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"Great research material, exciting action
and new film makes these DVDs a great value for the money. For less than the cost of a kit you will be motivated to build
numerous kits . . . " --
from a web review by Floyd S. Werner, Jr.
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Scene Index Nearly two full hours featuring the B-24s and men of the 7th Air Force's 494th Bomb Group,
more popularly known in the Pacific as "Kelley's Kobras". The Kobras were the last B-24 group formed for World
War II, and they had the privilege of being the first Liberators over Japan.
Part One: Action
at Angaur - The story of the invasion and capture of Angaur Island by the US 81st Infantry Division
in September 1944. Part Two: (COLOR) Angaur Island - Aerial views of the island shortly after it was secured. Runway
construction, ruins of the phosphate mill, arrival of the first 494th Bomb Group B-24 Liberators. Bivouac areas. Part Three: Koror
Island Mission - 11th November 1944
mission scenes. Part Four: (COLOR) Briefing and Mission to Koror - Great color footage of the 15th November 44 mission. Part Five: (COLOR) Mission to Luzon Island, Phillipines - More color film, this time the Luzon strike. Part Six: Cabatato Raid & Newsreel - Missions to Mindanao and Palau. Part Seven: (BW & COLOR) Assignment to Guam - Marcus Island mission. Part Eight: Koror & Arakabesan Missions - The 'famous' footage of the B-24 "Brief" going down after the wing folds after
being bombed from above is highlighted. No, this wasn't shot in Europe! Part Nine: (COLOR) Assignment to Okinawa -
Missions to Japan and China. Part Ten: AAF Newsreel - Kagoshima, Japan mission. Part Eleven: (COLOR) 494th Billboards (Nose Art!) -
Great shots of the group nose art. Modelers paradise! * * *
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Click here for an in-depth review of this film Detailed Scene Index Two and a Half Hours of the Pioneer P-51 Mustang Group in Action in Black and White and
Color! Our 20th title!
Part One: Early
History of the 354th Fighter Group - Dockside offloading brand new P-51 Mustang fighters from ships.
Mustangs on trucks through Liverpool streets. Takeoffs and landings at Boxted airdrome. Maj. James H. Howard,
famous American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers veteran, and the only ETO fighter pilot recipient of the Medal of Honor (for
actions on 11 Jan 1944), taxis and takes off in his P-51B "Ding Hao!". Gun Camera footage of Maj. Howard and Lt. Styrsky.
March 8th mission to Berlin - 94th BG B-17 Flying Fortress heavies taxi and takeoff. B-17s landing/taxi scenes.
On 13 April 1944 VIPs inspect the B-26 Marauder equipped 323rd Bomb Group at Earl's Colne, and then the 354th at Boxted.
They watch the activities of both groups. Youthful King Peter II of Yugoslavia
visits the 354th on 1 May 1944. Capt. Don Beerbower meets with the King. Airfield scenes. Jim Howard meets
with Gen. Eisenhower at Middle Wallop in May 1944. Ike talks with pilots and then climbs into a P-47 set up at the firing
butts and lets loose with some .50 cal 8-part harmony! 9th Air Force CG MGen Louis H. Brereton's invasion message of
May 1944. Part Two: D-Day June 6, 1944 - P-51s land after their second D-Day mission. Pilot interviews and discussion
about their experiences, what they saw, etc. (great stuff!). June 1944 354th FG gun camera films. Part Three: To
the Continent in Late June 1944 - The
group moves to France. C-47 Skytrain takeoffs and landings on their dirt strip at Criqueville (A-2). P-51s takeoff
and then do many multiple low-level "beat ups" of the field from all directions - giving the ground personnel (and our cameraman
by the runway) a real treat. Interview with Georgia boy Lt. William B "Ben" King, pilot of "Atlanta Peach".
