With the surrender of Germany, World War 2 in Europe ends, on VE (Victory in Europe) Day, May 8, 1945. Scene opens with church bells ringing and view of west front of St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, in London, England. Crowd is celebrating in the square. around the statue of Queen Anne. Amongst the crowd are men and women in uniform. Here and there Union Jack flags are seen, one held by a little girl hoisted upon a man's shoulder. Camera pans across various parts of the celebrating crowds. View from above, of several couples dancing within a circle of people. Several uniformed U.S. Air Force officers in a jeep celebrate with the crowd. High altitude view of Trafalgar Square in London, England. 'Victory over Germany 1945' banner draped on base of Nelson's Column. Crowd of British citizens celebrating on streets of Whitehall and closeup of the Cenotaph with inscription "The Glorious Dead".
Us Army Air Forces B-29 Super Fortress of the 73rd Bomb Wing (Tail Code: "V Square 29") comes in for landing. Plane parks on the ramp. U.S. Brigadier General Emmett O'Donnell, Vice-Admiral John Hoover and Brigadier General Haywood Hansell study a map, leaning it against one of the plane's propellers. General O'Donnell walks over to converse with Major Robert Morgan, who is well-known as the pilot of the B-17 "Memphis Belle" that flew 25 missions over Germany in the European theater. He now flies B-29s with the 73rd Wing in the Pacific theater. (World War II period).
Major Robert Morgan (well-known as the pilot of the B-17, "Memphis Belle," first to complete 25 missions over Germany, in the European Theater and now a B-29 Aircraft Commander with the 73rd Bomb Wing) briefs his crew. They sit on the tarmac near their aircraft, the B-29, "Dauntless Dotty," which was lead aircraft on the first B-29 bombing mission over Japan, on November 24, 1944. The Crew enters the aircraft after the briefing. (World War II period).
A girl wearing an apron and a head band, rings a dinner bell, and children in groups, by age, file into a wooden open porch dining room in a camp-like area, surrounded by plants and trees. Other girls, wearing headbands, appear to be monitors. The children stand at their respective tables, on which food is served, and say grace in unison, before sitting down to eat. Views of the children eating at different tables. (There appear to be adults in another part of the complex, in the background. )
Battle of Khe Sanh between January 1968 to April 1968, during the Vietnam War. Aerial view of battlefield terrain in valley of Khe Sanh surrounded by mountains and ridges. Military jeep moves on road. Wounded marine carried on litter. Bomb explodes near plane. Supplies at airbase. The American flag on a mountain. David E Lownds, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, Commanding Officer, Khe Sanh, speaks. The Colonel explains the location of battle with help of a terrain model. Bombs dropped on mountains. Marines fire artillery. An African American marine loads a mortar and another Marine fires it. Airfield prepared at Khe Sanh. Marines dig trenches. Marines patrol in woods. American military aircraft in flight. U.S. officers look at map on light table. General William Westmoreland gets into helicopter at airbase. Bell UH-1B Iroquois Huey helicopter lands after short flight. U.S. officers leave the helicopter. General Westmoreland and marines check the location. Marines examine aerial reconnaissance photo images on light tables. Sign reads 'Welcome to Khe Sanh Matcu 62 Airfield'. Reinforcing Marines arriving at Khe Sanh airfield and exiting rear of C-130 aircraft with barracks bags and supplies. Supplies dropped by small parachutes from planes in flight. Flashback scenes of French paratroopers landing in the same area during 1954 in the Indochina War. French forces in battle. French advance with heavy artillery but did not win the war. Armistice signed by leaders in Geneva. Scenes return to 1968 with Marines in sandbag bunkers at Khe Sanh. Wide view of terrain at Khe Sanh. U.S. marines in trenches during battle. African American marine eating a ration. Colonel Lownds speaks. White and African American Marines move through jungle terrain. Marines firing artillery at North Vietnamese forces. Aircraft on bombing run. Explosions at Khe Sanh as ammunition dump is hit and explodes in multiple heavy explosions. Heavy artillery attack by North Vietnamese at Khe Sanh and smoke rises from explosions during battle. U.S. Marines in series of trenches firing back at enemy. Explosions on American base airfield near parked helicopter and near a moving C-130 aircraft as it taxis and prepares to take off from runway.
