William Wyler

Military
media-34823.jpeg UPL 34823 Lieutenant Colonel , William Wyler

Image courtesy of the family of William Wyler

Object Number - UPL 34823 - Lieutenant Colonel , William Wyler

William Wyler was born in Alsace-Lorraine and moved to America as a teenager. He became an Oscar-winning film director. He made three wartime documentaries, the most famous of which is 'The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress' (1944).



The skills of a wide variety of people were called upon to support the strategic bombing campaign. Wyler saw a role for himself in making pictures to support the war effort: ‘People say we should be making escapist pictures today. I say “Why?” This is the hell of a time to escape from reality! We’re in an all-out war – a people’s war – it’s the time to face it. Let’s make propaganda pictures, but make them good.’ During the Second World War he served in the US Army Air Forces, and made films which showed Americans at home what the air war was like. He flew on several missions to make The Memphis Belle. He lost the hearing in one ear while making a film about P-47 fighter-bombers in Italy: Thunderbolt.



Wyler joined the USAAF to ‘see if I could make a film that would help the war effort in some small way.’ He made a film which focussed on the final, 25th mission of one aircraft and crew – Captain Robert Morgan’s B-17 ‘Memphis Belle’. Wyler recalled the difficulty of filming the live action: ‘things happen so fast… Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulfs coming at you and you would try to get all this on film. You forget that they’re shooting at you at the same time!’ When President Roosevelt saw the finished film, he said to Wyler: ‘This has to be shown, right away. Everywhere.’



His 'short snorter', which is in the form of an engraved cigarette case, lists the five missions he flew with the 'Memphis Belle', part of 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group:

26 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven

14 April 1943 - Lorient

17 May 1943 - Lorient

19 May 1943 - Kiel

29 May 1943 - St Nazaire



Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-482961
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Photographer

Aircraft

Film Director Major William Wyler looks through the waist gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-B) of the 91st Bomb Group during the filming of 'Memphis Belle'. Passed as censored 1 Feb 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How a Flying Fortress Protects Itself: Major William Wyler, who directed the famous film 'Mrs Minniver', is now busy directing an instructional film for the U.S. Army Air Force, showing how a 'Flying Fortress' protects itself against attack by enemy fighters. The Fortress is loaded w
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Bad Penny
  • Unit: 403rd Air Depot 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron 324th Bomb Squadron Headquarters Squadron (8th Air Force)
Lieutenant-General Jacob L. Devers adresses a bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group in front of their B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-A, serial number 41-24485) nicknamed "Memphis Belle". Passed for publication 10 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Not For Publication Before 00.30 June 10th. Flying Fortress Returns To U.S.A. After 25 Operations. June 1943. At an 8th Army Air Station somewhere in England, Lt.-Gen. Jacob L. Devers, and Major-General Ira. C. Eaker, bidded fare-well to the Flying Fortress "Memphis
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Belle
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Mulhouse, France 1 July 1902 Son of Leopold and Melanie [Auerbach] Wyler.

Died

Beverly Hills, CA, USA 27 July 1981 Died of Heart attack.

Buried

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale CA Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale California USA

Based

Bassingbourn Volunteered to serve as a major in the United States Army Air Forces and directed a pair of documentaries: "The Memphis Belle" and "Thunderbolt!"

Revisions

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA file verified Air Medal under G.O. #73, Hqrs. Eighth Air Force, June 7, 1943.

Date
Changes
Sources

American Air Museum text from displays.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
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ContributorJenny
Changes
Sources

His 'short snorter' which is in the form of a cigarette case, confirms his service number and his rank at the end of the war. It is verified in the National Archives National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) VIP list, 2009 records, which is referenced here: http://www.governmentattic.org/2docs/NPRC_VIP_List_2009.pdf

William Wyler: Gallery (5 items)