Military Aviation DVDs, Pt II

"I just wanted to say thank you for the quick shipping on my DVD order. I was very pleased to see them in my mail tonight. I am very happy with the quality of the DVDs also. The clarity of these 60 plus year old films is amazing . . . The color ones are simply incredible, looking like they might have been filmed recently . . . " -- R. Miles

"All I can say is WOW, it is especially meaningful to me since my dad was with the 73rd BW on Saipan, great footage of those Superforts!" -- D. Burchfield

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Add to Cart: Fight for the Sky DVD - $29.00

Click here to view an in-depth review of this film

Scene Index:

2 hours of 8th Air Force Aces and Action . . . Sound throughout!

Part One: RAF "Eagles" transfer to the Eighth Air Force - Original film from multiple cameras shot at Debden airfield during the 29 September 1942 transfer ceremony of the American-manned Royal Air Force 71, 121 and 133 Eagle Squadron personnel to the USAAF. They became the 334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons of the 4th Fighter Group based at Debden, Essex, England. The 4th was 8th Air Force's first fighter group, and, flying the Spitfire, Thunderbolt and Mustang, the 4th finished the war as the top scoring US fighter outfit of all time when aerial and ground victories are combined. [Narrated. Black and White]

Part Two: Fight for the Sky - This is the classic (and the best) wartime documentary showcasing the three main 8th Air Force (European Theater of Operations - England) fighters in all their glory: the P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang. A typical mission is planned and carried out. 56th FG ace Dave Schilling makes cameo appearances briefing his pilots and cranking his famous bubbletop P-47. Tons of air and ground film along with aces and gun camera footage. [Narrated. Black and White]

Part Three: 8th Air Force Aces - Awesome rare footage in and around their planes of notable 8th AF aces like Charles London (of the 78th Fighter Group, which was based at Goxhill and Duxford during the war); Don Gentile (4th Fighter Group - Debden); Francis Gabreski, Robert S. Johnson, Walker "Bud" Mahurin and Fred Christensen (56th Fighter Group - Kings Cliffe; Horsham St. Faith; Halesworth; and Boxted); George Preddy (352nd Fighter Group - Bodney; Chievres, Belgium; Bodney/again); and John B. England (357th Fighter Group - Raydon; Leiston).

Extensive actual gun camera film from several of the aces - "extreme close ups" of Luftwaffe Me 109, Me 110 and FW 190 fighters. Much of it remarkably clear. And a "welcome home" by their families for 4th FG aces Don Gentile and John Godfrey. An included bonus is 22-year old P-51 pilot Maj. John B. England's appearance on the radio program "Combat Thrills". [Black and White]

Part Four: 56th Fighter Group "Wolfpack" Gun Camera Film - Aces Col Hub Zemke, Lt Col David Schilling, and Lt Col Francis Gabreski, along with a few others, let 'em have it in full color! Aerial and strafing footage. [Color]

Part Five: Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! - A nice wartime documentary on the vital Air-Sea Rescue Service. If you ditched in the Channel, these guys became your angels. Good Emergency Rescue Squadron Thunderbolt and Catalina film. [Narrated - Black and White]

Part Six: News Events of the Eighth Air Force - British Boer War veterans visit 8th AF Service Command. RAF anti-fog oil lit emergency airfield. [Color]

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Add to Cart: Invaders of Sicily DVD - $29.00

Detailed Scene Index:

Almost 2 hours of Italian Campaign fighter operations. All but 5 minutes in Color!

