The Memphis Belle is a World War II-era bomber that completed 24 combat missions on 15 May 1943. The B-17 Hell’s Angels became the first to complete the feat one week before the Memphis Belle.
Memorial Day in United States is observed on 25 May.

How many B-17 survived 25 missions?
The B-17 bomber was a very successful aircraft during World War II. However, its success came at a high price – many crewmen died during their 25 missions.
Flying the B-17 was also dangerous and required many skills. It was not uncommon for crewmen to die during their 25 missions – only one in four crewmen survived their tour of duty.
How many missions did B-17 crews have?
B-17 crews completed 25 missions in the European Theater, after which they remained in theater until 1944. They flew a total of 48 missions without injured crewmen or aborted flights.
How many missions did a RAF bomber crew have to complete?
RAF Bomber Command aircrew were required to complete a certain number of missions during their operational tour in order to maintain their skills and morale.
What B-17 completed the most missions?
Nine-O-Nine was a famous B-17 bomber that completed the most missions during World War II. She was flown by the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group and is currently on display at the National Museum of USAF in Dayton, Ohio.
The Widowmaker was nicknamed this due to her high success rate – she never lost any crew members while flying her.
What was the life expectancy of a B-17 crew?
The life expectancy of a B-17 crew was short, and they were often young and inexperienced. Aircrafts were often lost in combat, and survivors faced numerous challenges after surviving a crash landing or being shot down.
Who flew the most bomber missions in ww2?
Some of the most successful bomber pilots in World War II were Hans-Joachim Marseille, Erich Hartmann and Werner Mölders. All three men earned the title of “ace” and flew a great deal of missions over enemy territory.
German fighters like the Messerschmitt Bf 109 were much more effective at bombing operations than Allied aircraft, which led to a higher percentage of bomber pilots being killed during WW2.
What was the life expectancy of a tail gunner?
Tail gunners were very important during WWII, and their life expectancy was quite short. They were often injured or killed while on missions, and aircrew depended on them for protection and support.
Their job was extremely dangerous
How many B 29s were shot down?
Forty-nine B 29s were shot down in World War II. Thirty-eight of these aircraft were lost to enemy fire, six were damaged but not lost and three more crashed due to unknown causes.
How many B-17s were shot down?
Many B-17s were shot down by enemy fire, with a high loss rate in combat. The aircraft had a reputation for being able to resist damage in battle and entered service with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in 1941.
It returned to civilian use shortly after World War II ended.
Which plane shot down the most planes in ww2?
The P-38 was the most successful USAAF fighter of World War II. The F6F Hellcat came close to overtaking the P-38 as America’s top dog in terms of number of kills, but it wasn’t until 1943 that other types of planes started reaching American units in significant numbers.
It is inaccurate to say that the F6F “won” the air war against Japan; although not considered a primary ground attack aircraft, Rear Admiral Joseph Rochefort credited it with destroying more Japanese ships than any other Allied plane during World War II. Although not as popular or widely known as some of its contemporaries, such as the Me 262, there are some who argue that another fighter -the Me 163 Komet -should have taken first place on this list.
How many missions did the Memphis Belle complete?
The Memphis Belle completed 25 missions in the 1940s. Lt Col Robert J. Mitchell and his crew successfully completed 19 of these missions before their final mission on June 9, 1943.
After completing her final mission, “The Memphis Belle” crashed landed near Chilbolton, Hampshire, England.
How many crew were in the Halifax bomber?
The Halifax bomber required a crew of seven in order to be flown. Every person had their own role to play and every gunner was fully qualified and trained for their part in the attack.
There were three gunners in the nose, mid & rear turrets.
Can the Memphis Belle still fly?
Despite being retired from service, the Memphis Belle still flies. The aircraft served in every theater of operation during World War II and was even involved in a few historic firsts such as serving as the first scheduled commercial airline flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
Today, she is a museum artifact and an iconic part of American aviation history.
How many German planes did B-17 shot down?
The USAAF claimed they shot down 179 German planes during World War II. The majority of these losses were caused by the B-17 bomber, which was armed with a powerful gun.
However, not all fighters destroyed in combat are accounted for, as records show that 66 German fighters were lost.
Who was the best fighter pilot of ww2?
Erich Hartmann was a highly skilled fighter pilot during World War II. He flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and scored 352 kills in combat.
His efforts helped win Germany the war. After the war, he served as a test pilot.
What percentage of bomber crews died in WW2?
Although bomber crews were more likely to die on operations, they accounted for a much higher percentage of casualties overall. In WW2, bombers made up 24% of all combat deaths while their non-operational death rate was at a far higher 61%.
Evaders and prisoners out numbered survivors five to two.
How much does it cost to ride in a B-17?
To experience the B-17 Flying Fortress for yourself, it will cost you $495 per person in the center section of the aircraft. The Navigator’s Seat costs an additional $700.
How many bombers were shot down in WW2?
During World War II, 21,452 fighter planes were shot down while 12,037 bombers were downed. 15,428 trainers and 10,221 twin-engine fighters also met their demise during the war.
Additionally 6341 ground attack aircraft were lost in combat.
Who was the most feared German fighter pilot?
Erich Hartmann was one of the most feared German fighter pilots of all time. He had a deadly streak of 350 aerial victories and remains the deadliest in history.
Within just three short years, he became one of Germany’s top ace pilots.
Who is the greatest fighter pilot of all time?
Erich Hartmann is considered the greatest fighter pilot of all time. He has 352 kills in aerial combat and was a skilled tactician and had an excellent sense of direction.
His skills as a leader were also noteworthy – he was appointed Kommodore (Captain) of JG 27 after only 29 flying hours. In March 1945, when Allied bombers began attacking Germany from above, Hartmann led his wing on 16 separate occasions in an attempt to shoot down United States planes – without success.
How many bombing missions did Jimmy Stewart fly?
Jimmy Stewart flew 20 bombing missions over Germany during World War II. His decorations included the Croix de Guerre (with palm), two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a succession of oak leaf clusters, seven battle stars and an Air Medal.
He was credited with downing at least 12 aircraft on his 20 bombing missions.
Leave a Reply