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From: rogers%npdiss1.stpaul.ncr.com@RELAY.CS.NET
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Memphis Belle
Message-ID: <1990Oct11.050931.29494@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 11 Oct 90 05:09:31 GMT
Sender: military-request@att.att.com
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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From: rogers%npdiss1.stpaul.ncr.com@RELAY.CS.NET
oppr@cardiac-ra.SWMED.UTEXAS.EDU (Roger Opperman) writes:
>Just saw the sneak preview of _Memphis Belle_...

>Looked like they only had 3 operational B-17's; adroit camera work and
>editing gave a convincing imitation of more, but there were always
>three in the foreground during the loading/taxiing sequences.

I heard an interview with the producer on the BBC World Service.  When asked if
it was hard to get the equipment he said: "When we started there where only 12
flyable B-17s in the world, when we finished there were only 11 (through no
fault of our own)."  He said that during the filming they "usually" worked with
"4 or 5".  The current issue of "Air Classics" magazine has a story on the 
making of the movie; it gives a list of planes used and their histories.  At 
least one actually saw combat.  More consideration should be given to the use
of important authentic planes for shows, filming, etc.  or we'll lose more
historic artifacts.

By the way the original documentary "Memphis Belle" is available on video tape -
it's well worth renting.
----
Bob Rogers                         rogers@stpaul.ncr.com  
NCR Network Products Div.             (or) rogers@pnet51.cts.com
St. Paul, MN                       GEnie: R.C.ROGERS