"The Invaders of Sicily": Army Air Forces' documentary film shot in the summer of 1943. The A-36 Invader was the dive bomber version of the famous P-51 Mustang. A-36s and their pilots are shown in splendid color as they mount up and then fly missions against Italian targets. The Invaders are shown strafing and dive bombing bridges, rail and road junctions. [Narrated]

Outtakes - "Invaders of Sicily": Additional footage from the above film including A-36s, ground crews at work, and damage to targets as shot later from the ground. Men are shown exploring a wrecked He-111, FW-190, and Macchi C.202. C-47s make an appearance, too! [Background Music]

"Air Attacks Against Italy" (April 1944): Army Air Forces "Weekly Digest" film about the A-36s and their work against Italian targets near Rome. Fubara strafing, Viterbo dive bombing and strafing, Canino Airfield strafing, Orte motor transport strafing, and Attigliano dive bombing are featured. [Narrated. B/W]

"Thunderbolt": Lt Col William Wyler's well-known 1944 documentary film about the 57th Fighter Group stationed at Alto Airbase, Corsica. Lots of good P-47 Thunderbolt sights and sounds. Film narration by later well-known actor Lloyd Bridges. Introduction by Jimmy Stewart.

Outtakes - "Thunderbolt": Never before seen and unbelievably clear footage of personnel, P-47s, and Italian cities. Gorgeous ultra-close P-47 formation on a B-25 (Sheesh! Why didn't they include this footage in the original film?). Painting squadron nose art on engine cowling panel. Loading and arming bombs on a P-47. Aircraft maintenance. More Thunderbolts in flight and on the ground. Wrapped up with some good A-26 Invader, B-26 Marauder, B-24 Liberator and RAF P-47 cuts. [Some Actual Audio. Background Music]

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Add to Cart: Dec 7th/Midway DVD - $29.00

Detailed Scene Index:

1 hour, 41 minutes of WWII Pacific stories and Action!

Part One: December 7th - Rarely seen theatrical release version of director John Ford's 1943 Academy Award-winning documentary about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Life in Hawaii before, during and after the attack is told through actual footage and dramatizations. Really a good insight into what it was like to be there. [Sound. 83 minutes. Black and White]

Part Two: The Great Asia War - Seized Japanese film which tells the story of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Fleet Admiral Yamamoto on the bridge, aerial footage of the actual attack filmed from Japanese planes, and stills of officers who attacked Pearl in suicide submarines. Japanese language narration. [8 minutes. Black and White]

Part Three: The Battle of Midway - Directed by John Ford. Technicolor from 16mm original film. PBY arrival, sea taxiing, docking. B-17 Flying Fortress planes and crews - taxi and takeoffs. Japanese attack! Gun emplacements. Planes taking off. Hangar fires. Fuel farm fires. Extensive damage around the island. Carrier ops: SBD Dauntless F4F Wildcat, TBD Devastator action. Carrier takeoffs. Multiple Japanese attacks on the ships. F4F aces: featuring John S. Thach and others. PBY Catalina rescue offloads on the island. Memorial Services. Burial at Sea. Results of battle. [Narration. 20 minutes. Color]

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Add to Cart: 303rd Bomb Group DVD - $29.00

Click here for an in-depth review of this film

Detailed Scene Index:

1 hour, 44 minutes of 8th Air Force Heavy Bomber Action! Most in Outstanding Color! Sound throughout! This one is proving to be a top seller.

Part One: Heading to Molesworth, England - "Home Movies" narrated using script written by 2Lt. John E. Castle. Crystal-clear color scenes of B-17 Flying Fortresses at Kellogg Field. Super personnel shots. Tons of nose art. 12 October 1942 departure for Bangor, ME. In-flight shots. Newfoundland. Molesworth airfield scenes (mud, wind and ice ... you vets will feel like you're back). Practice Missions - high altitude and vapor trails for the first time! [Narrated. All Color]

