| 1-24485 (cn 41-24485) The crew of the original Memphis Belle pose with some dignitaries on the NACA Lewis ramp in Cleveland, Ohio on July 7. 1943. The crew flew their 25 combat missions from 11/7/42 to 5/17/43 against almost impossible odds, making it to the magic rotation home number of 25 missions. The aircraft itself flew its 25th mission two days later, on May 19th, 1943. I wonder what was more tiring for the crew- 25 combat missions stretched from November to May, or a 76 day, 31 city tour in the US, with people fawning all over them! Those guys were incredibly brave in my book. Photo courtesy of the NASA Glenn photo archives. |
