'Normandy: Air borne invasion of fortress Europe ' Allied invasion of Normandy. Lieutenant General William S Knudsen introduces the film to be presented, expressing thanks to makers of the glider aircraft used in the invasion, who are the intended audience of the film. Field Order no1, 9th Troop commander Carrier. A man puts a Top Secret seal on the order. The Captain of United States 82nd Air Borne Division briefs men about the terrain with the help of a mosaic. A map of Europe shows principle cities of the continent. Map and narrator describe German Atlantic Wall coastal defenses on European continent. A giant concrete coastal gun emplacement. A large German railroad coastal gun moved out of a concrete shelter. Various concrete structures, sandbag structures of coastal guns. A concrete base gun turret revolves. Huge coastal guns protrude from concrete gun emplacements. Huge steel and concrete tank barriers stretched across. Large concrete and steel structures built along the coast to prevent assault craft from landing. Combined Chiefs of staff of the United Nations at a meeting. George Marshall and Henry Arnold at the head of the table during the meeting. A map shows invasion area near Le Harve. Troop Carrier units departing for Allied invasion on Sicily, Africa on 10 July, 1943. The United States C-47 aircraft take off towing gliders from an airfield in Africa. Troops transported from British 1st Air Borne division and United States 82nd Air Borne division. Dust rises as aircraft take off from a desert field. Demolished gliders on field and beside water. Multiple views of demolished gliders. C-47 in flight and paratroopers jump from the plane in New Guinea. Instructor trains paratroopers in United States. Discussion and demonstration of improvements in glider equipment and usage after Sicily Invasion and prior to D-Day Normandy invasion. Two men attach link nose chain to glider. Parachute extended and held open by men. Pilot of a glider talks to the pilot of the plane towing the glider over intercom.
U.S. Army Air Force armorers ride atop bombs on trolleys, being pulled by a tug on an airfield in England during World War 2. Airmen gather around a bomb as one writes in chalk, "To Schicky (referring to Hitler family, Schickelgruber) this is only the start, Love, L.E.Z." Views of Airmen rolling bombs on carts under a B-17E aircraft. View from inside a B-17 as ground crews look up through open bomb bay doors. B-17 combat crewmen walking and riding bicycles, to attend a mission briefing. Inside the assembled aircrews are briefed by a British RAF officer, who says, "We're going to work. The target is XZ 462." He goes on providing details to be followed by aircrews. The crews leave the briefing room. Next, B-17s are seen taxiing out for takeoff. The lead aircraft is "Yankee Doodle" piloted by Brigadier General Ira Eaker. Another is "Stinky." Next is "Little Skunk Face."And the last one "Berlin Sleeper." Ground crews watch as the B-17 bombers take off and assemble into formation overhead. Views from inside a B-17 as bombs fall and its gunners fight off German fighter planes. Bombs seen falling and exploding on the ground and raising clouds of smoke. Glimpse of gunners firing at attacking German aircraft. Narrator states there is anti-aircraft fire all around them, that jolts the aircraft. The B-17s assemble in formation for the flight home. Back at the base, some wait atop the tower for the returning aircraft. General Ira Eaker, Chief of the U.S. VIII Bomber Command, steps from a returning aircraft, and greets Major General Carl Spaatz, Commander of the 8th Air Force. Final scene shows Brigadier General Eaker, smoking a cigar and surrounded by civilian and military reporters. ( Note: Reportedly, the B-17 "Stinky" crash landed in Athenry Co Galway Ireland on the 15th January 1943 with General Jacob Devers and a party of other Generals onboard, but none were injured and and all arrived safely at 2AM the same day, in Belleek, Northern Ireland.)
