A short U.S. Army feature entitled,"Black Widow" AND "Jato." Introduction is overlayed on map of Europe. Opening sequence features P-61 Black Widows of the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron, stationed at Florennes/Juzaine (A-78), Belgium, during World War 2, Some of the aircraft are identifiable: P-61A 42-5577 (later nicknamed "Tactless Texan") and "Wandering Wench" (P-61A 42-5590). Narrator states their mission is to intercept German "flying bombs." Mixed footage of P-61s at various places and times, includes some with D-Day invasion stripes. Separate JATO-related footage features USN personnel fitting jet-assisted takeoff bottles on a Grumman F6F-3, possibly at NAS Patuxent River facility, Maryland. Later sequences show a JATO takeoffs by a Douglas SBD, and an F6F-3; and normal takeoff by a Grumman TBF, and a JATO takeoff by a Grumman F4F.
U.S. Airborne units prepare for D-Day Normandy invasion of France in World War 2. Two U.S.Army paratroopers of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (101st Airborne Division) smoke cigarettes as they prepare to board a C-47 Aircraft that will take them to airdrop over Normandy, France. C-47s, painted with white stripes,are seen on the RAF Greenham Common airfield, in England. A column of paratroopers in battle gear, marches from a large hangar, past quonset huts, and a parked glider. Two dogs run along ahead of them. Many groups of paratroopers march across the grass field toward parked C-47 transport aircraft. Several doff their helmets and smile for the camera, as they pass. Officers reads instructions to their respective groups, as they stand beside their airplanes. One sits in the jump door of C-47 tail number 42-100686. The troopers assist one another with their gear, and don life vests.
U.S. paratroopers depart England, the evening before D-day, to be airdropped over Normandy France, in World War 2. U.S. Lieutenant General Louis H. Brereton, Commander, 9th Air Force, converses with two other officers as they stand by a staff car on RAF Greenham Common airfield, England. He waves a riding crop as he steps into the staff car, which carries three stars on a bumper plate. Scene shifts to the flight line where General Brereton is smoking a cigarette as he converses with American and British officers, standing beside C-47 aircraft number 43-15296. Brereton chats with two paratroopers of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and shakes hands with one. The C-47, named, "That's All...Brother," taxis forward, along with several others, toward the active runway. Many aircraft are then seen taking off, one at a time, in the dusk, with their wingtip lights on.
American paratroopers depart England for the invasion of Normandy, France (D-Day), during World War 2. U.S. paratroopers of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, help each other with their gear, as they stand beside a C-47 aircraft, on RAF Greenham airfield, England. A crew chief cleans the window of the C-47. Two paratroopers, with camouflage painted faces, converse. Three air crewmen, two in leather jackets, pose by the airplane. One, a Lieutenant,holds an oxygen mask and carries a 45 automatic in a shoulder holster. View from inside the cabin, as paratroopers climb aboard the C-47. Lieutenant General Louis H. Brereton, Commander, 9th Air Force, smiles as he offers something to a paratrooper who reaches out from the airplane for it. Brereton laughs and reaches out to shake the paratrooper's hand. The General salutes as the aircraft taxis away and joins a long line of C-47s preparing to take off. Ground crewmen wave to the departing aircraft. The aircraft begin taking off at dusk with their wingtip lights illuminated, bound for the coast of Normandy, France.
Views of aircraft operating at Tan Son Nhut Airbase, Saigon, in the period of Operation Market Time. A yellow Follow-Me vehicle is moving along a taxiway. Parked behind it are three U.S. Air Force EC-121D "Big Eye Task Force" aircraft from the 552nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing. (Aircraft from that unit rotated on 90-day temporary duty assignments, from their home base at McClelland AFB, California.) A number of C-123s and C-47s can be seen parked on the flight line in the background. A USAF B-57B aircraft taxis along the taxiway (where the Follow-Me vehicle had led). Next, a C-123 taxis on that taxiway, in the opposite direction. An O-1E Bird Dog observation plane taxis past the noses of the EC-121Ds as a U.S. Army UH-1E Iroquois helicopter flies overhead and lands behind them. U.S. Navy A-1H Skyraider with Tail Code Z, taxis past the camera, followed by another with Tail Code V. In background, another UH-1E helicopter lands and an ambulance takes wounded away. It is followed by yet another one, also met by ambulance. A U.S. Navy Lockheed SP-2H aircraft of Patrol Squadron Four (Tail Code YD) taxis fairly close to the camera.
American Lieutenant General Mark Wayne Clark accompanied by General Lukas and General Dody arrives at the 2nd Moroccan Division Headquarters in Sant'Angelo d'Alife in Italy. The Generals inspect the headquarter platoon and leave in their jeeps.
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