80 years ago May 17, 1943, the Memphis Belle flew its 25 mission. The aircraft was one of the first bombers in the U.S. 8th Air Fleet to complete its Tour of Duty (25 missions). Although the first bomber to reach this mark was the Hell's Angels (Serial No: 41-24577) of the 303rd Bomb Group on May 13, 1943, six days before the Memphis Belle. However, since the Memphis Belle was the first to return home to the United States, she and her crew earned the honors and attention of the media and the public. The celebrated crew members had all completed 25 missions as well, but not exclusively on the Memphis Belle.
The crew for the Memphis Belle was as follows:
Pilot : Captain Robert K. Morgan
Co-pilot: Captain James A. Verinis
Navigator : Captain Charles B. Leighton
Bombardier : Captain Vincent B. Evans
The First Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Leviticus "Levy" Dillon
The Second Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Eugene Adkins
The Third Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Harold P. Loch
Radio Operator: Robert Hanson
Ball Turret Gunner: Cecil Scott
Right Waist Gunner: E. Scott Miller
Right Waist Gunner: Casmer A "Tony" Nastal
Left Waist Gunner: Clarence E. "Bill" Winchell
Tail Gunner: John P. Quinlan
Crew Chief: Joe Giambrone
Mascot: Stuka the Scottish Terrier
Memphis Belle missions:
1. on November 7, 1942 - submarine bunker near Brest, France.
2. on November 9, 1942 - U-boat bunker near St. Nazaire, France
3. on November 17, 1942 - submarine bunker near St. Nazaire, France
4. December 6, 1942 - locomotive factory near Lille, France
5. December 20, 1942 - airfield at Romilly-sur-Seine, France
6. on December 30, 1942 - submarine bunker near Lorient, France
7. on January 3, 1943 - submarine bunker near St. Nazaire, France
8. on January 13, 1943 - marshalling yard near Lille, France
9. on January 23, 1943 - submarine bunker near Lorient, France
10. on February 14, 1943 - railroad center near Hamm, Germany
11. February 16, 1943 - U-boat bunker near St. Nazaire, France
12. on March 6, 1943 - submarine bunker near Lorient, France
13. on March 12, 1943 - railroad station near Rouen, France
14. on March 13, 1943 - airfield near Abbeville, France
15. on March 22, 1943 - naval base near Wilhelmshaven, Germany (contents of 1944 documentations)
16. on March 28, 1943 - railroad center near Rouen, France
17. March 31, 1943 - port of Rotterdam, Netherlands
18. on April 16, 1943 - submarine bunker near Lorient, France
19. on April 17, 1943 - aircraft factory (Focke-Wulf) near Bremen, Germany
20. May 1, 1943 - submarine bunker near St. Nazaire, France
21. May 13, 1943 - aircraft factory near Méaulte, France
22. May 14, 1943 - port of Kiel, Germany
23. May 15, 1943 - naval installations and airfields at Helgoland, Germany (alternate target for Wilhelmshaven)
24. May 17, 1943 - submarine pens at Lorient, France
25. on May 19, 1943 - engine factory at Kiel, Germany
The Memphis Bell One Came Home
