Adolf Hitler arrives at the inauguration of 1000 km of completed autobahn near Breslau, Germany (present day Wrocław, Poland). He walks with other officers through a cheering crowd. He makes a speech from a podium. He stands in an open car and drives towards a ribbon to open road. Children give flowers to him. Soldiers stand holding banners. Hitler talks to German mother standing with children. Hitler salutes from the car as soldiers in trucks and other military vehicles move down the autobahn. Inspector General for German Roadways Fritz Todt also seen with Hitler in some of the shots and riding in the car.
Film notes 35th anniversary of Wright Brothers' first flight and reviews history of transportation and advances in transportation brought about by railroad and aircraft. An animated map of the United states before the advent of mechanized transport methods. It illustrates the difficult and long overland journey to travel from the East Coast to the West Coast. Travel by horse and wagon over the Santa Fe Trail in 1849 is recreated in a brief film clip. Next, a locomotive is shown pulling a passenger train at high speed along a railroad at the base of a mountain. Animated map charts fairly direct path from Coast to Coast, taking only 4 days by railroad. Next a nearly straight course is traced across the map illustrating the path of an airplane taking only seven and a half hours for the journey. Change of scene shows aerial view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 Super Electra Special, Model 14-N2 ( NX18973), christened "New York World's Fair 1939," in flight over New York harbor with the skyline of Manhattan, New York City in the background. Camera follows the plane as it passes over lower Manhattan. The Empire State building is seen prominently with other skyscrapers below the aircraft. This was filmed, on July 14, 1938, as Hughes and his crew were returning from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Floyd Bennett Field, on Long Island, at the conclusion of their around-the-world flight (circling the Northern Hemisphere) from July 10 - July 14, 1938.
Animated map shows sailing vessel leaving Coast of United States heading to the British Isles. Next, the Cunard-White Star ocean liner, S.S. Aquitania, is shown underway in the Atlantic, with note that the ship crossing only takes four days. Animated map shows America and Europe "moving closer together" as a result. Noting that an airplane flew from New York to Paris in 16 hours and 38 minutes, Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 Super Electra Special aircraft, heavily loaded with fuel, is seen making a difficult takeoff from the short (3500 foot) runway at Floyd Bennett Field, Long Island, on July 10th, 1938, headed to Paris, France on first leg of its round-the-world flight. Glimpse of the aircraft overhead as it sets course for Newfoundland on a Great Circle route to Paris.
Fliers in the Dole Derby air race take off for Hawaii. The "City of Oakland," a Travel Air 5000 aircraft is seen being readied for flight. Pilot Ernie Smith and navigator Emory Bronte pose at the front of the aircraft, inspecting the engine and propeller. Closeup of the two. Next, a mechanic hand-cranks the engine to start it. Pilot, Smith climbs into the cockpit and closes its door. On July 14th, the aircraft is seen on takeoff roll toward and past the camera, which continues to track it through the takeoff. (The aircraft ran out of fuel and crash landed on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii on July 15th. Smith and Bronte were flown by Army aircraft to Wheeler field, the same day, where they were feted as the first civilians to fly across the Pacific.)
Soldiers of U.S. Army 1st battalion, 8th infantry regiment, 4th division in the days after invasion of France. The U.S. Army soldiers stand in front of a house in Saint Mere Eglise, France. A French woman pours coffee into canteen cups held by soldiers. Soldiers drink coffee and several smile and enjoy the coffee. They talk amongst themselves. (World War II period).
Activities of 82nd Airborne Division in days after invasion of France in World War 2 Two captains of the 507th paratroop infantry talk at a field in France. They smoke. Paratroopers pass on the street. A sign on a board on which is written: 'Amafreville-Gourbesville'.
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