Memphis Belle

The Memphis Belle is a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress used during the Second World War that inspired the making of two motion pictures: a 1944 documentary film, Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress and the 1990 Hollywood feature film, Memphis Belle. It was one of the first United States Army Air Forces B-17 heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions, after which the aircrew returned with the bomber to the United States to sell war bonds. In 2005 restoration began on the Memphis Belle at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio where, since May 2018, it has been on display. The B-17 used in the 1990 feature film was most recently housed at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, New York but is currently undergoing extensive maintenance at the Palm Springs Air Museum in California. Crew The crew for the Memphis Belle was as follows: Pilot: Captain Robert K. Morgan Co-pilot: Captain James A. Verinis Navigator: Captain Charles B. Leighton Bombardier: Captain Vincent B. Evans The First Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Leviticus "Levy" Dillon The Second Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Eugene Adkins The Third Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Harold P. Loch Radio Operator: Robert Hanson Ball Turret Gunner: Cecil Scott Right Waist Gunner: E. Scott Miller Right Waist Gunner: Casmer A "Tony" Nastal Left Waist Gunner: Clarence E. "Bill" Winchell Tail Gunner: John P. Quinlan Crew Chief: Joe Giambrone Mascot: Stuka the Scottish Terrier Combat history