Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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


Other Mentions

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



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Join the BOATS Discord = links.boatspodcast.com/comment
Get the BOATS email newsletter = links.boatspodcast.com/newsletter
Email me dan@basedonatruestorypodcast.com