Ceremony honoring the USAAF 389th Bombardment Group, on completion of 200 missions in the European theater during World War 2. U.S. Lieutenant Generals Carl A. Spatz, Commander of the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe, and James Doolittle, who is about to assume command the 8th Air Force, stand together with officers representing several World War 2 Allied nations. A large formation of B-24 Liberator bombers flies overhead. Closeup of two soldiers looking up at the formation. Aerial view of the B-24 formation, from an accompanying aircraft. A color guard with the American flag. Representatives of various Bombardment Squadrons stand holding their unit flags. General Doolittle makes brief remarks on the merits of the 389th Group, which draw chuckles from the audience, including a smiling Soviet officer, Standing to the far left in the picture, behind Doolittle. (He has been identified as Major Timofey Samarin, assigned as Air Force assistant to the Soviet Ambassador, and also as Military Attache to the United Kingdom.)
German Propaganda Minister, Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels addresses a Nazi party gathering in Germany. Nazi party members and soldiers in a huge stadium. They give the Nazi salute. Nazi flags all around. Goebbels arrives and is led through the crowd by officers and soldiers. He acknowledges the crowd and takes his place on stage. Officers and soldiers seated on stage. Goebbels begins his speech. He talks about the Allied assault on Europe, V-1 bombs and their use against England. He praises Adolf Hitler and the German people. The people laugh and applaud during the address. (World War II period).
American naval triple guns firing, in World War 2. The battleship, USS West Virginia, modernized and in camouflage, firing guns at a Pacific island. U.S.troops firing weapons from a beachhead. American soldiers manning a 155mm howitzer under camouflage netting. Another gun crew firing at zero elevation from heavily sandbagged position near buildings. Black flak clouds filling the air as American aircraft carrier fights off Japaneae Kanikase attack. The Kamikase plane appearing to by hit by flak. Cluster of Doouglas Dauntless planes on the carrier deck. Closeup of sailors firing double Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns from the carrier. Downed aircraft plunging into the sea. American troops riding a landing vehicle tracked (LVT) during amphibious assault. Landing craft stacking up along beach and subject to intense enemy fire during amphibious assault. One is hit and blows up. Flame thrower being usee to drive Japanese defenders from fortified positions. One runs out aflame. U.S. soldier throwing a grenade. American troops quick time entering an occupied town in Europe. Explosions and U.S. infantry passing destroyed buildings. Soldier firing a mortar. U.S. soldiers carrying a wounded on stretcher under fire.
U.S. 8th Army Air Force gun camera film showing actual aerial combat scenes during World War 2, in Europe. A Messerschmitt Bf 109 is seen being attacked from the rear. It is struck, loses control and begins to burn. Next, a German Focke Wulf 190 (FW-190) with a 300 liter drop tank still attached, is attacked. The drop tank is hit and explodes in flames. It separates from the aircraft, which rolls and dives. Another FW-190 with its landing gear extended, is attacked and explodes in flames. An Fw-190, has its wing blown off and falls out of the sky. A U.S. fighter plane strafing a German E-boat (German: Schnellboot, or fast boat). The plane strafes from the boat's port side and then circles to attack head-on as the boat attempts evasive maneuvers. An FW-190 is attacked, head-on as it is also firing at the U.S. fighter. It is struck and erupts in flame and smoke. A pair of Siebel Fh 104 Hallore transport planes are attacked, followed by an attack on a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor transport, as it takes off from an airfield. Its left wing is set afire. Next, a U.S. fighter engages and destroys a German Dornier Do-17 bomber, in a head-on attack, as it is climbing out. That same U.S. fighter plane attacks and destroys an FW-190. In final scene, a Messerschmitt bf 109 is shot to pieces in another head-on attack.
Ships, supplies, troops, and weapons being marshalled for the invasion of Europe. Allied troops under fire wade ashore from landing craft during D-Day invasion of Normandy France. Allied troops on the beaches of Normandy. A floating port, consisting of Phoenix breakwaters, steel piers and related structures, designed in Quebec, Canada, assembled in England, and towed across the English Channel. A dozen Allied fighter aircraft in close formation fly over the floating port convoy. Aerial views of the numerous elements of the floating port. Diagrams of the floating port and building of a Mulberry harbour. Views of the sinking of caissons. Old Allied ships being maneuvered and scuttled to form a breakwater. A floating bridge extending to the beachhead. Trucks moving over the floating bridge. Barrage balloons over the beachhead. A storm inflicts severe damage to phoenixes and the new port. But supply operations resume after repairs are made off the coast of Normandy. Views of war weary U.S. Army troops taking a break for chow in the days after the D-Day invasion. American troops enjoy a hot meal and eat rations. Some smile. A soldier smoking a cigarette. A U.S. soldier cheers on fellow soldiers riding away in an Army truck.
United States Army Air Force 8th Fighter Command gun camera footage of attacking targets in Europe during World War II. 2nd Lieutenant R. M. Leidy of 359th squadron 356th fighter group is flying the aircraft. The aircraft attacking ground targets as seen from gun camera. High altitude view of the area. Strafing of trucks along roadway, sheltered under trees. Explosion of the truck. Gun cam footage shows smoke arises from explosion.