A film on the development of air power of the United States. Wilbur Wright places a large wheel under a Wright Flyer Model A, so it can be towed across a field in the first public demonstration of a Wright Brothers airplane at Le Mans, France. Next, A Wright flyer is seen in flight at Fort Myer, Virginia. An Army balloon is seen aloft in the background.
Scene of a symbol which demonstrates man's desire for flight. Painting of Leonardo da Vinci. Drawing of Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine. Views of drawings of the attempts of man to fly. Photo of Clement Ader. Drawing of Ader's plane. Still photo of the first powered Wright Brother's plane. Still photo of one of Ader's planes. Photo of Louis Blériot. Gabriel Voisin's photo. Picture of Robert Esnault-Pelterie. Two French designers. Robert Esnault-Pelterie making a test by mounting a glider atop a truck. Gabriel Voisin towing a glider with boats on the Seine River. He stayed airborne for several seconds. Photo of Alberto Santos-Dumont. The plane in which he made several flights. A plane made by Gabriel Voisin "La Bagatelle" which was flown by his brother Charles Voisin. Scene of this flight. Henry Farman seated in plane. Several views depicting the first attempt to fly the English Channel. Three competitors were Count Lambert in a Wright Plane at Wissant, Hubert Lathan in Antionette IV at Sangatte and Louis Bleriot (winner) flying a monoplane of his own design from Los Baraques to Dover. Single of Bleriot's plane. Observers of the flight. The English Channel. The wreckage being salvaged by French boat. Wreckage of plane as it is lifted out of the channel. Wreckage being pulled down streets. Louis Bleriot walking on crutches. Bleriot standing in cockpit of plane prior to, attempting to fly the English Channel at Les Baraques. The takeoff. Observers watching the landing at Dover, England. Two men standing on roof top waving a flag. Field, tent and personnel at Dover, England where the landing was made. English people examining plane after landing. Ship on which Bleriot returned to France. Reception committee greeting him. Street scenes of his reception in Paris.
General George S Patton inside Check Point near Pithiviers in France. General Patton enters jeep and drives away from CP. General stops along road to speak with soldiers. General Patton decorates Major general Walton H Walker and Colonel W A Collier of the XX Corps with bronze star. Lt. General Patton shakes hands with Major General Le Roy Irwin of the 5th Division. (World War II period).
Adolf Hitler in a meeting with Philippe Petain in Montoire, and then with Francisco Franco in Hendaye France. Soldiers stand in lines. Philippe Petain gets out of a car in Montoire-sur-le-Loir. Pierre Laval beside him. Petain exchanging salutes with German officers. Cameramen take photographs. Petain shakes hands with Adolf Hitler. Scene changes to Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goering relaxing and laughing as they ride in Hitler's train car. A sign reads Hendaye, the train's next stop. A bridge in view. A train arrives. 'Espana' written on train. A crowd gathered at the station. Adolf Hitler stands at the station and greets Francisco Franco. Both men walk on the station. Nazi flags hung. They board Hitler's train and pull dark curtain down over window of the meeting room on the train. (Opening slate states 1941, but that is incorrect. This event was October 24, 1940). (World War II period).
The United States Army in France during World War II. On 5th August, 1944 : soldiers of 35th Infantry Division, 137th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion walk in columns while returning to a rest area near Le Mesnil-Robert. On 8th August, 1944 : an officer of 28th Division, 109th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion shows replacements where to dig foxholes in Gathemo. The soldiers dig the foxholes. A United States Army Air Force ( USAAF ) P-51 Mustang burns after a crash landing near Vire. Ammunition in the aircraft exploding. The rescued pilot talks to two soldiers.
A parade celebrates the awarding of Cross of Liberation (Croix de la Libération) to the city of Paris (World War II). A huge crowd gathers outside the L'église de la Madeleine (Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France). French soldiers holding flags march down Rue Royale from Place de la Concorde (Place de la Concorde 75008 Paris, France) as crowds watch the parade on the sidewalks. Throngs of French civilians crowd Rue Royale and Place de la Madeleine to watch a parade. Two crowd marshals salute to marching soldiers. Young French people perch on top of a newspaper stand to watch the parade. More people watch the parade from their windows. French children holding signs that read “Vive la France” and “Vive Paris”. Crowds clapping. Crowds gathered outside the Hotel Scribe in Paris (Now known as Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra- 1 Rue Scribe, 75009 Paris, France). From Place de la Madeleine, soldiers turn to march in Boulevard des Capucines, marching past the Palais Garnier (Place de l'Opéra, 75009 Paris, France) with more crowds watching from the sidewalk and in front of the opera house.
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