U.S. Army troops camped among the ruins of the ancient Greek Temple of Hera II (erroneously called the Temple of Neptune) near Paestum, Province of Salerno, Italy during World War II. Clothing of U.S. Army soldiers hanging to dry between pillars of the temple. A soldier smoking a cigarette beside a column of the Second Temple of Hera (Via Magna Graecia, 917, 84047 Capaccio SA, Italy). Views of a bombed out and destroyed rail yard and trains near Paestum Italy. Army trucks including personnel carriers and other vehicles moving on a road. Vehicles cross the narrow bridge at Triflisco over the Volturno River, built by the 343rd Engineers.
The Allied Forces crush the Axis armies in the Mediterranean during World War II. Italy surrenders. The Allied Forces enter Messina. The American flag flies over the municipal corporation of Messina. U.S. soldiers interact with local Italian citizens and greet children. Soldier talking to a a young Italian girl. Wrecked German ships in a harbor. An Allied soldier talks on a radio. Fighting in Italian mainland. Scenes of Mussolini walking. Italians throw mud on the posters of Mussolini. An Italian writes Viva England, Viva USA and USSR on a wall. An animated map shows Allied attack on the German positions in Italy. General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces and British Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, Commander in Chief of the Allied Naval Forces in the Mediterranean. Surrendered Italian fleet of ships underway toward Allied controlled ports. From Washington DC U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces (armistice) surrender of Italy.
Allied invasion convoy of ships underway in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II. Amphibious landing of Fifth United States Army at Salerno during Allied invasion of Italy. General Mark Clark and Vice Admiral Henry Hewitt seen talking at time of "Operation Avalanche." An animated map shows Sicily, Salerno and Naples. The soldiers memorize every mountain and valley. Ships and supplies pour in. Night time invasion underway as U.S. soldiers invade Italy under attack from German soldiers. Soldiers seen on tanks advancing. General Eisenhower and Admiral Cunningham seen in discussion on a ship as terms of surrender of Italy are carried out, and Italian ships head toward Allied ports.
5th army lands and evacuate the wounded under enemy fire at gulf of Salerno in Italy. Ships at the gulf of Salerno, Italy. Bomb group in flight above gulf. Bombs exploded over ships. Explosions and smoke rising from ship. Wounded people in ship. A man climbs on truck. Army troop evacuate the wounded. Explosions on ship. U.S. army trucks driven to pier. Army unit at beach. Bomb explosions over ship. Smoke rising from ship. Flames of fire on ship. (World War II period).
U.S. Army 817th Army engineers build airfield within 24 hours near Salerno, Italy, in World War II. Members of the U.S. Army 817th Engineers Battalion are seen employing construction equipment to create a new emergency airfield near Salerno, Italy, during World War 2. A bulldozer uproots trees separating a tomato patch from a wheat field so both can be combined to create a larger space for an emergency airfield. A road grader passes a soldier seated in a piece of parked construction equipment, as it levels the ground. The operator in the parked equipment takes a drink from his canteen. Next, soldiers are seen wielding picks, and other hand tools to untangle clumps of earth and roots. Camera shows them next, working at the edge of the large cleared earthen airfield. They pause to wave to a P-38 lightning aircraft that has just landed at the new field. The P-38 passes on its landing roll, raising a cloud of dust. (Note: Moments after the end of the clip, this, first to land, P-38 had a fatal collision with a water truck, concealed in dust at the side of the runway.
Opening scene shows British artillerymen bombarding the Italian town of Ortona, on the Adriatic coast of Italy, which is held by paratroops of the German 1st Parachute Division in World War 2. Closeups of British soldier operating 155mm gun. British officers planning the barrage. Battery of guns firing. View of shells striking Ortona, along the coastline. Heavy guns firing from under camouflage netting. Smoke rising from artillery strikes. Scene shifts to Allied occupied airfield in Foggia, on the coast, South of Ortona, where P-40 aircraft of the 99th Pursuit Squadron are preparing to fly in support of the Ortona offensive. (This U.S Army Air Forces unit is comprised entirely of African American pilots and support personnel including Tuskegee Airmen.) Closeups of airmen fueling and arming the aircraft, and of pilots gathered in a mission briefing. 99th Squadron aircraft taking off and departing overhead in formations. View from the British artillery position of numerous bombs bursting on Ortona. Film shifts to the Central Front in Italy where U.S. forces are engaged in the Battle of San Pietro. Views of American artillery bombarding German positions in San Pietro. Closeups of numerous U.S. guns being fired. An ejected shell flies through the air from a U.S. Sherman tank during the bombardment. Views of U.S. troops passing a Sherman tank as they enter San Pietro and begin searching for booby traps in the wreckage of the town. Closeup of a soldier dismantling a booby trap. German aircraft sweep overhead and bomb the town. American soldiers dig out a buddy who was buried by a bomb burst, but rescued unhurt. He smiles for the camera. Casualties of the fighting, including many civilians are carried on stretchers and assisted. Local residents are seen grieving over fallen relatives and friends. Groups of townspeople stand along a hillside and watch as Italian soldiers join with the Allies in the fighting. Jeeps are seen navigating the muddy mountain trails as far as possible. Then further movement requires the use of mules. Troops are seen with mule trains. Soldiers shoulder heavy ammunition crates and slog uphill with them over a muddy mountain trail.