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Military Aviation DVDs

By special arrangement with Victory Film Productions, I am very pleased to offer you this excellent line of historical military aviation DVDs.  Over the years I've gotten a pretty good feel for the tastes of my typical site visitor – pretty much like mine – and these films are right up our alley.  Of consistently high quality, most of the selections feature footage rarely, if ever, seen before.  Notice how long they are, too - don't stick them in the DVD player if you're in a hurry!  I'm confident that you'll love these films.  Of course, your satisfaction is fully guaranteed.

 

What makes these DVDs different?

 

Our DVDs feature film footage that has been transferred from original 16mm and 35mm Kodachrome, Technicolor, and Agfachrome film prints to Betacam SP Professional format for editing, and then directly to DVD.  There is no video "generation" in our transfer process.  The result is the highest possible quality and faithfulness to the original footage, bar none.

 

All DVDs are Region Free and can be played worldwide.

 

 

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See bottom of this page for a DVD Special Offer!
 
 

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Add to Cart: Luftwaffe in Poland DVD - $29.00

 
Detailed Scene Index:
 
Nearly two hours of superb rare footage!  All in crisp black and white!  Sound throughout!
 
Part One:  Army Aces ABCs  - 1935 footage of P-12 formations as they spell out U-S-A.  Briefing, takeoff, and multiple views of the formations - some darn good formation flying there, fellas!  Parachute ('aerial life preservers') demonstration over an airfield.  Stick of parachutists jump out of an army trimotor.  Includes slow-motion footage and plane-mounted camera angle.  [Black and White.  8 minutes.  Original Audio]
 
Part Two:  Bilder vom Einsatz der Luftwaffe im Polenfeldzug - (Luftwaffe in Polish Campaign 1939; Film nr. 55).  Original German wartime documentary with narration expertly translated into english.  Really clean footage and presentation which reminds me of the popular AAF wartime in-depth documentaries we've all seen - complete with on-screen maps and superb aerial photography.  Excellent and rare Stuka footage!  Airfield attacks and interdiction missions.  Battle damage to Luftwaffe planes, including one remarkable sequence where a Ju 87 arrives back home sans his gear!  He makes a successful belly landing.  Pilots at relaxation - great airfield scenes.  Der Furher visits the front lines and eats in the field kitchen.  [Black and White.  51 minutes.  Narrated in English]
 
Part Three:  AAF Newsreels 1940 - Tons of those Universal, Paramount, and Movietone shorts shown in 1940+ theaters covering all manner of military aviation topics.  Bombers, fighters, people, testing, etc, etc.  You'll really enjoy these.  Crisp footage.  [Black and White.  52 minutes.  Original Audio]
 
Part Four:  Attention Young Men - AAF recruiting 'short'.  Nice AT-6 formation footage.  [Black and White.  1 minute.  Original Audio]
 

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Add to Cart: 8th Fighter Group DVD - $29.00

Click here for an in-depth review of this film

 
Detailed Scene Index:
 
2 hours of Pacific Theater Action, some of which is in color!  Sound throughout!
 
Part One:  8th Fighter Group  - Color film shot by Ken Garrish while serving in Australia and New Guinea, 1942-1944.  Narrative also written by Garrish describing what we're seeing.  8th FG personnel, most veterans of prior tours, readying for 3rd deployment to New Guinea.  Note the variety of uniforms!  Milne Bay.  P-39 Airacobra, P-38 Lightning action.  Chow lines.  P-38 pilots after a mission.  Aftermath of Japanese attacks on the nearby bases.  Zero and Betty wrecks at Lae.  General George Kenney (5th AF chief) passes out medals at 3-mile airstrip.  P-38 engine change in the field.  B-25 strafers marshal out and depart.  Rain - Rain - Rain!  View from airborne B-17 Flying Fortress.  View from PBY as we land on a river to pick up a downed Aussie pilot.  Natives row him out to meet us - big smiles all around.  P-39s landing in Australia.  Natives help out in different ways!  [Color.  Narrated]
 
Part Two:  49th Fighter Group - Shot in January 1943 at Port Moresby, New Guinea.  P-40 Warhawks taxi from jungle revetments and takeoff.  Good view from rear as a pilot runs out, mounts up, cranks and taxies out.  Takeoffs.  B-17 Forts and B-24 Liberator landings.  Aftermath of a B-25 Mitchell crash landing.  *Lots* of P-40 four-ship flight peel off and landings ... good stuff!  P-40s taxi to park.  Individual pilot shots . . . pose, boys!  Dismantling a Zero at Buna.  Lineup of the 49th's pilots - recognize anybody?    [Black and White]
 
Part Three:  Richard Ira Bong - Various shots of America's top ace of all time:  Medal of Honor presentation by Gen. MacArthur on 12/12/44, candid films, P-38 footage and gun camera stuff.  [Black and White]
 