Classic talk from a typical "kid" fighter pilot of WWII. This "kid" became an ace with 5.5 victories! Capt. Don Beerbower, later KIA, receives
the Silver Star and smiles for the camera. Beerbower taxis his 'Bonnie "B" II' out from a camouflaged shelter - good
look at his famous kite. 4 July 1944 - General Elwood "Pete" Quesada, CG of IX Fighter Command, takes Gen Eisenhower
for a ride in a dual-seat P-51B Mustang for a look at the front lines (note to modelers: after the mission, the name
"The Stars Look Down" was applied to the nose). Aerial views of A-2 airstrip as seen on 7th July. Some gun
camera film of July 1944. Gen. Salinas, CG of Mexican Air Force, visits the group on 23 July. 353rd Fighter Squadron on Patrol over
St. Lo on 27 July. Bubble top and Malcolm Hood P-51s takeoff. More moves for the group on the continent.
P-47 Thunderbolt action in the bitter cold and snow. Part Four: Color films - Lots of gun camera film from the 354th. Mustangs! Mustangs!
Mustangs! Taking off, low-level, landing, taxiing, pilots getting in and out, etc., etc. Sit back and relax to
the tunes courtesy of Rolls-Royce (well, Packard if you want to get technical about it). Lots of general airfield
and maintenance scenes as well. * * *
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Click here for an in-depth review of this film Detailed Scene Index Nearly Two Solid Hours of Korean War Action in Color and Black and White . . . Cinch
Down Your Straps! Part One: "Thunder From the Sky" (1951) - A story of Tactical Air Forces in Korea. C-47 airborne loudspeaker,
the voice of UN fair and humane treatment for North Korean troops who will surrender. US Air Force Lockheed
F-80 Shooting Star and straight-wing Republic F-84 Thunderjet bombing and strafing. camera footage and napalm attacks
shown. Part Two: F-80s Bomb and Strafe (1951) - Color footage shot from a T-33 Shooting Star of
F-80s dive bombing Korean targets. Crisp - looks like it was shot yesterday! Part Three: Dogfights Between
F-86s and MiGs (1951) - North
American F-86 Sabre gun camera films. Part Four: Carrier Planes Strafe and Bomb (1952) - Color film showing US Navy Vought F4U Corsair,
Douglas AD Skyraider "Spad", and Grumman F9F Panther carrier-based planes strafing and bombing targets. Rocket strafing
and low flying highlight the footage. Carrier landings on USS Philippine Sea (CV-47). Striking below on elevators
with engines running - cool! Part Five: Return From MiG
Alley (12 January 1952) - WWII
56th Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt ace Col. Francis S. Gabreski, one of only seven Americans to "make ace" in two wars, taxis
in at Suwon AB, South Korea after a mission. Shown from the cockpit of his 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing F-86 talking
with his crew chief about the mission and their role in Korea (audio included). He then gets out and signs the Form
1. Comments how this particular jet seems to have more thrust than any of the others he's flown. Great footage
of one of the most popular aces of all time (We have similar WWII footage of "Gabby" - and other pilots - available on our
"Fight for the Sky" title). Part Six: Gabreski Becomes a Jet Ace (1 April 1952) - Short film of Gabby as he returns from his 5th victory mission, making
him an ace in two wars! Smiles all around! Part Seven: "The Fighting 51st"
(April - June 1953) - Covers
activities of the 51st FIW under the command of Col. Francis S. Gabreski. Shows Korean natives engaged in daily activities
and gun camera footage of MIG-15s under attack. Col. Gabreski is introduced and speaks from
rostrum. Pilots being briefed in Joint Operations Center (JOC). F-86F Sabre being fueled and armed.
Scenes of weather personnel taking temperature readings and plotting WX maps. Part Eight: John Ford's "This is Korea" (1950-1953) - Color
John Ford documentary story of the Seventh Fleet and the 1st Marine Division.
