During the Memphis Belle’s tour, the Eighth Air Force averaged one bomber lost every 18 sorties (one sortie equals one aircraft flying one combat mission).
Boeing B-17F
Memphis Belle
The Memphis Belle was a Boeing B-17F heavy bomber assigned to the 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, at Bassingbourn, England, during the early part of the USAAF strategic bombing campaign. Between November 1942 and May 1943, the Memphis Belle and its crew flew 25 bombing missions, including strikes against targets in Germany, France, and Belgium.