A military film report on the capture of Myitkyina airfield in Myitkyina, Burma by U.S. Army 5307th Composite Unit nicknamed Merrill's Marauders during World War II. A trooper sets up a sign which reads 'Los Angeles City Limits'. U.S. Army Air Force airplanes taxi and land on a muddy airstrip. U.S. Army General Joseph Stilwell deplanes and congratulates Commander of 5307th Composite Unit General Frank Merrill. A letter on a bulletin board thanking U.S. OSS (Officer of Strategic Services) Detachment 101 for providing services during the capture of Myitkyina airfield.
Securing the capture of Myitkyina airfield by Allied Forces during Burma Campaign of World War II. Allied soldiers at a command post near Myitkyina airfield. Soldiers sitting next to radio equipment. Chinese soldiers lined up awaiting signal at an airfield in India. U.S. 10th Troop Carrier Command C-47 Skytrain transports parked on airfield. Chinese airborne reinforcements and equipment are loaded aboard C-47. C-47s take off and head for Myitkyina. A C-47 lands and delivers Chinese reinforcements on Myitkyina airfield.
Securing the capture of Myitkyina airfield by Allied Forces during Burma Campaign of World War II. USAAF (United States Army Air Forces) fighter aircraft lands at Myitkyina airfield and American pilot hops out of aircraft with a cigarette in his mouth. British soldiers gathered around an antiaircraft gun. Rations are unloaded by Chinese troops from USAAF C-47 Skytrain plane. Very low-flying U.S. Army transport aircraft drops supplies to the ground without parachute, from the air, to avoid over-taxing the runway that was softened by days of heavy rain. U.S. Army's 5307th Composite Unit nicknamed Merrill's Marauders load mules with rations and supplies
AZON one of the first smart bombs developed by United States, for destroying narrow railway bridges in Burma, being tested. An AZON marked 62 is dropped much above the surface by United States B -24 Liberator aircraft. The bomb drops and strikes an isolated area and an explosion occurs. AZON is officially designated as VB-1 i.e. vertical bomb which is a guided weapon to maximize damage to target and minimize civilian destruction. Various dimensions of VB-1 being explained like, battery ,gyro stabilizer,radio receiver and antenna. Bomb releases and explosion occurs. (World War II period).
A U.S. Army Air Forces C-47 aircraft approaches a South East Asia Command airfield in Ceylon, in World War 2. As it taxis in after landing, the words: "Uncle Joe's Chariot" can be seen painted below the cockpit window, along with the China-Burma-India Command Insignia. U.S. Army Lieutenant General Joseph Warren Stilwell, AKA Joe (Vinegar) Stilwell, steps from the airplane's rear door carrying a campaign hat in his left hand. He shakes hands with Brigadier General Frank Dow Merrill (of Merrill's Marauders) and other officers. Stilwell (now wearing his campaign hat) converses with Merrill. Together, they walk toward a waiting staff car.
Evacuation of 'B' Battalion of U.S. 5307th Composite Unit ( nicknamed Merrill's Marauders) from Myitkyina, Burma to Ledo airstrip in Assam, India during World War II. A U.S. Army Air Force C-47 transport aircraft lands at Ledo airstrip in Assam. Litter cases are carried from the airplane to a clearing station. Ambulatory patients walk from the airplane to the clearing station. A soldier receives a hospital tag. Wounded ambulatory patients get into ambulances. An ambulance pulls away from a loading area.