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Click here for an in-depth review of this film Scene Index: Loads of Action centered on the Part One: The Airborne Invasion of Fortress 101st and 82nd Airborne Division troops arrive at the airfields. Weapons issued. Barracks
scenes. Invasion stripes applied to the planes - another lesson from At 0200, the first glider cells head for Part Two: D-Day Pathfinders in Color - Various scenes shot in color. Awesome. Here's one for the trivia buffs:
What was the serial number of the very first plane to take off for the invasion of Part Three: Fighter Gun Camera Footage - Part Four: Capt. Robert S. Johnson, 56th Fighter Group - Outtakes of the famous Wolfpack ace in and around his
famous P-47 left over from our "Fight for the Sky" title (also available from Wade Meyers Studios). Look at that
waxed sheen on his Thunderbolt! [Black and White] Part Five: Operation Varsity - Two films highlight the Part Six: Beachhead to Part Seven: Royal
Air Force Gloster Meteors -
COLOR film shot at
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Scene Index: TONS of US Army Air Forces Newsreels from the Between-the-Wars era. Nearly TWO hours worth! Part One: USAAF Newsreels 1930 to 1931 - Cleveland National Air Races. New world's flying endurance record. World's
biggest flying boat in New York. US Navy "High Hats" demo team. Col. and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh.
Transcontinental flight. Crop dusting. Chicago National Air Races. Stunting aces sky thrillers.
USMC and US Army squadrons at Cleveland. 13 minutes. Part Two: USAAF Newsreels 1932 - Army
bombers fly over the Grand Canyon. O-1Es and O-1Gs strafing targets. Army tests XB-10. Y1A-8s put into service.
Y1P-26 crash. LB-6s and B-3As over Hawaii. 22 minutes. Part Three: USAAF Newsreels 1932-1933 - Amelia Earhart. Air Show in Cleveland. P-6s and P-12s at Selfridge
and Roosevelt Fields. New blimp in flight. 32nd Bomb Squadron amphibians. Chicago Air Show. Army planes
carry N.R.A. Recovery literature. 21 minutes. Part
Four: USAAF Newsreels 1934 - Army takes over Airmail
routes. Record snow in New York. New Martin bomber. Cleveland Air Show. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
in Hawaii. Launching of the Explorer. Parachutists mass jump. New Sky Eye for Blimps. Aviation's 31st
birthday. 59 minutes.
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Scene Index: *MORE* US Army Air Forces Newsreels from the Between-the-Wars era. Sit back and relax
- great stuff! Part One: AAF Newsreels 1935 - Explorer II; Thompson and Mitchell Trophy races; 1st commercial airmail; China
Clipper in Manila; Boeing XB-17; New base Hamilton Field; Army airship TC-14. 33 minutes. Part Two: USS Saratoga CV-3 1935 - Scenes
of 'Sara' from 1935. 8 minutes. Part Three: USAAF Newsreels 1936 - Nations speed programs for air warfare; Great flood aftermath; AAF "Flying HQ";
Bombing Hawaii volcano to divert lava; sub-zero war games; Berlin Zepplin; AAF rushes planes; World's biggest bomber; AAF
over Lake Tahoe; New aerial camera. 27 minutes. Part Four: USAAF Newsreels 1937 - 1938 - Selfridge Field exercises; A-11s, A-17s, B-10s, USAAF and US Army ground forces, Va.; B-17 in Seattle;
B-10s; March Field, Ca.; Stearman PT-13s; Bell XFM-1; West Point cadets; XB-15; Autogiros. 19 minutes. Part Five: US Army Carries On 1937 - 1940 - US Army maneuvers. 10 minutes. Part Six: Wings of Peace - Goodwill flight to South America. 10 minutes. Part Seven: USS Lexington
CV-2 in COLOR 1938 - Super
historical film of the "Gray Lady"; Drydock; Planes land and take off; San Francisco. Color, 5 minutes.
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Click here for an in-depth review of this film Scene Index: Two Hours of Newsreels Covering the Prelude To and Beginnings of World War Two! Part One: USAAF Newsreels 1939 - XB-15 takes off for Chile with medical supplies. Crash of XP-38 at Mitchel Field.
Hap Arnold warns US to build up air power. US Army plane crashes into Lick Observatory. Brazil's Army chief visits
US airfields. AAC's 30th birthday. 1939 National Air Races. Dedication of NY Municipal Airport. Lt.
Col. Olds and 2nd Bomb Group awarded 1938 MacKay Trophy for their goodwill flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina and return. 48 minutes. Part Two: First American
Ace 1941 - Nichols Field, Philippine Islands.