World War 2 era film that also includes some World War 1 scenes. Show girls or chorus girls in follies-like show, costumed as U.S. silver dollars and marching to tune and lyrics alluding to dramatic increase of currency in circulation, over the years. Animation with stacks of coins shows increase in national income from $46 billion,in 1933, to $71 billion, in 1939, and $142 billion in 1943. Back to the "follies dollars," a boy asks why, and then scenes of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,are shown, with U.S. battleships being sunk. Wartime arms plants are shown. An M2A3 Light Tank rolls off a production line. Ships being constructed in a shipyard. B-24 Liberator bombers being built in a factory. Artillery shells being produced. Defense workers receiving their pay. The "follies dollars" group themselves to illustrate the fractions of income devoted to taxes and savings. But other spending is curtailed by wartime shortages. A woman talking with clerk in a drug store. U.S. Army troops crossing a pontoon bridge in open trucks, towing 75mm M1A1 howitzers. Infantry on the march. Animation showing industrial production devoted to war materiel and lots of dollars chasing few civilian goods. A grocery clerk offers to sell a woman customer butter for more than the established price, and she agrees. The "follies" performers then introduce the idea of an "inflationary dollar," and some history of past U.S. inflations. Animated examples of price inflation are shown. Glimpses of World War I scenes are seen, circa 1917 -1918, including: a 12-inch railway gun firing; a huge explosion from shell bursting near the camera; various scenes of United States infantry soldiers and French soldiers in battle action, running to bomb craters for cover and emerging from trenches to go up "over the top" into no-mans land during combat. Meanwhile, singing narration refers to the home front inflation due to competition for limited civilian goods. Map shows Europe and singing narration cites rising prices for food in occupied France and other countries suffering ravages of World War II. Montage of scenes showing needy civilians obtaining food in those countries. Animation shows increases, by 1944, in cost of U.S. civilian goods since the Pearl Harbor attack. "Follies" character called "Double-duty dollar," appears explaining he serves the war and curtails inflation on the home front by being saved through investments in War Bonds and stamps.
General Dwight D Eisenhower from the North Africa campaign to the D-Day Normandy landings during World War II. Eisenhower with other military officers in the War Plan Office discusses strategy. A mural covering the west wall of the Eisenhower Museum in Abilene, Kansas. An animated map shows plan to seize key positions in North Africa. Fight in Algiers and Casablanca. Allied troops fire artillery, bombarding a North African coastal town. Troops advancing from beachhead, engage in street fighting with Vichy French troops in Casablanca, Morocco. A flare gun is fired. Unfavorable weather conditions delay the troops advancing towards Tunis and Bizerte. Allied troops fighting at nighttime. Allied soldiers walk through mud, allied military vehicles pass through water on the roads. Troops fire artillery under a canopy, hitting the side of a hill. Thick clouds of smoke cover a hill. U.S. General Omar Bradley and his troops capture Bizerte, Tunisia and the British 1st Army captures Tunis. German and Italian prisoners raise their hands up upon surrender. Animated map shows the surrender of the Axis troops. A ceremony commemorates the victory. North African cavalrymen join the parade. General Eisenhower and Free French Forces General Henri Giraud review a military parade. Henri Giraud bestows to General Eisenhower the French Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. A mural on a wall of the Eisenhower Museum depicts the Allied invasion of Sicily. Allied troops march into Sicily in 1943.Civilians in the streets to celebrate. A mural on the wall of Eisenhower Museum depicts invasion of Italy. Allied troops land ashore and march into Italy. U.S. General Mark Clark 5th Army at Salerno. A sign reads Napoli. Eisenhower comes out of a tent. U.S. President Roosevelt visits the troops in the combat area with Eisenhower. United States President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin in Cairo, Egypt. Another mural on the wall of the Eisenhower Museum. Eisenhower with other officers. Dramatization of German troops guarding and preparing the defenses of Normandy before the Allied landings. Eisenhower reviews training of the troops as they prepare for the invasion of France. Allied troops undergo physical training though obstacle courses. Churchill inspects the troops. Eisenhower reviews the troops on the eve of invasion. Eisenhower speaks to airborne troops wearing blackened camouflage face paint.
