Film opens showing a large formation of U.S. Army Air Forces B-17 bombers flying high overhead as they return to bases in the United Kingdom, during World War 2. Closeup of one plane shows Triangle tail code of the 97th Bombardment Group, and tail number 42-23383. View looking past tail tunner turret towards numerous aircraft in a formation. Scene shifts to view from a B-17 of black flak clouds from German anti-aircraft guns. A B-17 in flight with flak damage to a wing, and another with a destroyed left tail stabilizer and elevator. Closeup of feathered right inboard engine on a B-17 in flight. More views from behind the formation, and looking straight up at passing B -17s overhead. View looking down at a B-17 approaching for landing. Closeup of both right engines feathered on a B-17 in flight. (Narrator states an aircraft named "Stella" had three engines inoperative and was unable to reach the field to land.) Army Air Forces controllers communicating by radio with crews of aircraft. View from ground of the B-17 ("Stella") coming in for a crash landing in an oat field, with landing gear not extended. Closeup from cockpit, of number 3 engine running and number4 feathered. View from inside the aircraft as it crash lands. View of it in the field. It displays tail number 42-5910 and a "G" tail code in a white triangle, identifying it as belonging to the 40th Bombardment Wing, 305th Bomb Group at RAF Grafton Underwood Trucks are seen carrying mechanics and technicians to the crash landing site. Next, the B-17 is seen surrounded by repair crews. It is sitting in a cleared area and its landing gear is intact. Closeup of the aircraft's flak torn fuselage. A severely damaged gun turret on the ground next to the aircraft. Section of cockpit sitting on the ground. Views of mechanics working in their portable shops as they make repairs to the B-17 aircraft. Machinist running a lathe in one of the portable shops.View from ground of the mechanics at work on the aircraft's engines, as engineers employ earth-moving equipment in the background to create a temporary runway to facilitate takeoff. Closeups of the earth-moving equipment at work. More closeups of mechanics working to restore the aircraft. Some work on an engine suspended from an A-Frame. Closeup of two mechanics, one of whom displays images of a Lockheed P-38 lightning fighter aircraft and a B-26 Marauder aircraft on his jacket. More views of eath-moving operations. Closeup of a mechanic being moved by crane as he guides a propeller into place on the B-17. Closeups of mechanics affixing propellers on the plane. View of engineers employing surveying instruments as they ready the emergency strip for the B-17's takeoff. Closeup of the aircraft ("Stella") surrounded by seated mechanics, as she is about ready to fly again. View from behind spectators, including local English people, as the aircraft engines start. The repaired B-17 taxis onto the improvised air strip, and raising lots of dust as she takes off. Glimpse of local people waving as the aircraft becomes airborne.
United States soldiers at a base camp in England, prior to D-Day invasion in Normandy, France during World War II. Immense smoke rises off a bombed oil supply depot. British soldiers use chemical foam apparatus to fight fire at the oil depot. Flames come out of a building on fire.
Flames and smoke rises off a bombed oil supply depot near base of British Army, during World War II. A building nearby catches fire and British soldiers and firemen use chemical foam apparatus to fight fire of the building. Bulldozers smother fire and build dike to hold back flaming oil. One bulldozer operated by a British officer and another by a United States Seebee officer.
United States medic speaks to an officer as an injured soldier also listens to them in England. A convoy of military trucks passes by a road as tanks remain parked by the roadside.
United States B-17 bombers fly in formations in England. American military trucks and tanks pass through an English city with soldiers atop it. British civilians including a woman and young boy watch the procession of tanks headed for mobilization harbors in England, for the D-Day invasion of France in World War II.
A film titled 'The Memphis Belle' shows rural countryside aroound a B-17 airbase in rural England, during the second World War. United States B-17 bombers of the 8th Air Force parked with ground crewmen perform maintenance work on them. Rows of bombs stored in munitions dump. Armorers move large bombs using chain hoists, and place them on wheeled trailers. Air crewmen ride atop the bombs as they are towed to the B-17s. One bomb rider plays the harmonica as they roll along. Crewmen arm the bombs.
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