Part Two: Operational Missions - Lorient, France (23 Jan 43): Mission Planning. Gunners. Loading Bombs. Turning props through. In the cockpit scenes. Flak. Fighters. Bombs Away! Losses. Back to Molesworth. Battle damage and repairs. Villacoublay, France (14 Jul 1943): Color film shot on this day's mission. Airborne and inside B-17s. Crews after mission. "Knock-Out Dropper's" 50th Mission (16 Nov 1943): [First Eighth Air Force B-17 to complete 50 missions. Later, she was the first 8th AF Fort to complete 75 missions. 17 different crews flew her. No major battle damage. Flew home and later scrapped in Stillwater, OK in July 1945]. Ground scenes. Pilots just before getting in. Firing up and taxi out. Lots of airborne shots. Landing and taxi back to dispersal. Crew welcomed home. Painting on that big 50th bomb. "Hell's Angels" gets another bomb symbol, too. Ground crews at work. Fall 1943: MGen. Eaker discusses the last year of 8AF operations - the "Bold Experiment". [Narrated. Color and B/W]

Part Three: 8th Air Force Review 1944 - Newsreel footage and highlights of 8th AF operations and people. Bombers and fighters. Lots of gun camera film. 56th Fighter Group P-47s. The Royal Family. Princess Elizabeth christens B-17G "Rose of York". [Narration. B/W]

Part Four: And if That Wasn't Enough - Outtakes: 303rd Bomb Group and other source footage. Various outtake scenes from Capt. Clark Gable's "Combat America", a film made about aerial gunners in action. Majority of the combat footage was shot with the 303rd Bomb Group. 352nd Fighter Group P-47s and pilots at Bodney - in color! Combat scenes. Lots of airfield and people shots, especially at Molesworth. V-E Day at Molesworth and in London: Ceremonies at Molesworth. Throngs of people in London celebrating. Royal family waving to the crowd. [Narration. Mostly Color with some B/W]

Part Five: Return to Molesworth - In 1954, an American USAF enlisted man and an Englishman toured Molesworth - with a camera. Absolutely priceless footage of "ten years later" showing the old buildings and the airfield in general. [B/W]

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Add to Cart: Liberators Over Europe DVD - $29.00

Click here for an in-depth review of this film

Detailed Scene Index:

1 hour, 44 minutes of 8th and 15th Air Force Heavy Bomber Action!

Part One: "Liberators Over Europe" - This wartime documentary is an overview of the contribution of the B-24 Liberator in the European Theatre of Operations, specifically the 8th Air Force's 2nd Air Division. Photographed by 3rd and 8th Air Force Combat Camera units. Ploesti footage. Col. Leon Johnson gets the Medal of Honor for his actions on the Ploesti raid.

B-24s landing and taxiing. "Bomerang", a veteran of Africa and the ETO, and a 'going home' crew are given a send-off ceremony prior to returning stateside. Lot of good footage of B-24s seen on their bases and in flight. [Narrated. B/W]

Part Two: "The Air Force Story - Ploesti: March - August 1944" - Chapter XX of the USAF's heritage film series. This film concentrates on the efforts to go through Hitler's "back door" and take out the vital Romanian oil fields. The different approaches to this task are shown. Good low-level B-24 ingress footage included. [Narrated. B/W]

Part Three: "Raid on Ploesti" - Ultra-rare color combat film shot in-flight on 1 August 1943 during a Ploesti raid. Photographed by SSgt. E. M. Gambrel of the 98th Bomb Group at 1350 hours. Over the smoking target and low level footage make this short film priceless 'gold'. [Silent. Color]

Part Four: "Operation Titanic" - "The War Department Presents: Operation Titanic". This is the complete story of the planning and execution of the summer 1944 Shuttle bombing raids from the UK to staging bases in Russia and Italy which endeavored to not only shorten mission times, but keep the Nazi regime guessing where we're coming from next. Good action footage of B-17 Flying Fortress planes and crews. Generous film of their time on the ground in Russia as well. [Narration/Audio. B/W]

Part Five: Army Air Forces' Report 1944 - Hosted by Army Air Forces Commanding General H. H. "Hap" Arnold, this is an in-depth look at what the AAF has been up to around the world, and on all fronts, from the AVG Flying Tigers to the airwar over Germany. [Narration/Audio. B/W]

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Add to Cart: 20th AF B-29s DVD - $29.00

Detailed Scene Index:

2 hours, 35 minutes of B-29 Superfortress Pacific Theatre action on two discs! Color and Black and White Footage! Sound throughout!

