Views of a trade exhibition in the United Kingdom soon after the end of World War II. A baby carriage or pram, and a baby dress with the date underneath "1948" can be seen. Family with a baby, father plays with a lifesize doll standing in a crib on display. Visitors gathering at the exhibit are seen drinking cocktails. Goods including driving gloves, luggage, golf bags, and athletic balls for rugby and football and soccer at the exhibit. A man showing a horse saddle to another, and suitcases and luggage is shown to a buyer.
American flag flying over U.S. Army Air Forces Sweetwater Airfield (Avenger Field) in Texas, during World War 2. Above one building is seen the image of “Fifinella” on the logo of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP). Women Pilots, in civilian clothes arrive by bus and enter the building. Next, they are seen in formation performing calisthenics, led by a male Air Force instructor. They also do pushups, and pullups, on horizontal bars. (Some have difficulty with this.) Next, a woman supervisor is seen blowing a whistle and the women, now dressed in fatigues, lining up in formation. In a classroom, a U.S. Army instructor explains an aircraft engine, using a cutaway engine. They take classes in map reading, navigation, and Morse code, and must pass exams in the various subjects. An Army Air Forces pilot holds a model plane while describing maneuvers. Next, a WASP is seen with an instructor as she enters a Link trainer, to learn and practice instrument flying. Several Link trainers are seen rotating with WASP trainees in them. Two WASP women, in flying suits, don seat pack parachutes. They and others head toward North American T-6 trainer aircraft on a flight line. They board the airplanes, in pairs, with one in the forward cockpit and one in the rear. (Narrator comments that on the next flight they will change cockpit positions.) Closeup from the front, as engine starts and prop turns. Other T-6s are taxiing out for takeoff. The two women pilots being followed by the camera, are next seen on the runway taking off. Views of various T-6 aircraft in flight, including some of two maneuvering in close formation in sky filled with white clouds. A T-6 peels off and dives. T-6s are seen landing back at the field. Closeup of one woman pilot in the cockpit of a larger aircraft, checking her appearance with a compact mirror. Women pilots in bathing suits go for a mass swim in a lake. Views of them swimming. They relax in the sun, afterwards. Women pilots helping one another fashion their hair. Several views of WASP pilots marching and passing in review during a graduation ceremony at the airfield. View from the rear of WASPs standing at parade rest during ceremony where they receive their wings from famous woman pilot, Jacqueline Cochran, founder of the WASP. Closeup of Ms. Cochran, in civilian clothes, on a speakers stand. Closeups of individual women pilots in the formation and of others as they receive their wings from Jacqueline Cochran. Film concludes showing WASPs with their baggage, boarding C-47 transport aircraft to take them to their various assignments. Closeup of U.S. Army Air Forces Air Transport Command logo on side of the C-47. Inside the airplane, the WASPs don parachutes. The aircraft takes off.
Aerial views of Mitchel Field in Hempstead Plains of Long Island, New York. Major General Frank Andrews of U.S. Army Air Corps, General Headquarters Air Force, and staff standing around a large plotting board, with models of airplanes, guns and boats on the plotting board. They are planning a test of the defense of aircraft factories in the region from air attack. Five PB-2As parked in a row at Mitchel Field. Crew operating range finder and aircraft sound detector. Soldiers turn searchlight to the right. Fireman opens switch box door on wall and pulling switch to notify power station staff of the drill, which was the first aerial bombardment blackout drill of its kind in the United States. Workman pulling main power switch in power station to create blackout conditions in city as protection from aerial bombing. Night time aerial views of City of Farmingdale in New York lit up and then going dark all at once as power is cut during blackout. Batteries of the 62nd anti aircraft post artillery swing into action operating searchlights directed at incoming bombers. The bombers drop flares during the test, as ground crews practice locating the "enemy" aircraft in search light beams.B-10, the all metal monoplane bomber in flight during night. Flares descending. In the mock test, the bombers prevail and the defenses fail to protect all of the aircraft factories. End of clip shows elevated night time views of New York City and Times Square area as seen from the air and from high up tall skyscraper buildings of Manhattan. Bright lights and lit signs of city seen from above as narrator suggests the threat against New York City from aerial bombardment by a foreign force (early in World War 2).
President Harry S. Truman broadcasts to the nation from a desk in the White House, Washington, DC. on V-E (Victory in Europe) Day, announcing that Germany has surrendered to end World War 2, in Europe. He expresses his regret that the late President Franklin Roosevelt had not lived to see the day. Truman calls it a "solemn but glorious hour" and offers thanks to the "providence that has guided and sustained us through the dark days of adversity and into light."
A huge crowd cheering and celebrating the news of victory over Germany, ending World War 2, in Europe, on May 8, 1945 (VE Day). Cheering crowds gathering at Times Square and Wall Street in lower Manhattan, New York City. American flags on display.
Views of various newspaper headlines during world war 2. Headline announces that the Allies have crossed the Rhine River in Germany. View of U.S. Army soldiers in jeeps and trucks crossing a bridge over the Rhine. Point of view (POV) shot from inside open moving automobile crossing bridge. Dead Bodies of concentration camp victims in a camp following liberation by the Allies. German Army prisoners running in formation with their hands up, under guard by the Allies. Large group of Germany military prisoners in a queue. A young boy German soldier is seen crying. Nazi flag being burned: Flag with swastika mark of Nazis is on fire and seen burning.
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