U.S.Coast Guard crewmen painting battle star on superstructure of Landing Craft Infantry (Large), LCI(L) number 84, during World War 2, in France. (This craft was already a veteran of North African and Italian campaigns, and is preparing to take part in the Normandy invasion.) Another Guardsman questions whether it will be as good as other stars already painted. Others keep pestering the painter about this and he reassures them all. (View of perfect finished red star.) Landing craft Gunners display the landing craft's Oerlikon 20-millimeter Mk 4 automatic antiaircraft cannon. Views of LCI(L)s numbered 85, 89, 92,90, and 496, all tied together at a port in England. Sailors on LCI(L) 85, at their Oerlikon 20-millimeter cannon. U.S. Navy Union Jack displayed nearby. U.S. Coast Guard officers viewing sky with binoculars.
U.S. paratroopers stand near open door of a C-47 transport, ready to jump, in a practice exercise, in England, during World War 2. One trooper leans out the opening, carefully looking over the situation. He has a lit cigar in his mouth. Another view shows a Captain, commanding them, poised in the open cargo door. He jumps and the rest of his "stick" of paratroopers follow in quick succession. Another group of paratroopers repeats the process. Scene shifts to views taken from a camera fastened to a paratrooper's leg. His face is seen. He grimaces at the shock of chute opening and then smiles. The open parachute is seen above him. He lands on his back with chute behind him in a grass field. A large formation of C-47s seen overhead, dropping paratroopers, who fill the sky as they descend. Paratroopers are seen as they land. White smoke is seen in the background, marking the drop zone.
A film titled 'Paratroopers Maneuver' about the British and U.S. paratroopers training in England during World War 2. Formation of Allied C-47 Skytrain in flight. Paratroopers in training seen in aircraft as they prepare to jump from the aircraft over RAF Ramsbury (USAAF Station 469) in Wiltshire county. Paratrooper soldiers inside the aircraft hookup to static lines. The jump master is photographed, by a camera strapped to his chest, as he descends with a cigar in mouth. Unusual view of face of paratrooper as he descends in mid air before parachute opens, and then relief and smile on his face as the chute opens and slows his descent.The paratroopers jump, descend and hit ground. The static lines are pulled back into the aircraft. Several paratroopers are pulled by strong breeze across the ground, before they can spill their chutes. One paratrooper being treated for injury suffered from collision with another trooper. Preparations made inside an aircraft to drop supplies. Supplies in parachutes dropped and land on ground. (These shots are taken flying just to the north of Ramsbury village and looking down on the woods and fields that are divided by Hilldrop Lane.) The airdrop of supplies is made by C-47 aircraft. The supplies descend and hit ground. (The C-47 aircraft in low flight formation drop the supplies in fields to the east of Hilldrop Lane just north of Ramsbury.)
Troop movements and preparations for D-Day Invasion of France during World War II. U.S. 82nd Airborne Division troops walk in a squad and move past a British guard . They walk down to a harbor where they board a Landing Craft Vehicle (LCV). Boats at the south England harbor in the background. The troops in the LCV leave the harbor.
A film titled 'Happy Warriors' on procedures for rotating U.S. Army Air Force airmen from England to the United States for rest and relaxation during World War II. Several views of U.S. B-17s, B-24s and other bombers in flight through flak over enemy areas in Europe. Tail codes on B-17s identify them as belonging to the 95th Bombardment Group of the U.S. 8th Air Force. Various crew members seen at their respective crew stations aboard the bombers. Falling bombs explode on ground targets.View of a failed engine in flight and the propeller being feathered. General Eisenhower shaking hands with crew of a B-26 Marauder named "Son of Satan," with about 50 bombs painted on its fuselage for missions flown. A military bus arrives at the 127th Replacement Battalion's Washington Hall. USAAF fliers step from the bus and make their way to the receiving office. A sign reads: "New Arrivals Report to Rear Door." Among the group of aviators walking to the reception area is one carrying a small puppy dog. Colonel William A. Gayle, Battalion Commander, of Montgomery, Alabama (and later Mayor of Montgomery), poses with his headquarters staff. "Puddles" the mascot dog of the Post joins in for the picture. Posing and smiling is Sergeant Major Holloway, who has been Colonel Gayle's "right hand man" since the unit was organized in 1942. The fliers stand informally as a Sergeant calls the roll. The fliers undergo screening of their individual possessions for security purposes. A navigator has his maps taken away, to be returned when he returns from leave. Captain Baldridge, in charge of the mess,tastes and personally approves dishes from the kitchen before they are served to the Army aviators.
Fliers from U.S. bomber crews take leave at 127th Replacement Battalion site Washington Hall, Chorley, Lancashire, England while awaiting final orders to return home, during World War 2. A sign reads 'Special Service Office'. An officer checks out a tennis racquet.On a comical note, the staff hand one flier a live dog, that he carries away. One flier obtains a pair of dice. A group of fliers plays volleyball. One flier works out on a heavy bag with boxing gloves, while another practices gymnastics on a pair of rings. An officer in uniform pitches a baseball from the mound. A group of American fliers, on tour of nearby towns, leaves a parish church to continue on their tour. The Rector waves to them from the church. Expert British guides accompany the group. The group is seen looking at a rebuilding project, and walking in a major city.