Part One: "Target Tokyo" - Narrated by actor Ronald Reagan, this is a documentary record of the first Superfortress missions on Tokyo. Excellent airborne and ground B-29 footage. XXI Bomber Command formed and arrival in-theatre. Saipan airfield construction. Japanese attacks on Saipan. Typical Tokyo mission from crew briefing to landing. Dauntless Dotty's Robert Morgan and Vince Evans (of Memphis Belle fame) shown with plane and crew. Lots of nose art. Dawn takeoffs and night returns. [Narrated. B/W]

Part Two: Saipan B-29s - All color footage of operations on Saipan. B-29s along with their air and ground crews. B-29 crash. Repairs. Maintenance ops. Typical mission highlights from briefing to landing. P-38, P-47 and P-61 buzz the base and land. [Narrated. Color]

Part Three: "The Last Bomb" - All color documentary about the XXI Bomber Command story. Beautiful B-29 air and ground footage. Gen. LeMay approves a mission and the mission planning begins. Scenes from planning to landing are shown in glorious color. Mission fighter escort (P-51) shown escorting and then going down on the deck. All color gun camera footage. B-29 crash rescue. [Narrated. Color]

Part Four: Tinian B-29s - Color and Black and White footage of the preparation and loading of the atomic bombs on the Enola Gay and Bock's Car. Film of Tibbets' crew before takeoff, then engine start and takeoff. Enola Gay returns to Tinian and Paul Tibbets is immediately presented with the DSC by Gen. Spaatz. [Narrated. Color and B/W]

Part Five: Crew Interviews - Interviews with the Enola Gay and The Great Artiste crews. They briefly describe their personal experiences on the first atomic mission. [Audio. B/W]

Part Six: United Newsreels - A selection of eleven B-29-related United Newsreels round out this B-29 feast for the eyes and ears. [Sound. B/W]

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Add to Cart: Target for Today DVD - $29.00

Click here for an in-depth review of this film

Detailed Scene Index:

1 hour, 45 minutes of USAAF footage!

Part One: Gen. Arnold - USAAF Commanding General Hap Arnold appears in a rare "message to the troops", which is his way of staying in contact with the AAF. This talk concentrates on the efforts at home and abroad. Nice footage of men and planes as well as factory scenes. [Sound. B/W]

Part Two: "Target for Today" - Produced by the AAF's First Motion Picture Unit, this in-depth documentary "has no actors" and all footage was shot "on location". This is a nice look at all aspects (air and ground) of a typical mission. The airwar against Germany is outlined and explained. Then, a detailed look at VIII Bomber Command's target selection and Field Order dissemination process from the CG down to Divisions, Combat Wings, then the Groups. Proper fusing of bombs explained. Loads of gas and bombs based on aircraft type discussed. Maintenance scenes. Crew wakeups. Breakfast.

Actual briefing scenes from the 303rd, 379th, 384th, 351st, 305th, 389th, 94th, 95th, and 100th Bomb Groups. You 8AF vets may see yourself - for sure you'll recognize faces. Then, there’s the specialized briefings for Pilots, Navigators, Bombardiers, Radio and Gunners. Suiting up and jeeps out to the hardstands. B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator taxiing and takeoffs. Assembly of 3-Group Combat Wings. Enemy aircraft encounters. Combat Wings separate into groups at the IP. Bombs Away! Combat Wings reform at the Rally Point. B-26 Marauder takeoffs for their part at this time - bombing a fighter base. 17s and 24s return. Some battle damage. Taxi to dispersals. Crew interrogations. If you've got "hot news", you report that first in the designated room (usually Channel bail out locations for Air Sea Rescue notification). Results of mission discussed. [Sound. B/W]

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Check out: Military Aviation DVDs! Part III

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

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