U.S. B-29 bombers of the 73rd Bomb Wing, at Isley Field, Saipan, during Second World War in Pacific. Seen are those of the 499th Bomb Group (Tail Code "V") and 498th Bomb Group (Tail Code "T"). Also seen are B-29s of the 314th Bomb Wing, stationed on Guam, including those of the 29th Bomb Group (Tail Code "O") and the 330th Bomb Group (Tail Code "K "). Load of bombs on trailer. Bombs under B-29s which are ready for loading. Ground Crews turning props through on B-29s prior to starting. Flight crews boarding aircraft. Briefing chart of mission showing courses from Marianas Islands to Japan and back. Ground crews stacking bombs near aircraft. Brief glimpse of a surfaced submarine underway. Lines of B-29s taxiing and taking off.
U.S. Army Air Force VII Fighter Command P-51s operating bomber escort missions from Iwo Jima, in World War II. Aerial views of Iwo Jima and airfield. A military cemetery. Several dump trucks working on ground improvements. View of Army camp. Long line of parked P-51s. Three officers looking at chart depicting B-29 mission paths from Marianas Islands to Japan and back. P-51 starting engines. Name on one aircraft is 'The Deacon'. Aircraft pulls out of parking area, second one follows. Formation of B-29s, including some from Saipan-based 73rd Bomb Wing, 499th Bomb Group (Tail Code "V"). Views of interior of a B-29 with crew members at their duty stations. P-51 fighter escorts join up with the bombers. View of escorting fighters from inside B-29 looking through gunners bubble. Formation begins to encounter Japanese Flak. P-51s peel off and are seen maneuvering near the B-29s. Views of gunner rotating turret on a bomber.
Groundcrewman fueling tank of a P-47 thunderbolt aircraft of 8th Air Force in England. P47s and P-38s take off to escort B-17 bombers on mission to Emden, Germany. One P-38, tail number 42-67057, is from the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group. Scenes of American B-17 bombers in formation, escorted by P-47 and P-38 fighters. B-17s from the 95th Bomb Group (13th Bomb Wing) at Horham, UK, and B-17s from the 305th Bomb Group (40th Bomb Wing) at Chelveston, UK. Gun camera scenes of German fighters being hit by P-47 gunfire. Planes flying over clouds. Flight of four P-38s joins the formation. P-38 gun camera views of German fighters being destroyed. Scenes of crew members inside B-17 bombers under attack by fighters and flak. German fighters attacking the formation of bombers head-on.
A Red Cross ambulance pulls up to United States B-17 bomber and wounded airmen being taken off the plane in England during World War II. Wounded being placed onto stretchers and being put in the ambulance. An officer gives blood plasma and a cigarette to an injured. B-17s landing, one with number 1 engine feathered, another with with number one feathered. One B-17 named "Southern Comfort" (tail number 41-24617) with large piece of rudder shot away. Another with rudder missing entirely and a large chunk shot out of its vertical stabilizer. B-17 named "Dame Satan" with large hole in its fuselage. More views of battle damage including crippled landing gear, numerous holes in wings, large sections of wings and fuselages shot away, and destroyed canopies. Crew members pose in front of their battle-damaged aircraft. Battle damage to B-17 named "Old Bill."
German Messerschmitt Bf 109 taxis past camera as formation of Dornier Do-17 bombers takes off. The bombers underway in formation. Complete change of scene shows German gun camera view of an American B-17 Flying Fortress bomber aircraft being shot to pieces in a head-on attack. A formation of U.S. Army Air Force B-17 aircraft being attacked by German Luftwaffe fighters. One B-17, alone, in trouble, is fired upon while descending. View of German DO-17s in formation. German gun camera film aerial dogfight with American B-17 being attacked from ahead and below. Pieces of the B-17 falling away.
Outtakes from the film "Memphis Belle" shot in France. An aerial view of a B-17 plane in flight. B-17 number-4 engine on fire. A fighter attack on B-17s. Tracers fire at the same. B-17s flying in formation. Vapor trails left behind by the B-17s. (World War II period).
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