[pfflier]

The PBY at the very beginning of the film had inaccurate markings for Midway. The red and white tail flash and red "meatball" in the star were painted over weeks before the battle. This was because of some friendly fire problem encountered at the Battle of Coral Sea. The PBY being towed up the ramp has accurate markings for the battle.

The B-17Es were new, first of the "big tailed" B-17s. Interestingly some footage shows the ventral turret is a remote controlled version (the turret is flat on the bottom with no glazing). Other footage shows sperry ball turrets. Either would work for the time but the remote turrets were installed first. They were aimed with a periscope. The sight housing can be see just aft of the turret in some shots.

These were replaced with the sperry ball because the sight picture caused severe vertigo for the gunner.

[Rockpile]

Didn’t know they tried out remote belly turrets on B17s. I know that the earliest Forts were nearly unarmed.