Rare Kodachrome film of the doomed 17th Pursuit Squadron. Lt. Boyd D. "Buzz" Wagner became the USAAF's first ace
on 16 December 1941. P-26s and the China Clipper. COLOR - 21 minutes. Part Three: Prelude to War - Background of events leading up to World War Two. Bombing of Pearl Harbor.
London air raids. Tank battles in Russia. Panzer and Luftwaffe operations in Western Europe. Territorial
ambitions of the Axis powers. Hirohito. 1929 Peace Pact. Hitler, Goering, Hess, and Goebbels. Japanese
invade Manchuria; land in Shanghai. Italians invade Ethopia. Haile Selassie at the League of Nations. 50 minutes. * * *
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Scene Index: TONS of US Army Air Forces Newsreels & Rare Jack Lieb Color Footage! Part One: USAAF Newsreels 1941 - Covering every subject under the sun, you'll enjoy these MovieTone, Part Two: D-Day to Germany - News
of the Day war correspondent Jack Lieb shot some stunning color footage as he traveled around London and the continent
before, during and after D-Day, 6th June 1944. In 1970 he put narration to the film and this is the candid result.
Awesome behind the scenes remembrances from the guy who shot the film. [Narrated. Color]
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Scene Index: 1 hour, 45 minutes of U. S. Army Air Forces
history! Part One: "Expansion to Air Power" - 1944. On the growth of the USAAF from 1939 to 1944.
Animated diagrams trace increases in personnel, planes, missions, and appropriations between flashes of world situations affecting
these increases. Russian - German pact is signed. Germany invades Poland, France, and other nations. Pearl
Harbor is attacked, U.S. planes fight in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific. Japanese convoy is bombed and strafed.
Pantelleria is bombed. Germany is bombed 'round the clock. Estimates extent of AAF activities in 1944. BW,
43 minutes. Part Two: USAAF Newsreels 1944 - 1945 - Lots of great newsreel action, including:
Airborne invasion maneuvers in England. B-24 Liberator and B-17 Flying Fortress bombers fly through flak.
B-29 Superfortress raid on Japan. Battle of France. Red Devil paratroopers: World salutes heroes who stood
alone. Air giants speed Pacific War. Remember Arnhem. Truth about Ploesti. Saipan raid. Battle
of the Bulge. Buzz bombs. Norden bombsight. Corregidor, Little Tiger Joe, Air pickup rescue. Bomber
girls. Germany after the defeat. BW, 62 minutes.
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Click here for an in-depth review of this film
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Part One: Bombers
Over North Africa - General Eisenhower introduces the film and praises the USAAF's contribution to the North
African campaign. Natives fuel B-25 Mitchell mediums of the 321st Bomb Group. B-17 Flying Fortress crews are briefed
for a raid on Mateur, Tunisia. Very nice B-25 and B-17 taxi and takeoff footage. The mission is flown, and crews
are debriefed upon their return. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle sums up, and shows demolished axis shipping and shattered Luftwaffe
aircraft. [Sound. B/W. 22 minutes] Part Two: Tunisian
Victory - Covers the joint Anglo-American campaign for North Africa from the initial landings
to the final triumph. Follows the British and American armies and air forces from the planning of Operation Torch to
the liberation of Tunis. [Sound. B/W. 76 minutes] Part Three: Conquest
by Air - An Army Air Forces documentary film. The story of the air campaign over Europe geared
towards the destruction of the Luftwaffe and the German capacity of wage war. B-26 Marauder, B-17 Flying Fortress,
B-24 Liberator, A-20 Havoc and B-26 Invader bombers are featured, along with P-38 Lightning, P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt
fighters. The bombings of Rouen, Schweinfurt, Ploesti, Bremen and Berlin highlighted. German factories shown at
full strength and post-bombing. [Sound. B/W. 20
minutes] * * *
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Special Offer -- Buy any ten DVDs and get one
additional DVD FREE! A $29 value! At checkout, please indicate in the message block which eleven titles you
would like.
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