Outtakes from the Memphis Belle documentary movie. Combat missions of B-17 planes over France. Top turret gunner operates turret. Vapor trails of B-17 aerial formation. Bomb strike on ground, smoke covers target. Large formation of B-17s. Smoke rises from target coastal city. (World War II period).
A U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 Mitchell aircraft dive bombs on Malabang during the attack mission in Lanao del Sur Province in Philippines Island in World War II. B-25 Mitchell aircraft dive bombs on target areas in Malabang in Lanao del Sur Province. The bombs being dropped by the aircraft explode and black smoke rises into the air over the fields. The aircraft in flight. A few soldiers near a radio jeep on the field. Lieutenant Kaudson briefs a few soldiers near the radio jeep for the next mission. Lieutenant Kaudson calls the command post on talkie. Soldiers with a guerrilla officer on the field. Bombs dropped by the B-25 aircraft explode. Thick black smoke rise into the air. The aircraft in flight in the sky.
Opening scene shows view from aircraft as general purpose bombs are dropped on German targets in World War 2. Camera in aircraft track the fall of the bombs until they explode on the ground. Scene shifts to aerial views of Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft of the 323rd Bomb Group, identifiable by their white tails. A formation of the B-26s. View of right main landing gear extending as a B-26 comes in to land at the Denain-Prouvy Airdrome, France (A-83).
Staged views from inside a Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft of the USAAF 323rd bombardment Group, at Denain-Prouvy Airdrome, France, in World War 2. Pilot and copilot settle into their respective seats in the cockpit. The pilot hangs a pair of white baby shoes from tubing (vacuum or hydraulic line?) crossing the cockpit windshield. He pats the shoes. View of pilot's hand advancing both engine throttles.Then view of copilot's hand adjusting throttles and mixtures. View of waist gunner peering out of B-26 and maneuvering his machine gun in various directions. A B-26 (with white tail of the 323rd Bomb Group) parked with both engines running. The engines shut down and its 4-bladed props stop. Views of pilot's and copilot's hands maneuvering the yokes in the cockpit. Crew member assists pilot as he dons a flak jacket (Flyers Vest M1). He then dons a flying helmet, and taps his good-luck baby shoes again. Copilot maneuvers control yoke as they converse using their throat microphones.
A U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) training film titled 'How to fly the B-17. Part I. Ground Operations.' about inspections and safety precautions by a pilot prior to take off. A USAAF officer trains a new pilot beginning his career as a USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress pilot. A B-17 parked nearby. The recruit confirms possession of weather codes and radio charts. A Sergeant (engineer) gets down the hatch in the aircraft belly and joins the other two. External Inspection: The three airmen inspect various aircraft parts. Tire inspection for slippage marks, outboard brake line for oil leakage, tire tread for cuts or damage, brake line on the in board side. Inspection of the right oleo for the load, whip antenna. Similar inspection of the left hand gear, oleo, and tire. The officer performs checks for: turbo wheel on the engine, check for cracks at welded joints, wheel for clearance, missing bucks, mechanical linkage on the wastegate, skin covering access doors. Check: nicks, dents, cracks on the propeller number 2, anti ice boots, stones between the boot and blade. Inspection of the three blades, propeller governor, engine for proper cooling, engine and propeller number 1. Checks: DI support on one side under the wing, all access and inspection doors, aileron fabric, aileron trim tab for play, antennas present and accounted for. Inspection of the ball turret door, guns horizontal and pointed to the rear, trailing antenna anchored, marker beacon antenna on, breaks, stabilizer, elevator covering and trim tab play. Inspection of the rudder covering and trim, damaged skin parts, elevator down spring through the tail gunner's hatch. The officer instructs the new pilot to repeat the same inspections on the right wing and engines 3 and 4.
A U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) training film titled 'How to fly the B-17. Part I. Ground Operations.' about inspections and safety precautions by a pilot prior to take off. A USAAF officer trains a new pilot beginning his career as a USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress pilot. The instructing officer, trainee pilot and aircraft engineer inspect a USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress. Cockpit check including seat and controls check: Seat check: seat belts, seat adjustment, rudder pedals. Control check: rudders and elevator controls unlocked, lock down and latched, aileron lock. Trim tab indicators inspection: rudder tab control, elevator tab control, aileron tab control. Check for: fuel transfer valves and switches, inter-coolers, JAIROS, fuel shut off switches, landing gear switch, cowl flaps, turbos, waste gate open, idle cut offs, throttles, RPM, auto pilot, de-ice and anti-ices, wing and propellers, cabin heat controllers, generators. Engine start check: The officer instructs the pilot to check for the fire guard with a fire extinguisher standing by near each engine. The pilot warns the ground crew for propeller clearance. (World War II period).
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