U.S. bomber crew members on leave in England while awaiting final orders to return home to the USA, during World War 2. A sign reads 'Officers Entrance Red Cross Aeroclub'. U.S. airmen and officers have drinks and snacks in a garden, compliments of the Red Cross, at the aeroclub of 127th Replacement Battalion site, Washington Hall, Euxton, Chorley, Lancashire. The airmen line up in formation for a retreat ceremony and salute as the American flag is lowered and folded by Military Police. An announcement over Loudspeakers prompts the fliers to rush toward Squadron "O" Bulletin Board to find their names on the list of those scheduled to return home to the USA. One flier wears a leather jacket with image of B-17 named "American Beauty" and 36 bombs (for missions) painted on it. Another wears jacket with image of a B-24 and 31 bombs, and one has room only for the name,"Piccadilly Willy," because the rest of the jacket contains bombs for 65 combat missions. Army Air Forces Methodist Chaplain, Clifford Peace, from North Carolina, conducts a brief service of blessings and good wishes for the fliers who will now be returning home.
U.S. gliders being assembled at RAF Greenham Common, England, in preparation for the D-Day invasion during World War II. Truck trailers arrive at the airfield. Packing crates placed on field. Workmen assemble U.S. Waco CG-4 assault gliders. Man directs arriving vehicles. Light tractor pulls crate loaded with glider part. Truck loaded with men arrives. Men work under the wing of a glider.
U.S. 101st Airborne Division in England during World War 2. Paratroopers marching on Welford airfield, Berkshire, England, then home of the U.S. 435th Troop Carrier Group. They march past gliders parked with their rear doors open. Tail of a WACO CG-4A Glider is seen with serial number 277396. A band plays. An olive drab staff car arrives on the airfield. U.S. Army General Dwight D Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill alight from the car. They review 101st Airborne Division troops with its Commander, U.S. Army Brigadier General Maxwell D. Taylor. Churchill, Eisenhower, and Taylor review the troops by walking amongst them. Prime Minister Winston Churchill shakes hands with Brigadier General Don Pratt, Assistant Division Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (who was later killed on D-Day in the Normandy Landings). As the reviewing party proceeds, they pass the guidon of 321st Glider Artillery Headquarters, displaying crossed cannons. Churchill pauses momentarily, as he passes a British paratrooper in formation with the 101st Airborne.
U.S. 101st Airborne Division in England during World War 2.British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. Army General Dwight D Eisenhower, and Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, with other officials and officers, visit RAF Welford airfield in Berkshire County, England (then home to the 435th Troop Carrier Group). They are hosted by Brigadier General Maxwell Davenport Taylor, Commander of the 101st Airborne Division, together with members of his staff, including: Brigadier General Don F Pratt and Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe. They tour various exhibits of engineers, artillery, anti aircraft and paratroop units. They inspect equipment, gliders, and supplies. From a reviewing stand, they observe a paratroop exercise involving formations of C-47 transport planes, from which large numbers of paratroopers jump, filling the skies with parachutes. Generals Eisenhower, Brigadier General Taylor and Prime Minister Churchill salute colors as they review troops. They walk among displays of troopers, equipment, and U.S. CG-4A gliders. Assisted by General Taylor, Prime Minister Churchill climbs aboard a British Horsa glider to examine it. He shakes hands and converses with Colonels of the 101st, including: Col.George S. Wear, commander, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment; Col. George V. H. Moseley, Jr., Commander, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment; Colonel Howard R.Johnson, commander, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment; and Col. Thomas L. Sherburne, 101st Airborne Division's Artillery Commander.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and United States General Dwight D. Eisenhower meets Brigadier General Maxwell D. Taylor and inspect the United States 101st Airborne Division in England during World War II. A staff car with the British and American flags arrives on the Welford airfield, Berkshire, England. General Dwight D Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill alight from the staff car after an attendant opens the car door. Prime Minister Churchill and General Eisenhower meets with military officers as they walk in the airfield. Prime Minister Churchill salutes and shake hands with Brigadier General Maxwell D. Taylor. A band plays while Prime Minister Churchill and General Eisenhower review the 101st Airborne Division troops with its Commander, Brigadier General Taylor. Two soldiers hold flags. Prime Minister Churchill, Generals Eisenhower and Taylor review the troops by walking amongst them. General Eisenhower uses binoculars to watch paratroopers jumping from C-47 planes during a mass demonstration. Hundreds of paratroopers with parachutes fall to the airfield. Prime Minister Churchill and General Eisenhower get in a car. Army vehicles driving away.
American Army officers and military war correspondents in London, England shortly before D-Day operations. U.S. officers walk down a street. Officers near a monument talk. An officer clicks pictures. Officers chat and smile. Double decker buses on the street. The Big Ben clock tower in the background. Tulips in a park, people walk in the background. Big Ben with pedestrians in the foreground.