An interview of United States Air Force Lieutenant General Ira Eaker conducted by Dr. Maurer in the United States. Dr Maurer and General Eaker seated at a desk. Dr Maurer talks about the work and the contribution of General Eaker in the U.S. Air Force. He says that General Eaker was the Commander of the 8th Air Force. In 1944, he became the Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Allied Air Force. Then from 1945 until his retirement in 1947, he was the deputy commander of the Army Air Forces and chief of the Air Staff. General Eaker talks about his experiences. He talks about the first airplane flight he saw. He further speaks that he was sent to a training camp in 1917. A man came in the camp looking for some fliers. He was already selected for an examination of regular army. He says that in November 1917, he was on a parade grounds. An airplane was in flight overhead. The aircraft landed and he looked at the engine of the aircraft.
Nazi German administration organized an ice show for the war weary populace in the Berlin Sports Palace or Sportpalast (Ehemaliger Standort Sportpalast Berlin, Potsdamer Str. 172B, 10783 Berlin, Germany) in World War II. A woman ice skater is seen figure skating on the large ice rink of the Berliner Sportpalast. The stadium is roofless from bomb Allied bombing since January 1944. The narrator calls it "burned out." The steel skeleton of the roof supports is visible. The stadium seating is filled with spectators dressed in warm clothing. Some also use blankets. The audience includes many German soldiers in uniform, on whom the camera focuses during the film. German figure skater Lydia Veicht performs some spins to complete her performance, as the audience applauds enthusiastically. The audience clapping their hands. A man and woman perform next, dancing together on the ice. Finally, a troupe of women skaters perform on ice.
Operation Shingle invasion convoy during Operation Shingle in World War 2. Opening scene shows view from a U. S. Destroyer showing a transport ship with several Higgins boats in water nearby, and some small invasion boats in distance. View from the Destroyer, close to land, as a lancing craft (Higgins Boat) passes in rough water. Next, Sailors on the Destroyer position a battery of 5 torpedo tubes into firing position on her deck. View from underneath the torpedo tubes, with a line of landing craft seen in distance. Sailors man an anti-aircraft gun on deck. Officer looks through binoculars. Several officers look through binoculars. Two sailors discuss a knife held by one. Warships seen in distant background. Sailors maneuver twin Bofors 40m anti-aircraft auto cannons. Destroyer's guns firing.
Camera positions in aircraft P-47. Camera installed behind pilot, under the wing, in the wing, and the wheel well. Pilot's hand at instrument panel. Actor James Stewart reads a passage from a book about the film'Thunderbolt' depicting U.S. Air Forces operations flying P-47 aircraft, during World War II. A ship in a harbor. Ruined buildings at Italian port town. Italian civilians pass on street. Ruined buildings in town. Horse-drawn carts pass along road. Men and women in rubble. Face of an old lady. Refugees on Kimble Bridge. Children in rubble-strewn street. Skeleton of dead bombing victim in rubble. Clouds settled over mountains. A river and waterfall as seen from aircraft. Aerials of town on banks of river. Ruins of Italian towns. Wrecked train. Map highlights Corsica, Mediterranean Sea and Sicily. Island of Corsica. A family with animals being watered at a fountain. Several people posing outside the "Bar Napoleon."Corsican people on street. A graveyard containing German war dead. Man climbs control tower at Alto Air Base in Corsica. Crew at work on airfield. Unfuzed bombs are casually rolled off a moving trailer onto the ground. Man refuels P-47. A soldier sleeps in tent. Men in tents and outside get ready for mission in morning. Airman looks into mirror. Airmen wear uniform and comb hair. Men wash faces and shave. Men brush teeth. Also shows morning activities of a Captain. Aerials of Alto Air Base. Men on look out tower. A Lieutenant smokes pipe. Airmen enter tent and get instructions from officer. Men around chart.
Surrendering Italian troops passing through Udine, Italy, after the battle of Caporetto, in World War 1. They are unarmed and accompanied by several armed Austro-Hungarian soldiers, wearing white armbands. They pause for refreshments at a wooden building. View from rear of open truck as it drives out of town. Many pieces of damaged and destroyed guns and vehicles at sides of road. Austro-Hungarian troops moving along a road while Italian refugees with ox carts loaded with hay and other belongings, move in opposite direction. Abandoned heavy guns and mortars in a town square. Armed Austrian Guard on duty, approached by several Austrian soldiers who hesitate so as not to interfere with cinematographer. Long line of Italian prisoners of war marching along a mountainous road in snow, with tall mountains of the Alps in background. Austrian troops along the Italian-Austrian border, with snow-covered mountains in the background. Austrian soldiers moving along roads lined with debris of war, including heavy equipment and artillery pieces, and what appears to be a steam powered artillery tractor. Austrian troops on horseback and with horse-drawn wagons arriving at rest stop.
Film begins showing an area in Italy in which some buildings and houses are being rebuilt after WWII. Clothes are drying on lines between the houses. A man stands outside a house after completing rebuilding. The new house is built inside the opening of a tunnel. A woman occupant looks out her window. The house number: 526A is painted on the wall of the original tunnel structure. View from a height of this section of Rome. Men converse as they stand next to their bicycles near a building. A gathering of men. Closeup of one holding a sleeping infant. Men walk out the gate of an aviation-related factory. The gate is closed as they leave. Closeup of a sign on factory gate reading: Closed. Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi speaks about unemployment and land reform. A poster announces (in Italian): Applications for land assignments and formation of farmers' lists. A man with an application in his hand. Men gathered discussing the land reform applications. A farmer driving his tractor pulling a piece of farm equipment. A map delineates the path of a pipeline. Irrigation canals fed by the pipeline. A truck is seen carrying farm produce. An man operates levers on a fuel storage facility.
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