Ground crew loads bombs into a B-17. Pilot, Captain Robert K.Morgan and his crew, arrive by jeep and jump off in front of their aircraft, the "Memphis Belle." at an airfield in England during World War II. Captain Morgan gives final briefing to the crew as they stand in front of their aircraft. He and his crew then climb aboard, take up their positions and start engines. View of the nose and fuselage of the "Memphis Belle" shows artwork, including 24 bombs painted on its side. Views of other B-17s included in this mission shows names and artwork on their fuselages. Among them are: 'Dame Satan',' Hitler's Gremlin','Heavyweight','Royal Flush','Old Bill' ,'In Der Fuehrer's Face','Helno Gal' , 'Peggy my little Waaf', and 'Desperate Journey'. Group of B-17s take off, one at a time, for the mission. View from the undercarriage of one B-17 as it takes off and the landing gear is raised. Aerial views of English countryside and of several British airbases, as the B-17s fly at relatively low altitude on their way toward the English Channel.
A man checks United States B-24 bomber named "Skylark" at an airbase in England during World War II. Men work on various parts of B-24s and turn propellers. B-17s also seen on the airfield.
U.S. 8th Air Force crewmen place their personal belongings on a table and seal them up in pouches for safekeeping, while they are away on a mission. They draw their parachutes and other gear. Crewmen boarding a B-24 named "Big Bust." Interiors of the plane as crew settle into their stations and check their equipment. Pilots check their watches. United States B-17 and B-24 bombers taxi along the British runway. An officer on control tower balcony fires a very pistol and planes take off.
Views of the area around RAF Bassingbourn airfield, as B-17s of the U.S. 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group, line up for takeoff on a mission to bomb German-held port of Wilhelmshaven, during World War Two. among the named aircraft seen taking off are: "Dame Satan," "Hitler's Gremlin," "Helno-gal," "Royal Flush," "Der Fuehrer's Face," "Old Bill," "Peggy, my little Waaf," and "Desperate Journey."
B-17 bombers of the U.S. 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group, take off from their base at RAF Bassingbourn. Views from inside the B-17, "Memphis Belle." The landing gear of the "Memphis Belle" retracting into the wheel well. Views of English countryside, including many RAF airfields. B-17s in close formation. Crew members of the "Memphis Belle" are seen at their duty stations inside the aircraft, including: Captain Robert Morgan,Pilot; Captain Jim Vernis,Co-Pilot; Sergeant Robert Hanson,Radio operator and gunner; Captain Chuck Leighton, Navigator; Sergeant Harold Loch,Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner; Sergeant John Quinlan, Tail-Gunner; Sergeant Cecil Scott, ball turret gunner; Captain Vince Evans,Bombardier ; Sergeants Bill Winchell and Tony Nastal, Waist gunners. Pilot , Captain Morgan, alerts crew and dons his oxygen mask as they climb through ten thousand feet. View of coast of England as they leave. Temperatures drop and contrails form as the formation of B-17s climbs to 25 thousand feet.
One by one, 29 B-17 aircraft of the 91st Bomb Group (out of 36 launched) return from their bombing mission over Wilhelmshaven, Germany during World War 2. Many suffered battle damage and have wounded crew aboard. The B-17, "Dame Satan," is seen with large holes in it. The B-17, "Old Bill," is shot to pieces, with its nose missing. Lieutenant Colonel Stanley T. Wray waits in control tower as three more aircraft arrive, including the "Memphis Belle." Her crew members relax and smile as she lets down to land. Her pilot, Captain Morgan buzzes the airfield before landing to complete their 25th bombing mission. They are congratulated by well wishers on the ground. Their crew chief paints the 25th bomb on the "Memphis Belle" fuselage. Change of scene: Brigadier General Haywood S. Hansell, Jr. awards a Distinguished Flying Cross to each crew member. Change of scene: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, of England, visit the flight crew and ground crew of "Memphis Belle" and converse with them. Change of scene: Lieutenant General Jacob L. Devers, Commander of U.S. Army Forces in Europe, and Major General Ira Eaker, Commander of the 8th Air Force, visit and greet the crew. General Devers reads their orders to return to the United States and encourage Americans on the home front.