Memphis Belle™ Patch

The Memphis Belle is one of the most iconic aircraft in aviation history, famously recognized as the first B-17 Flying Fortress in the Eighth Air Force to complete 25 combat missions over occupied Europe and return to the United States with its crew intact. Operating between November 1942 and May 1943, the Boeing B-17F faced a survival rate of less than 25% for bomber crews at the time, enduring heavy flak and fighter attacks that required the replacement of nine engines and both wings over its tour. Named by pilot Robert K. Morgan after his sweetheart in Tennessee, the aircraft became a national symbol of resilience during a highly publicized war bond tour and was immortalized in a 1944 documentary and a 1990 feature film. Following a meticulous 13-year restoration involving over 55,000 hours of labor, the Memphis Belle was unveiled in May 2018 as the centerpiece of the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.