Memphis Belle - Dispelling the Myths

Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:47 pm

I know that any mention of the Memphis Belle can raise the hackles and blood pressure in some and utter devotion in others.

I "happened" upon this thread on another forum.

I'm fully aware that this post could possible result in the quickest lock down of a thread that WIX has ever seen. However I thought maybe it was time this forthcoming book should get brought to everyones attention here on WIX.

http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_134445/tm.htm

I met Graham Simmons in August 2007 at the Bassingbourn Tower open day. We chatted for something like a couple of hours. He is passionate about setting the record as straight as possible and honouring the thousands of Amercian aircrew who gave their lives in the name of freedom.

He was made it very clear to me in his view the Memphis Belle film and the War Bond Tour could have actually saved the 8th Air Force campaign in Europe.

He showed me the rough draft of the book and some of the 96 hours of footage recorded for film. This had been offically "lost" since the end of WW2. It had it seems been mislabeled and they found by chance. They were thinking of issuing a DVD on the research, the book and tracing the missing film footage.

Are the authors right or wrong ? I have no idea. I will be buying the book to read the full story when it comes out !

And incase you wondering ~ I have no connection with the authors or the publishing company !

I just thought this was a piece of warbird news worth passing along .....

Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:32 pm

Looks like a very interesting book if you ask me.

Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:42 am

Sounds interesting. I picked up the collector's edition of the Wyler documentary a couple of years ago, which includes a bunch of outtakes and footage of the Belle's war bond tour. I was amazed at how many "candid" and "spontaneous" shots were done in multiple takes.

I didn't realize just how many of the film's ground scenes were staged. That's not intended as a criticism..the film's primary purpose was to show the air war to the American public, and get them behind the war effort. The film certainly contains less propaganda and distortion than a certain modern director's so-called "documentaries."

SN