Discussion of the first B-17 raid in the European theater (on Rouen, France) during World War II. Major General Carl Spaatz, Commander of the U.S. 8th Air Force, comments about this first such use of American heavy bombers against German targets in World War 2. He notes that this raid was led by Brigadier Ira Eaker, head of U.S. Bomber Command. He invites Eaker to comment on the raid. General Eaker reports that pilots maintained good formations and gunners caused German fighters to back away. He states that the main targets during the air raid were marshalling yards and a Locomotive repair facility. An intelligence officer debriefs two members of a flight crew, following a mission. They answer questions. One of the crew members points out their target on a map, and reports success at hitting their targets..
First American air raid on German positions in Rouen, France during World War II. U.S. Army Air Forces B-17 aircraft on an airfield in England. Ground crew work on the aircraft. Bomb bay door opens up. Fuel tank as men refuel the aircraft. Combat crew members arrive at the briefing hut and being instructed by an officer. He instructs the pilots and other flight about the targets to be bombed. Radio men being instructed. After the briefing crew members head towards the airfield. Flight crew board B-17s. Aircraft take off from the field. B-17s in formation flight. Bomb bay door opens and bombs are dropped. Bombs hit the target and smoke rises. Aircraft head for England after the air raid. Aircraft arrive at the airfield in England. Major General Carl Spaatz , Head of the USAAF in England greet the pilots after a successful air raid. Crew members share their experiences of the mission with an intelligence officer. A pilot talks about how his aircraft was attacked by a German ME-109 aircraft during the air raid.
A Frech military unit salutes as an officer gets off a train. Dignitaries greet the officer. Soldiers with their belongings walk in a street. Civilian recruits in a bus proceed for an Army reception center. Military officers around a microphone at a camp. Soldiers gathered to hear the speech. Soldiers salute the French flag. (World War II period).
Tractors and plows made in a French factory. A manufacturing plant. Worker inspects a Lanz Bulldog tractor. Tractors lined in a field. Men drive the tractors ahead for work. Workers plow a field. Unassembled parts of tractors and plows at the manufacturing plant. A train car loaded with tractor and plow parts. Men operate a wheat cutter to harvest wheat in a field.
German air defense forces scramble to intercept British aircraft during World War II. German anti aircraft gunners are alerted and run to man their battery of 8.8cm FLAK 36 guns. Fw-190A-3 fighters take off to engage British aircraft. Glimpse of German pilot in his cockpit. An Me-410 heavy fighter, with cross on its fuselage, seen ahead through his cockpit window. Aerial view of aircraft maneuvering in dogfights at high altitude, generating condensation trails. Another glimpse of a German pilot in his cockpit. Aircraft falling in pieces. An aircraft falls trailing smoke. German gun crew cheering. More fighter aircraft leaving contrails. German gun crew watching the skies. A German Me-109 in flight. Partial view through German aircraft cockpit window of another aircraft in flight, ahead. Scene shifts to flaming wreckage of a British warplane on the ground. A German officer speaking to a British RAF pilot, near the wreckage. He gives the pilot a document. German soldiers surround a parachute billowing on the ground. Scene shifts back to the RAF pilot looking through the aircraft wreckage. He wears sun glasses and a bandage can be seen on his left eye. An armed German soldier guard now stands with him.
Royal Air Force Blenheim bombers strike the Goodrich tire factory in Paris, France during World War II. RAF bombers in flight and bombs being dropped over the Goodrich tire factory in Paris, France. Billows of smoke rise up after the explosion. A reconnaissance aircraft being worked at and a movie camera being loaded aboard it. Aircraft in flight. Aerial views of the damage caused after the RAF bombing of the factory. Damaged Goodrich tire factory. Pictures before and after the bombings depict the amount of damage caused. Another big building damaged by the bombings. Damage caused to the surrounding buildings. Wrecked Goodrich factory. Bomb crater at th factory.