United States Army and British forces conduct airlift operations in Europe during World War II. They airlift paratroopers from England to Arnhem Netherlands. Large number of Allied transport planes at a British airfield in England loaded with weapons, artillery and equipment. The planes and gliders take off one after the other. Fighter aircraft accompany transport planes guarding them from Luftwaffe. View from ground in town in Belgium as a mass of many Allied aircraft fly over towns of Belgium towards Holland's border. Large number of paratroopers of the Anglo-American Army jump from the airplanes. Sky is filled with paratroopers descending. Paratroopers quickly arrange themselves and start their operation. Soldiers fire mortars and rifles at the enemy.
Allied invasion of Normandy, France during World War II. United States paratroopers from different professions with camouflage make up on their faces they prepare to leave England for the invasion of Normandy. The paratroopers being briefed before the take off. They put on their combat gear. U.S. General of the 9th Air Force Brereton shakes hands with the paratroopers. The paratroopers board an aircraft and take off. U.S. Army Air Forces C-47 aircraft take off from different airfields in England to bombard Normandy, France. Aircraft in flight. A gunner aboard an airborne aircraft. Bombs being released. The bombs explode causing a pillar of smoke to rise up. German coastal defenses being bombed.
A film about D-Day invasion practices by United States 9th Air Force Troop Carrier Command in England during World War II. Paratroopers are milling about at an airfield in England. The Commander of 9th Air Force Troop Carrier Command Brigadier General Paul L. Williams dramatizes as the paratroopers leave for D Day practices. Brigadier General Williams speaks to a paratrooper and asks his opinion about the invasion. The paratroopers speak about the invasion as a great responsibility on them. The paratroopers including Captain Charles D. Gun, Captain William K. Colp, Lieutenant Colonel Joel E. Crouch, Captain Frank L. Lillyman. Lined up at the airfield as Brigadier General Williams reviews them. He offers a cigar to Captain Lillyman. The paratroopers board a U.S. Army Air Forces C-47 aircraft.
U.S. paratroopers depart England, the evening before D-day, to be airdropped over Normandy France, in World War 2. U.S. Lieutenant General Louis H. Brereton, Commander, 9th Air Force, converses with two other officers as they stand by a staff car on RAF Greenham Common airfield, England. He waves a riding crop as he steps into the staff car, which carries three stars on a bumper plate. Scene shifts to the flight line where General Brereton is smoking a cigarette as he converses with American and British officers, standing beside C-47 aircraft number 43-15296. Brereton chats with two paratroopers of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and shakes hands with one. The C-47, named, "That's All...Brother," taxis forward, along with several others, toward the active runway. Many aircraft are then seen taking off, one at a time, in the dusk, with their wingtip lights on.
Recap of Allied Forces preparations for invasion of Normandy (D-Day) during World War II. Ground troops receive orders in England prior to D-Day. Trucks loaded with troops head for English Channel. Equipment move along a road. Troops receive gas masks, life belt, cigarettes, candy, and French money in a marshaling area. Invasion units being briefed on field by officers. Troops and equipment start to move toward embarkation point from marshaling area. Tanks, trucks, and heavy equipment move out from marshaling areas. Equipment being loaded aboard LST (Landing Ship Tank) and LCI (Landing Ship Tank) on southern ports of England. Amphibious vehicles, tanks, half tracks being driven into LST. Infantry march on street heading for harbor. Troops board ships in harbor. Soldiers board landing crafts used for shuttle service to travel back and forth from ships anchored. Troops leave landing craft and board ships anchored off shore. Invasion fleet in harbor. From edited film produced in 1947.
Recap of events leading up to invasion of Normandy (D-Day) during World War II in England. Command departure point shows C-47 tow planes and gliders being readied on a runway at an airfield in England. Tow plane and glider pilots being briefed by an officer. U.S. Brigadier General James Gavin speaks to his paratroopers. Soldiers attend religious services. Supreme Commander of Allied Forces General Dwight Eisenhower talks with men of 6th Pathfinder Units, 101st Airborne Division, who will jump the night before D-day. Paratroopers march out of hangars. Paratroopers attach parapacks beneath a plane. Wings of plane painted with invasion stripes. Heavy equipment being loaded aboard a glider. Paratroopers put on their gear. Jumpmaster makes the final inspection. Paratroopers board planes. Gliders and planes take off. From edited film produced in 1947.