Part Four:  347th Fighter Group - These are the guys who downed Yamamoto on April 18, 1943 (first anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, by the way).  Who exactly shot down the admiral has been subject to debate for years, but the smart money is on Rex Barber based on the totality of the physical evidence and scholarly research.  Be that as it may, and personalities aside, all these men had "the right stuff".  Here we have some candid and some staged film of Barber, Lanphier, Mitchell, Holmes, et al, in and around P-38s at Fighter II, their base on Guadalcanal near Henderson Field.  As a bonus, we get audio of a few of the guys describing the mission in their own recorded words.  [Black and White]
 
Part Five:  347th Fighter Group Gun Camera Film - Let's take a tour of Borneo - as seen from the gun camera of 347th FG P-38s in July 1945.  Buildings, airplanes, boats and even powerpoles(!) are strafed.  Some aerial engagements as well.  [Color]
 
Part Six:  Allied Air Forces at Moratai - Beaufighters and silver Mosquitoes in and around Moratai Island, Dutch New Guinea.  [Color]
 
Part Seven:  Appointment in Tokyo - Documentary-style film produced by the Army Pictorial Service with the cooperation of the Army Air Forces and U.S. Navy.  Much actual captured Japanese film.  Tells the story of the Pacific Theater of war.  Concludes with the surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri.  [Black and White.  Audio]
 

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Add to Cart: The Fighting Lady DVD - $29.00

 
Detailed Scene Index:
 
1 hour, 48 minutes of WWII US Navy Carrier Action!  Almost all of it in colofrom 16mm original film!
 
Part One:  The Fighting Lady - Technicolor presentation of a true story photographed in combat by the US Navy under the supervision of famous photographer Edward J. Steichen (CDR, USNR).  Narrated by actor Robert Taylor.  Air Group landing fly on to carrier.  F6F Hellcat, TBF Avenger and SB2C Helldiver action.  Detailed explanation of USS Yorktown construction layout and ship's company jobs.   Gunnery practice with the "big" guns.  Panama Canal squeeze-through (literally!).  Officer's Mess, pilots eating.  Support compartments.  UNREP at sea.  30 August 1943:  Marcus Island - first target.  Pilot briefing and suiting up.  "Pilots, Man Your Planes!"  Launch Aircraft!  Excellent gun camera footage of strafing and dive bombing - airfields and ships.  Recovery cycle and debriefing.  Similar presentations of attacks on Marshalls, Truk, Marianas and Phillipine Sea battles.  Kamikaze attacks.  Crash landings on the Carrier.  [Narrated.  62 minutes.  All Color]
 
Part Two:  USS Franklin - November 1945 documentary filmed before, during and after the horrible twin bombing of CV-13 on 19 March 1945.  Very detailed analysis and report (for naval architects) of the Franklin's specific damage.  Franklin was the most heavily damaged ship to steam back into port (eventually) under her own power.  Good Corsair footage a bonus.  [Narrated.  17 minutes.  Black and White]
 
Part Three:  The Saga of the USS Franklin - Complete story (from 16mm Kodachrome!) of the ups and downs of this brave ship and her men, based on her official Log Book.  More good F4U Corsair footage - you can never have enough of that!  [Narration.  25 minutes.  Color]
 
Part Four:  Kamikaze Attacks on US Ships - Attacks on US ships as seen from deck level.  Sobering.  [Narration.  4 minutes.  Color]
 

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Note - "The 4th/56th Fighter Group" DVD is temporarily sold out.
 

Add to Cart: 4th/56th FG DVD - $25.00

 
Scene Index:
 
Part One:  4th Fighter Group  - (April 8, 1944):  Don Gentile taxis across the grass at Debden and parks his famous P-51 Mustang "Shangri-La" at its usual hardstand in front of the 336 Fighter Squadron dispersal shacks (sound).  From the cockpit, Gentile talks with his wingman John Godfrey about his last three victories and goes on to describe the engagements (sound).  Several cuts of an interview with a female reporter (sound).  (April 11, 1944):  [out of sequence] - General Eisenhower's P-38 ride (landing - silent).  Presentation of Distinguished Service Cross to Gentile and 4th Fighter Group commander Col. Don Blakeslee (various angles, sound and silent).  VIPs at Debden Officer's Mess (silent).  Ike goes for P-38 ride - strapping in and takeoff (silent).  [11 Minutes, Black and White]
 
Part Two:  Gentile Air Force Specialized Depot 1951 - Moving dedication speech of Gentile Air Force Specialized Depot, Ohio in late 1951.  Features still photos of Gentile at Wright Field in 1945 (sound).  [9 Minutes, Black and White]
 
Part Three:  56th Fighter Group - A 'documentary' of the 56th's "Ramrod to Emden" on 1 October 1943.  Mission planning, etc., round out this excellent film.  Great P-47 Thunderbolt feast (sound)!  [35 Minutes, Black and White]
 

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Add to Cart: 9th AF in Color DVD - $29.00

Click here for an in-depth review of this film

 
Detailed Scene Index:
 
All Color.  1 hour, 40 minutes!  Sound on all aircraft parts.
 
