Memphis Belle and P-47 Thunderbolt - Warplanes of WW II (2-DVD)

This special two disc set focuses on two of the most celebrated American warplanes of WW II, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter-Bomber. Disc One tells the inside story of the B-17 known to its crew and the world as the "Memphis Belle." Director William Wyler, of Hollywood fame, created this superb documentary of the "Belle's" last bombing run over Wilhelmshaven, Germany in 1944, from take off to landing. The crew of the "Memphis Belle" completed their mission despite heavy anti-aircraft fire and swarms of German fighters, becoming the first B-17 crew to complete twenty-five bombing missions in the air war over Europe. Extra features include interviews of combat veterans, describing a typical mission aboard a B-17 and a close up tour of an actual B-17. Disc Two brings you the story of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a high-performance fighter-bomber first introduced in 1941. Excelling in ground attack as well as bomber escort roles, the P-47 became one of the most enduring and versatile of WW II aircraft platforms. Republic produced over 15,500 of the P-47s before the aircraft was retired. The Thunderbolt logged over 2 million miles during the war, serving in both Europe and the Pacific and was flown by the Air Force for almost a decade after the end of WW II. Today, only nine Thunderbolts are considered to be airworthy. Extra features include silent film footage of a P-47 squadron in action and P-47 combat veteran interviews.