Aviation activities in France during World War I. A Salmson 2 A.2 aircraft parked at an airfield in Meuse, France. French pilots and observers of the 28th Escadrille of the French Army stand beside the aircraft. A man in the observer's cockpit turns a machine gun left and right at the aviation camp. Lieutenant Asnard of the 28th Escadrille standing in the observer's cockpit of the Salmson 2 A.2 turns a machine gun left and right and aims it. White Elephant insignia on a side of the aircraft. Captain Paul Daum, Commanding Officer of the 28th Escadrille, stands in the observer's cockpit of a Salmson 2 A.2 working with a machine gun and removes ammunition canisters. A group of officers of the 28th Escadrille stands beside a Salmson 2 A.2. These include Capt. Paul Daum, Capt. Morette of the Aero Photo Section, pilot Lt. Lucien Dautresme, pilot Lt. Dupont, observer Lt. Asnard, observer Lt. Blanc, observer Lt. Mettas, observer Lt. Boug and pilot Adj. Moulon.
German funeral and reburial of German flying ace Baron Manfred von Richthofen, seven years after his death. (His body had been originally buried in France, first in Bertangles and later in Fricourt). German soldiers march led by a band. The horse-drawn coffin escorted to the Invalidenfriedhof Cemetery in Berlin. Dignitaries walking during the procession. Honor Guard fires gun salute. Clergy and honored guests performing graveside ceremony. General Paul von Hindenburg is seen along with many Pour le Mérite aces (also known as the Blue Max or Blauer Max), including Bäumer, Loerzer, Boenick, Bolle, and others carrying Richthofen's coffin. Also seen at 1:44 is Manfred von Richthofen's mother, Kunigunde Freifrau von Richthofen walking beside her youngest son (Manfred's youngest brother) Bolko von Richthofen (Karl Bolko Freiherr von Richthofen). Bolko had recovered the body from Fricourt and repatriated the remains.
Early multi-engine aircraft flying in formation. Wilbur Wright talks with two Frenchmen at Le Mans, France, in 1908. Orville Wright is seen. Various views of the Wright Brothers' glider experiments.
Opens with scenes of aviators unsuccessful attempts to cross the Atlantic in pursuit of the Orteig Prize. Failed attempt by Fonck in his Sikorsky aircraft as he headed for Paris on September 21, 1926. French aviator René Paul Fonck standing beside his aircraft before takeoff. Fonck's plane taxiing for takeoff. View of the plane crashed and consumed in fire and smoke. Crash of Byrd's Fokker plane on April 16, 1927, injuring Byrd and crewmen Noville and Bennett. View of Byrd in uniform before the crash. View of the crash as Byrd's plane is seen tumbling nose over on landing. Failure of Chamberlin's Bellanca aircraft carrying Chamberlin and two little girl passengers. The plane stalls at landing but passengers are safe. Next scene of crash of plane carrying Davis and Wooster on April 26, 1927 near Langley Field, Virginia, killing both men. The crashed plane beside a swamp. View of France's Charles Nungesser and Francois Coli before their attempt in L'Oiseau Blanc (The White Bird). Plane with Nungesser and Coli taking off; it disappeared after taking off from Paris, with the last sighting of it over Ireland. View of Charles Lindbergh and then also of Lindbergh and his mother, and of the Spirit of Saint Louis on May 20, 1927 before his successful Atlantic Crossing to Le Bourget at Paris on May 21, 1927. The aircraft being backed out of a hangar and being fueled. Captain Charles Augustus Lindbergh enters the cockpit. The Spirit of Saint Louis Wright Whirlwind powered monoplane taxiing and taking off slowly from Roosevelt Field in New York, heavily burdened by fuel. Aerial view of the Spirit of St Louis in flight, taken from another airplane. Charles Lindbergh crosses the Atlantic in the plane 'Spirit of St. Louis'. Charles Lindbergh is greeted by huge crowd in Paris. Views of crowds, dignitaries and celebrations as he is welcomed by people in Paris, Brussels and London. Also views of his receptions in Washington DC and New York City in the United States in June 1927.
World War 2 invasion of Normandy, France. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Marshal Joseph Stalin, and Prime Minister Churchill, meeting at Tehran, Iran, in December 1943. U.S. Generals George Marshall and Hap Arnold, at conference table. Closeup of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Map showing defense areas of the German 7th, 15th and 19th Armies in Europe. Map showing ports at Brest, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Dieppe, and Calais. Cherbourg is highlighted. U.S. Army trucks, tanks, and artillery, stockpiled in England. Railroad train carrying M3 Stuart tanks. U.S soldiers leaving troop ships and marching to their camps in Britain. Allied troops practicing amphibious assaults on Southern coast of England. Formation of B-26 bombers. View from Allied aircraft flying low over German-occupied area. B-17 aircraft dropping bombs over Germany. Bombs away view seen as bombs drop toward enemy targets. German fighter planes attacking B-17 bombers beginning in February 1944. Gunner in turret of B-17 firing at them. Dogfight views with German fighter aircraft. A B-17 exploding in the air. German fighter downed by B-17 gunner. Gun camera footage of German Bf 109 attacked from rear by gunfire. Just as it is hit it releases its drop tank. American soldiers in trucks, DUKWs, M4 tanks, and M8 armored Cars. Troops receive gas masks, waist life belts, field rations, and French money. May 30, 1944, American soldiers board tanks, trucks and other vehicles bound for embarkation points in England. Seen are Stuart M3 light tanks, jeeps, and M7 Priest tanks. M7 tanks are seen, equipped with intake and exhaust ducts. (At TC:11:39, U.S. M7 Priest tanks, equipped for deep wading, are seen passing the base of the Jubilee clock on the beachfront at Weymouth, on their way toward Castle Town in Portland for embarkation.) Transport ships are loaded at the embarkation ports. Trucks being backed onto LCT-453. U.S. Army infantry marching and boarding transport ships. Troops marching into LST 376 at Plymouth, England. Higgins Boats, from the USS Samuel Chase (APA-26) bringing troops to board her. Troops on deck of Attack transport, USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13). Barrage balloons overhead. Soldiers shooting craps on a troop ship deck. Coastguardsmen playing with a puppy dog. Gun crews on U.S. Navy warship being briefed. Soldiers field-strip and check their weapons.
Liberated American prisoner reading the Stars & Stripes newspaper, at German prison camp for allied airmen (Stalag 7A) near Moosburg, Germany. Several American former prisoners being interviewed, include African American 2nd Lt. Alexander Jefferson, of the Tuskegee Airmen. Former prisoners posing in a group for the camera. Former prisoners strolling around the grounds of the prison, and sitting outside its buildings. (They are awaiting transport to local airfields where they will board C-47s to Camp Lucky Strike near Le Havre, France, for processing home.)
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