World War 2 invasion of Normandy, France. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Marshal Joseph Stalin, and Prime Minister Churchill, meeting at Tehran, Iran, in December 1943. U.S. Generals George Marshall and Hap Arnold, at conference table. Closeup of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Map showing defense areas of the German 7th, 15th and 19th Armies in Europe. Map showing ports at Brest, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Dieppe, and Calais. Cherbourg is highlighted. U.S. Army trucks, tanks, and artillery, stockpiled in England. Railroad train carrying M3 Stuart tanks. U.S soldiers leaving troop ships and marching to their camps in Britain. Allied troops practicing amphibious assaults on Southern coast of England. Formation of B-26 bombers. View from Allied aircraft flying low over German-occupied area. B-17 aircraft dropping bombs over Germany. Bombs away view seen as bombs drop toward enemy targets. German fighter planes attacking B-17 bombers beginning in February 1944. Gunner in turret of B-17 firing at them. Dogfight views with German fighter aircraft. A B-17 exploding in the air. German fighter downed by B-17 gunner. Gun camera footage of German Bf 109 attacked from rear by gunfire. Just as it is hit it releases its drop tank. American soldiers in trucks, DUKWs, M4 tanks, and M8 armored Cars. Troops receive gas masks, waist life belts, field rations, and French money. May 30, 1944, American soldiers board tanks, trucks and other vehicles bound for embarkation points in England. Seen are Stuart M3 light tanks, jeeps, and M7 Priest tanks. M7 tanks are seen, equipped with intake and exhaust ducts. (At TC:11:39, U.S. M7 Priest tanks, equipped for deep wading, are seen passing the base of the Jubilee clock on the beachfront at Weymouth, on their way toward Castle Town in Portland for embarkation.) Transport ships are loaded at the embarkation ports. Trucks being backed onto LCT-453. U.S. Army infantry marching and boarding transport ships. Troops marching into LST 376 at Plymouth, England. Higgins Boats, from the USS Samuel Chase (APA-26) bringing troops to board her. Troops on deck of Attack transport, USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13). Barrage balloons overhead. Soldiers shooting craps on a troop ship deck. Coastguardsmen playing with a puppy dog. Gun crews on U.S. Navy warship being briefed. Soldiers field-strip and check their weapons.
Film title slate indicates "Operation Titanic" but it, in fact, depicts "Operation Frantic" with U.S. shuttle bombing operations over Germany from bases in Great Britain, Italy and Russia during World War II. United States Army Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses in flight. Aerial view of bombers in flight with several aircraft flying in formation leaving behind contrails. View inside bomber aircraft with bombardier preparing to drop bombs. View of bomb bay door opening and closeup of hand near bomb drop switch. Bombs awawy view as bombs are dropped from American aircraft. German defenses are bombed along the invasion coast of France (just prior to D-Day) on June 2, 1944. Aerial views of B-24 and B-17 bombers also in flight bombing German military installations in German-occupied northwestern Europe. Aerial view of a target area. Smoke rising up from bombardment. Two different U.S. Army Air Force B-17 Liberator aircraft are seen falling from the sky toward crashes after being hit by German enemy fire. One of them has smoke trailing from it, and the other is in a free fall. Railroad and marshaling yards are also bombed over Debrecen, Hungary on June 2, 1944, with aircraft continuing on (shuttle bombing) rather than returning to base. United States Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator flying in formation on June 21, 1944. Aerial view as they bomb the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 engine aircraft factory near Basdorf, Germany. German factories are bombed. B-17 aircraft on the same date are seeing in formation and bomb railway stations, freight yards, and factory targets, along with the Nazi German Ministry of War, Ministry of Propaganda, and Gestapo headquarters in Berlin, Germany. Heavy flak bursts seen in the air near the aircraft. Dogfight scenes as several German airplanes are shot down. Machine gunners aboard U.S. bomber aircraft firing at German fighter aircraft and shooting down 43 of them, according to narrator. Aerial view of ball turret rotating below bomber and firing guns at German fighter aircraft. The B-17s and B-24s bombing the targets. Synthetic oil plants and refineries are bombed at Ruhland Germany, east of Leipzig. Planning for the operation was done on December 7, 1943. A document about the operation is typed. Animated map shows Nazi positions and method of shuttle-bombing, allowing American aircraft to bomb from Soviet bases, and allies broadly to bomb German targets from bases in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Soviet Ukraine.