A new airstrip constructed at Tempelhof Airbase in Berlin, Germany. Workers engaged in construction work. German workers spread out stone on the new airstrip. Steam roller flattens a layer of stone. Huge roller goes over the crushed stone. Men work with pump on machine as another workman sprays tar on the stone bed. Men spread asphalt. Buildings in background. Truck dumps asphalt. The men shovel it up and spread it.
A new airstrip constructed at Tempelhof Airbase in Berlin, Germany. Workers engaged in construction work. Steam rollers in operation put finishing coating on the asphalt binder. Buildings and trees in background. Workmen lay steel mats. View of airstrip shortly before completion. Airplane takes off.
Scenes regarding the U.S. 8th Air Force B-17 named Memphis Belle, the first American bomber and crew to complete twenty-five missions over enemy territory in Europe during World War Two. Views of the peaceful English countryside around the British Royal Air Force Bassingbourn airfield, home base of the U.S. 8th Air Force 91st Heavy Bombardment Group. B-17s parked all around on the airfield. Views of Bassingbourn Church, graveyard, horse-drawn wagon, fields of grain, and farm buildings. On the airfield, ground crews clean canopies, refuel aircraft, and perform maintenance on the B-17s. Bombs seen stacked in munitions dump. Airmen ride on bombs aboard trolleys pulled by tugs. One plays the harmonica. Arriving at B-17s, they begin inserting nose fuzes in bombs. Pilots, Navigators, and bombardiers attend morning mission briefing and learn that their target is Wilhelmshaven. Chaplain prays over several crew members. Bombs are loaded on the B-17s. Crew of the 324th Bomb Squadron B-17, "Memphis Belle," arrives at the aircraft aboard a jeep. Pilot, Captain Robert K. Morgan gives last minute briefing and the crew boards the aircraft for their 25th bombing mission. Their airplane has 24 bombs painted on its side (one for each mission). They start their engines.
Views of the area around RAF Bassingbourn airfield, as B-17s of the U.S. 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group, line up for takeoff on a mission to bomb German-held port of Wilhelmshaven, during World War Two. among the named aircraft seen taking off are: "Dame Satan," "Hitler's Gremlin," "Helno-gal," "Royal Flush," "Der Fuehrer's Face," "Old Bill," "Peggy, my little Waaf," and "Desperate Journey."
B-17 bombers of the U.S. 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group, take off from their base at RAF Bassingbourn. Views from inside the B-17, "Memphis Belle." The landing gear of the "Memphis Belle" retracting into the wheel well. Views of English countryside, including many RAF airfields. B-17s in close formation. Crew members of the "Memphis Belle" are seen at their duty stations inside the aircraft, including: Captain Robert Morgan,Pilot; Captain Jim Vernis,Co-Pilot; Sergeant Robert Hanson,Radio operator and gunner; Captain Chuck Leighton, Navigator; Sergeant Harold Loch,Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner; Sergeant John Quinlan, Tail-Gunner; Sergeant Cecil Scott, ball turret gunner; Captain Vince Evans,Bombardier ; Sergeants Bill Winchell and Tony Nastal, Waist gunners. Pilot , Captain Morgan, alerts crew and dons his oxygen mask as they climb through ten thousand feet. View of coast of England as they leave. Temperatures drop and contrails form as the formation of B-17s climbs to 25 thousand feet.
B-17 aircraft of the 91st Bomb Group leave heavy contrails as they proceed, at 25 thousand feet, toward their target, Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Animated map showing Plan of the Day for 1 thousand Allied aircraft in coordinated raids, including some intended to fool the enemy. Plans of attack by Allied, so-called, Blue, Green and White forces, that include B-24s, B-17s, B-26s, and P-47 and RAF Spitfire fighter escorts. The B-17s of the 91st Bomb Group are part of the Plan of the Day.
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