Posted By Ian W on October 26, 2005 at 14:09:09:
In Reply to: B-17 Unit code "DF" posted by PF on October 22, 2005 at 17:27:04:
: There is a well known colored film showing B-17 taking
: off an airfield. The only readable Unit numbers are
: two Letters in Yellow in from the waist gunner's window:
: "DF" after the gunner's window is the letter "A"
: What B-17 unit used these Letters?
Hi all.. Just to put the Wyler Memphis Belle original movie in context. Anyone watching a copy of this worthy movie, will easily be able to pick out multiple shots of 305thBG aircraft taking off (XK 365th sqn, JJ 422nd Sqn etc). The whole movie was filmed by Wyler with a select camera team, chosen from his pre war Hollywood guys, plus additional 8th AF Cameramen. One of those 8th members was 2nd Lt Daniel McGovern, based at the 305th at their own camera unit. It is known that at the time of the making of this film, it could have been any one of a number of ships and crews that would make the holy grail of 25 missions. The 305th had crews and ships neck and nec k with Bassingbourne, hence the footage was split between both bases; to hedge the bet in case the expected crew and ship didnt make it.
Much of the aerial shots, again taken by McGovern himself were on missions flown by 305thBG. Shots cut in vary between Bassingbourne formations and Chelveston ones. It is however beleived that at the end of editing, the footage remained 60 percent 305thBG - 40 percent Basingbourne.
Take a look at the film and you'll see what I mean.
Ian W