that the Memphis Belle Memorial Association had worked out with the movie company and Mr. tallichet so that the movie Belle would never be confused for the real one. HHHHHMMMM

It was a bit more complicated than that, and there were other, bigger organisations causing the issues. I'll check the notes and confirm the official (you decide if true) version of events.

Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:37 pm

What a wonderful thread! I remember anticipating the release of this movie ...like...forever!...Does anyone have any close-up pictures of the B-17 props that were made for the film? IIRC that Air Classics had a few photos of the phony Phorts...I thought sombody did a knock up effort on the props...

Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:37 pm

What a wonderful thread! I remember anticipating the release of this movie ...like...forever!...Does anyone have any close-up pictures of the B-17 props that were made for the film? IIRC that Air Classics had a few photos of the phony Phorts...I thought sombody did a knock up effort on the props...
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