Memphis Belle

by Monte Merrick

Angleterre, mai 1943. Le Memphis Belle, bombardier américain, a accompli vingt-quatre missions au-dessus de la France occupée et de l'Allemagne. Encore une et l'équipage rentrera aux Etats-Unis. Pour son ultime sortie, on devait réserver à la forteresse volante une " promenade de santé "... Hélas ! Les Alliés manquent d'appareils et le Memphis Belle devra bombarder Brême, bastion défendu par la DCA et des centaines de chasseurs. L'enfer... Les quatre avions de tête sont abattus - quarante hommes ne rentreront pas. Criblé d'éclats et de balles, le Memphis Belle prend la direction du raid. Perd deux moteurs. Puis le troisième lâche à son tour. Réservoirs vides, sur un seul moteur, le bombardier rentrera-t-il de sa dernière mission ?

Paperback

First published October 1, 1990

Reviews

[P.S. Winn · Rating 3 out of 5]

gritty read that chronicles the men who flew the Memphis Belle, a plane, during world war two. This book later became a movie and I think the story line is good, but the writing is somewhat crude if readers don't care for foul language. Of course, this is war.

[Louis Barbier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a true story of the courageous and young men who flew the Memphis Belle; a B-17 bomber flying fortress stationed in England. The American flyers flew daylight bombing deep into Nazi Germany to hit strategic targets day in and day out. The missions were very dangerous, and many planes and aircrews did not come back. The book is written by Monte Merrick who also wrote the screenplay of a major motion picture from Warner Bros. The film depicted the aircrew of the Memphis Belle who had flown 24 missions. These 10 flyers with the 8th Air Force need one more mission to complete 25 missions and be the first plane of the 8th Air Force to achieve this feat. If they do than they can go home. The story covers a 24-hour period of May 16, 1943 thru May 17, 1943. The book gives the reader an opportunity to fly with the aircrew of the Memphis Belle and experience what it was like flying their 25th mission deep into Nazi Germany. At the morning briefing the wing commander says, "I Hope that everybody had a good time last night at the dance but now it is back to business. The target for today is Bremen; do the best you can and leave the rest up to God." Then the briefing officer begins telling them what the specifics of the target. The courageous and brave flyers who took to the skies that day and every day experience some harrowing experiences, which we on the home front would never experience. It was not a milk run or a piece of cake! All of Americans owe so much to the aircrew of the Memphis Belle and other Americans who volunteered for this duty to fly into harm’s way for God and Country. I encourage all military history buffs and those who want to know what your fathers, grandfathers and uncles did during World War II. This is a great read of what it was like to fly and to be a part of an aircrew of 10 men aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress from take-off to landing and in air combat as their plane in a group of 360 other planes made their bomb run to drop their bombs on their designated target for today.

[Anathomas92 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're gonna learn history this is the way to do it! So easy to read and made the people and events real. Great read and powerful reminder that our boys in blue are more than a number and uniform.

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! It had me hooked, sobbing, laughing and incredibly nervous
Love love love

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 Review 67. Memphis Belle by Monte Merrick

Page Count : 230

This is the 2nd time I've read this book since receiving it last year.

The film, Memphis Belle, is one of my favourite films and this book is fast becoming another favourite.

So much so that I read the entire 230 page book in less than 24 hours. There were times I didn't want to put it down.

I will definitely read this book again and I really enjoy the differences that this book has from the film.

I'm not going to reveal too much about the story as if you have seen the movie, then you will know the gist of the plot.

All I can say is that I recommend this book entirely and if you like the film, then this book will be for you.

5*
*****

[Catherine Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely would not recommend this book for any female readers, it's too full of male egos, macho pride, dirty minds and foul language. The author took what should have been an interesting historical event from World War II and lowered it into the gutter, turning an otherwise impressive feat of U.S. military pilots, and an entire B-17 bomber crew, into a base and ordinary male-bonding ritual.