Memphis Belle with Joshua Donohue

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 387) — How accurate is the 1990 movie Memphis Belle? Military historian Joshua Donohue returns to Based on a True Story to break down what the movie gets right, where Hollywood takes liberties, and what the real crew of the Memphis Belle actually experienced during World War II.

Guest Links

• Josh's YouTube = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387guest
• Josh's Wake Island Article = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387wakearticle
• Josh's Pearl Harbor Article = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387ewaarticle

Other Mentions

• Find where to watch the movie = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387movie
• Memphis Belle Unveiling = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387unveiling
• The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle by Robert Morgan and Ron Powers = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387themanwhoflew
• Memphis Belle Documentary = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387documentary
• Memphis Belle - Air Force Fact Sheet = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387factsheet
• The Memphis Belle Museum Exhibit = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387museumexhibit

Chapters

0:00 Intro and accuracy grade

2:13 Other bomber movies and context

12:37 The real Memphis Belle missions

22:15 Hollywood vs the real 25th mission

32:20 How lead bombers and formations worked

43:46 Bombing runs, smoke, and the Norden

52:13 Midair dangers and ball turret stories

1:15:02 The 1944 documentary and legacy

1:21:53 Josh's Bataan book project

Support My Work

• Support my sponsors = https://links.boatspodcast.com/advertisers
• Become a BOATS Producer (name in credits + ad-free episodes) = https://links.boatspodcast.com/producers
• Join the BOATS Discord = https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment
• Get the BOATS email newsletter = https://links.boatspodcast.com/newsletter
• Email me dan@basedonatruestorypodcast.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.