Memphis Belle - the real film stars (Updated 11th Dec)

[comet4]

I was lucky enough to visit Duxford during the filming of Memphis Belle, in 1989. Most of the fleet were on the ground, and was able to get the following pictures. As I'm fairly new to the forum, apologies if you've seen all these before.
If anyone is interested, I've also got pictures of most of the fighters.
Graham

[Rory76]

Nice little selection there- not every day you get half a dozen B-17s in one set!

[iainpeden]

What do you mean? Anybody interested in the fighters? Bring them on!

[Rory76]

What do you mean? Anybody interested in the fighters? Bring them on!

*Like* in facebook speak

[ciaranchef]

Fantastic, any idea how many of them actually flew? and we will wait patiently for the fighters...

[Dragon Rapide]

Don't apologise! Even if they have been seen before! Terrific - thanks. And I'm waiting patiently for the fighters, too...

[Skyflash]

"Call out them fighters..."

Ace selection. As a fan of the film (naturally!), these are terrific. Many thanks for sharing.

[jimbob1194]

Excellent post. I agree, call in the fighters!

James

[F-86]

Fantastic, any idea how many of them actually flew? and we will wait patiently for the fighters...

There were five and they all flew together several times made quite a sight along with up to seven Mustangs and three Buchons and the B-25 cameraship.
Great shots btw.

[Boghopper Mk 11a]

Its a shame that 1 out of the 2 French B-17's used during filming burnt-out on takeoff at Binbrook
Here.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G7gqlR9GPc

[Keefy041]

First time i've seen that piece of film of the take off crash, very lucky indeed.
Some friends and i spent several days at Duxford while they were flying from there , was brilliant. One highlight being a very low level return by the 3 Buchons one afternoon (1 pilot being Mr Mark Hanna), up the end now occupied by the landwarfare building. Another was watching all 5 B-17's and the B-25 take off one after another late one afternoon from the bank at the motorway end after the museum had closed , on return 3 of the B-17's did a low beat up in formation before landing .
Also standing in the garden at home near Norwich many days and listening and watching as the formations often flew over . Hard to imagine what the huge formations must have been like.
Great photos , something we are unlikely to ever see again.

[ciaranchef]

Fantastic, any idea how many of them actually flew? and we will wait patiently for the fighters...

There were five and they all flew together several times made quite a sight along with up to seven Mustangs and three Buchons and the B-25 cameraship.
Great shots btw.

Cheers, would have loved to see that lot all in the air together, chances of that happening again must be pretty slim these days.....

[comet4]

Glad that you liked the bombers. I've now added the fighters.
Starting off with the 3 Buchons, followed by 4 Mustangs. The Fighter Collection Mustang was not parked with the other aircraft so I didn't get a picture of it. It was coded AJ-S with the Candyman/Moose nose art. I would be obliged if someone could let me have a picture of it in these markings.
I believe that there were also 2 other Mustangs involved that did not get painted in the same brown finish.
To finish off, I've added a couple of pictures of the B-25 camera ship.
Cheers
Graham

[ciaranchef]

Great stuff...thanks for putting them up, Ciaran

[Dragon Rapide]

Marvellous pictures!! Many thanks for them.....

[Maisie]

So good! Where are they all now though? Assuming there still in flying condition?

[F-86]

Great shots of the fighters, here is some of Stephen Greys Mustang taken at Lakenheath airshow.

[comet4]

Thanks for the pictures of Steven Gray's Mustang, F-86. The pictures are excellent and complete my set!
Graham

[Keefy041]

RE-WHERE ARE THEY ALL NOW ?????
Buchon's ;
G-BOML Ex O.F.M.C. Crashed in spain causing the death of Mark Hanna.
G-HUNN Ex Charles Church ,Now in the U.S.A. with Cavanaugh flight museum.
D-EFHD Ex Hans Dittes, In Germany converted to Bf-109G Status with M.B.B.

B-17's
N17W Now at Museum of flight collection USA.
N3703G Ex David Tallichet . Now with American airpower museum USA.
F-AZDX In France grounded at the moment due to costs.
F-BEEA Crashed on take off and was destroyed during filming, no-one hurt.
G-BEDF B17 Preservation at Duxford.

P-51's
N51JJ Ex T.F.C. Now with O.F.M.C. at Duxford
G-BIXL Currently in Germany , not sure if still owned by R.Lamplough.
G-HAEC Ex O.F.M.C. Sold To Rob Davies, Crashed at Flying Legends 2011.
N167F Still with Scandinavian Historic flight but was for sale.
G-SUSY Ex Charles Church. Now D-FPSI in Germany ,flying as Lucky lady VII
N1051S Crashed fatally in 1995
N314BG Now in U.S.A.

B-25 Camera ship;
N1042B Ex Aces High Ltd, Now in U.S.A. flying as Pacific Prowler.

O.F.M.C. TBM also used for some camera work ( had tail section painted olive drab),
Now in Australia as VH-TBM

[Heavy Metal]

F-BEEA Crashed on take off and was destroyed during filming, no-one hurt.

FYI this statement is not correct. There were injuries.
Everybody got hurt one way or another, but two of them were fairly nasty requiring a period of hospitalisation.

HM

[Keefy041]

Sorry H.M. , just meant that nobody was fatally injured.

[Heavy Metal]

I understand Keefy.
It is an easy mistake to make and I know i've done it myself before.
HM

[iainpeden]

If I remember the accident happened at Binbrook - am prepared to be corrected.

[Heavy Metal]

If I remember the accident happened at Binbrook - am prepared to be corrected.

You are correct sir. It was on the afternoon of Tuesday 25th July.

HM

[Maisie]

Thanks for the info!