The Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy. Aerial view of San Vittore to the west. U.S. troops walk along a mountain road, as an Italian woman, holding a small child, watches from the roadside. Views of the town and Abbey of Monte Cassino, from mountainside outlook. Aerial view of Abbey on mountaintop. M7 Priest SP firing 105mm howitzer from camouflaged position. U.S. troops escorting Italian prisoners of war (POWs). American soldier carries several artillery shells up a hill. Several Sherman tanks of the 756th Tank Battalion are parked in a quarry below him. (The quarry is on the Cassino - Caira Rd north of Cassino.} Group of Italian civilians walk past a line of Sherman tanks parked along the empty riverbed of the Rapido River. U.S. soldier observes the Abbey of Monte Cassino through binoculars. Two American soldiers climb aboard an M4 Sherman tank mired down in the mud.(It has been identified as tank number C-14 belonging to the 3rd Platoon of C Company, 756th Tank Battalion.) Their Jeep is parked beside it. U.S. soldiers dug in along a roadside. One soldier plays solitaire with cards. Two soldiers place several propaganda leaflets into artillery shells.
Scene opens with closeup of Major General John W. Leonard, Commanding General of the U.S. 9th Armored Division, addressing his troops at the Schlörplatz in Weiden, Bavaria. He has assembled them to hear the news of Germany's surrender, ending World War 2, in Europe. A color Guard stands behind him. Upon hearing the news, the troops raise their arms and cheer, and partially break formation to converse with each other. They resume their formation and listen, as General Leonard continues to speak. Closeup of him reading from some notes. Scene shifts slightly, showing Leonard and the color guard in front of the Gustav von Schlör monument with famous old oak trees behind it. Next, the troops are viewed from the front, as they stand at Parade Rest with buildings near the square behind them. General Leonard walks down from the makeshift podium and passes in front of the assembled soldiers, and shakes hands with his Chief of Staff, Colonel Walter Burnside. Closeups of them shaking hands and conversing. Scene shifts to a unit Chaplain, giving a prayer of thanks for the end of hostilities. General Leonard and Colonel Burnside walk away from the gathering, as the color guard furls the colors. Suddenly an officer walks up on the grass and retrieves something from the base of the Schlör monument and quickly walks back into the square. A Captain has the color guard unfurl the colors again, which include the stars and stripes flanked by the Division colors and the General's two star flag. Next the entire assemblage poses as they are photographed from a high point some yards away. The view shows the color guard standing on grass in front of the Schlör monument with the massive oaks behind, surrounded by assembled troops, including some in a tank. Scene shifts to rear of the assembly, showing troops in armored vehicles at the back of troops in formation. Some armor is moving along a road behind the assembly. Another long shot of the assembled troops is followed by a closeup of them being called to attention. General Leonard walks into the center of the assembly, followed by several officers. They salute the colors and General Leonard converses with the Division Chaplain, who then steps into the grass in front of the color guard, where he removes his helmet, raises his arm, and gives a benediction as all bow their heads. (Note: Armored vehicles seen in this film include M4 Sherman and M36 Tank Destroyer.)
U.S. Marines and equipment being evacuated from Hungnam Harbor, North Korea,in December, 1950, during the Korean War. Opening scene shows wounded Marines on stretchers, being settled on the deck of a landing craft infantry. Two of the wounded marines are lifted over the gunwale and placed in an ambulance. View of wounded lying on deck of a Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM). An M4 Sherman tank, loaded with supplies, backs toward the shore, under direction of another tank driver. Scene shifts to an M-26 Pershing tank being backed into a Landing Ship Tank (LST). It is followed by another, equipped with a sand shield.
Opening scene behind introductory writing, shows U.S. troops climbing down from a landing craft and walking towards a beach during Normandy invasion of World war 2. Date is D-Day +3 (June 9, 1944) and allies are setting up logistic resupply operations. Views across beach at extreme low tide. A cluster of DUKW amphibious vehicles sitting on the sand, below some cliffs. Some buildings of the French village of Arromanches-les-Bainsin background. Closeup of a demolished French dwelling at base of cliff. Two U.S. soldiers walk along a road at the waterfront, where steel barriers that have been removed from the beach, are piled up. Closeup of the steel barriers. An M4 Sherman tank, equipped with deep wading gear is seen mired in the sand. A closeup of U.S. Landing Craft Tank (LCT-25) on the beach with an M3A1 Half-Track destroyed on its offramp. It had been hit by shell fire on D-day, setting other half-tracks and the landing craft afire. Closeup of the destroyed halftrack.
Allied troops in Paris during World War 2. Map of Paris. View of the Eiffel Tower (Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France) in Paris, France. A United States Army M4 Sherman tank passes on a road at the foot of the tower. Thousands of people gathered on streets to celebrate liberation from German occupation. People hold newspapers containing news about the liberation of Paris. Troops atop an M3 halftrack are greeted by civilians. A young French man expresses joy. People celebrate on streets. People hold various banners relating to the freedom of Paris from German Occupation. American troops in jeeps are welcomed by the French citizens. French girls clapping. A soldier drinks wine. French girls kiss their victorious heroes of war and liberators. A soldier distributes candies to crowds. People celebrate on the streets. Airplane passes in the skies. Civilians celebrate their freedom. Montage showing street scenes in Paris pre-war, including Eiffel Tower, glowing neon signs over night clubs, people at sidewalk cafes, night clubs, fireworks at night and night views of the fountains (Fontaines de la Concorde) at the Place de la Concorde (75008 Paris, France), with the Luxor Obelisk nearby.
Views of the 1926 Schneider Cup seaplane races at Hampton Roads, near Norfolk, Virginia. An Italian Macchi M.39 racer with number "3" on fuselage, taxis in the water and takes off. Another Italian Macchi M.39, carrying the number "5" takes off. Ground crew moves a U.S. Curtiss R3C-2 racer (carrying the number "4") into the water. Next, it is seen taking off and flying fairly high to start the course. The winning entry, an Italian Macchi M.39, that averaged 246.5 mph, lands on the water and taxis to the shore. It carrys the number "5" on its fuselage. Victorious pilot, Major Mario de 'Bernardi, stands in the cockpit. He is picked up and carried on the shoulders of his cheering compatriots.
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