Men and Aircraft of the 9th Air Force:  Generous long cuts of Ninth Air Force planes and crews, including the A-20 Havoc, A-26 Invader, B-26 Marauder, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang - including some awesome *color* gun camera film of dogfighting and strafing, P-61 Black Widow (in OD and Black paint schemes), crews relaxing, pilots briefing and mounting up - including famous 354th Fighter Group ace Bruce Carr and his "Angel's Playmate".
 
Ramagen Bridge:  Defending the bridge against Germans trying to destroy it, as seen from the ground.
 
Operation Varsity:  24 March 1945.  The largest single-day airborne operation in history.  Super footage of C-47s and gliders.
 
USAAF/9AF and German leaders:  Pete Quesada, Hoyt Vandenburg, and USAAF chief General Arnold decorating flyers.  German notables (remember, this is all in color) seen soon after capture include:  Goering, Galland, Kesselring, Von Runstedt and Hans-Ulrich Rudel.
 
German Aircraft:  FW 190 (taxiing), Me 109, Me 110, Me 262, Ju 87 (taxiing).
 

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Add to Cart: 8th Air Force in Color DVD - $29.00

 
Detailed Scene Index:
 
All Color.  1 hour, 45 minutes of 8th Air Force and B-17 Flying Fortress footage!  Sound Throughout.
 
"The Memphis Belle":  William Wyler's classic wartime documentary about the 25th and final mission of the 91st Bomb Group B-17F "Memphis Belle" and her crew.  Their successful completion of 25 missions - the first bomber and crew in 8th Air Force to complete a full tour of operations and go home - was cause for celebration and worthy of a documentary film.  The result is without doubt the most famous Army Air Forces documentary to come out of the war.  [Narrated. All Color]
 
"Combat America":  Famous actor Clark Gable volunteered for Officer's Candidate School, finishing up in November 1942.  Later, after earning his gunner's wings, Army Air Forces chief Gen. Hap Arnold directed Gable to proceed to England and make a documentary film concentrating on the combat phase of aerial gunnery, which would be used for instructional purposes of AAF personnel.  The film was shot entirely "on location" in the air and on the ground with tons of footage of Eighth Air Force combat crews and planes, ground crews, off hours activities and even Capt. Gable's humorous advice to a ball turret gunner who was a pastry chef in civilian life.  All aspects of life on an 8th AF station and the typical mission are shown in detail.  Bob Hope even makes an appearance!  Far from being a 'dry' documentary, the entertaining narration by "Rhett Butler" himself only adds to the overall impact of this fine film.  [Narrated.  All Color]

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Add to Cart: Gun Camera Film DVD - $29.00

Click here for an in-depth review of this film.

 
Detailed Scene Index:
 
1 hour, 40 minutes of Action, of which 80 minutes is in stunning color!  Sound throughout!
 
Part One:  European Theatre  - 94th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress and 56th Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt takeoffs.  55 FG P-38 Lightning takeoffs.  German takeoffs - Me 109s, FW 190s and Me 262s.  B-17 Fort and B-24 Liberator attack sequences.  Germans under attack.  Me-262s and 163s on film (this segment partly narrated by USAAF as part of training in recognizing these fast machines).  Strafing by USAAF fighters ... land/water/bridges/trains - unbelievable low-level action mostly in near-Kodachrome color.  352 FG P-47s takeoff from Bodney.  [Color and Black & White]
 
Part Two:  Mediterranean Theatre of Operations - Fellow airplane lovers, this is crisp, clear color footage of P-47s takeoff sequences, strafing, dive bombing; in cockpit views and landings, including one uncut belly landing shot from runway's edge - you watch the guy slide right by you!  [All Color]
 
Part Three:  ETO "On the Continent" - 9th Air Force P-38s, P-47s, and P-51 Mustangs go to town.  Strafing and dogfights captured in color.  [All Color]
 
Part Four:  Pacific Theatre - SBD Dauntless, P-40 Warhawk, P-39 Airacobra, and P-51 Mustang takeoffs.  They strafe Japanese boats and airfields, then dogfight with fighters.  Carrier action as well (takeoff and landings).  [All Color]
 
Part Five:  "The Earthquakers" - Wartime USAAF Documentary-style Film about the B-25 Mitchell-equipped 12th Bombardment Group (Medium).  [All Color]
 

 

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Special Offer -- Buy any ten DVDs and get one FREE!  A savings of $29!  At checkout, please indicate in the message block which eleven titles you would like.

Add to Cart (Special Offer): Buy 10 DVDs get 1 free - $290.00

 

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