Film begins showing two U.S. Air Force McDonald Douglas F4 Phantom jet fighters in flight. Narrator says American intelligence reports on January 29, 1968, of a 4th North Vietnamese Regular Army Division in the Khe Sanh area, bringing total enemy strength to about 40 thousand regular troops. View of photo interpreter rolling large wet film taken by Air Force surveillance aircraft. Map of Hue, area of South Vietnam, showing disposition of American forces in the region. American Marine Colonel David E Lownds, Commander of Khe Sanh garrison, describes North Vietnamese offensives against some American held positions. Views of North Vietnamese attacks being repelled by artillery and air strikes as well as organic infantry weapons like the A1 millimeter mortars, 3.5 rockets, and M79 machine guns. U.S. aircraft drop munitions on enemy positions. Infantry firing guns mounted on vehicles. An F4 Phantom drops napalm that creates a swath of fire. Closeup of North Vietnamese newspaper warns that the Americans face a defeat comparable to that of the French at Dienbienphu. American newspapers express concerns about the fate of the Marine Garrison at Khe Sanh. U.S. Army General William Westmoreland, Commander of U.S. troops in Vietnam, is seen and heard expressing confidence that American forces would win the battle of Khe Sanh. American troops listen as he speaks. Marines in briefings and in combat, including African American Marines. American artillerymen load and fire a 175 mm field gun at Camp Carrol, and a location called the Rock pile with a network of trenches. Inside that base, are seen Ontos M50A1 multi barrel anti-tank tracked vehicles armed with 105 mm recoiless rifles. A marine fires a 4.2 inch mortar, and another fires a recoiless rifle. Marines firing a 155mm howitzer. Scene shifts to deck of an aircraft carrier. View of Navy F4J phantom fighter aircraft being launched from the USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) (Note: this may be an anachronism. Reportedly, the F4J was not operating from aircraft carriers in the Vietnam until after 1968). F-4 Phantom fighters taking off from an Air Force base. Aerial view of a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber dropping conventional bombs on North Vietnamese targets. View from the air of bombs exploding on the ground over battlefield terrain. A C-130 transport plane dropping supplies to U.S. marines on the ground. View from below of the parachutes descending with supplies. Closeup of C-130 dropping mail from above. More views of parachute drops from C-130 aircraft to Khe Sanh. C-123 transport landing at a Marine base and a C-130 taking off. Another C-123 landing. Another having load delivered by low level extraction. Marines on the ground at Khe sanh opening packages of supplies and using a tractor to transport large boxes. On February 13, Marines suffered casualties when a platoon was ambushed just outside the base perimeter. View of Marine on a litter. Heavy black smoke rises at the base from shelling by North Vietnamese artillery. A C-123 aircraft takes off with dense black smoke in the background. Another napalm attack by a U.S plane creates a large conflagration. View from above of a B-52 dropping bombs only yards outside the Khe Sanh perimeter. Marines patrolling close in the base. More views of B-52s bombing North Vietnamese targets. View of nighttime bombing operations. A Marine plotting enemy movements on a plexiglass chart. Marines manning machine guns as enemy rockets and mortars continue to pound the garrison. Officers are seen in CINCPAC Command center. Continued U.S. bombardment and air strikes appear to prevent massing of enemy forces for an assault. Marines controlling hills in the area. A UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) helicopter flying low over the base. During a lull in battle Marines fill sand bags, maintain their weapons, play cards, and keep occupies as they sit and wait. Some play basketball with an outdoor improvised backboard and net. Some marines select books from a library. A marine plays a guitar as some others listen. Closeups of Marines in trenches including white and African American Marines. Marines doing their wash and having a meal of C rations. Marines preparing their own combinations of ingredients into meals being cooked over open fires. Views of many marines eating the various mixes of C-rations they called "casseroles." Marines in trucks pursuing retreating elements of North Vietnamese on Highway 9 that had been opened by Marine engineers. U.S. Army First Air Cavalry reinforcements arrive in operation Pegasus. Marine engineers working to restore bridges and roads needing repairs. Soldiers detecting and neutralizing mines. Bell UH-1 helicopters ferry troops. Captured enemy arms and ammunition. Surrendered North Vietnamese soldier prisoners of war marched under guard.
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