Film about the shipping of American Lend-Lease aircraft to the Soviet Union, via the " Persian Corridor " during World War 2. It focuses on activities at Abadan Airfield, Iran. U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) Colonel Charles Porter, Commanding Officer of the Allied Abadan military establishment in Iran, stands with a Soviet Colonel, who supervises Soviet work on the field. With them is USAAF Brigadier General Macmillan., who was visiting the base at this time. They pose in front of a P-39 Bell Aircobra airplane displaying a red Soviet Star insignia. Next, ground crews are seen towing aircraft on the field, including a Douglas A-20 Havoc and a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. Mechanics work on several P-40 airplanes on the ramp. A North American Aviation T-6 Texan aircraft is being refueled from a truck .Closeup of ground crewman holding refueling hose over the wing of the T-6. USAAF mechanics conduct post-assembly checks on a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber and tow another one (Serial number 41-3225) from a hangar, to the Soviet side of the field, after completing its inspection. Soviet mechanics are seen checking guns in the rear cockpit of an aircraft. Glimpse of several P-40 aircraft and a T-6 aircraft on a ramp. Soviet and American mechanics working together on the wings of aircraft. Closeup of two working together. As a Soviet soldier watches, an American airman uses a paint brush to change the American white star on an airplane, into the Soviet red star. The two shake hands when the painting is done. Soviet ground crew push a P-40 aircraft into position for starting. A soviet pilot, wearing a seat pack parachute, climbs into the cockpit. Closeup of him as he nods to a ground crewman for engine start. He taxis out and takes off. Several T-6 aircraft on the Soviet side of the field are seen, ready to be flown away. Views of other aircraft being readied for ferrying to Russia. Camera pans over the airfield and the many aircraft parked there.
Scenes of Tehran, Iran during World War 2. A view of the Royal Palace of Tehran. The Sepahsalar Mosque (Jomhuri Ave Baharestan Square, Tehran 11369 Iran) and its minarets. Traffic stops for crossing camel caravan. An American soldier in a Jeep, waits for the camel caravan to pass. Camels, trucks, cars, horse drawn carriage, bicycles, and bus, in a traffic circle in Tehran. Veiled women in streets. A commercial shopping district in the city, with streets, wide sidewalks, and numerous shops in buildings. Many pedestrians and shoppers are seen. Many men and women wear modern Western-style clothes. In contrast, the next scene shows camels and merchants in a traditional old-style open-air market.
British people in Iran during tensions surrounding Iran's nationalization of the Iranian oil industry. A building with a sign that reads 'Abadan Printing Works'. An arrow points towards the entrance. A man sits at the corner of the building below the sign. People outside the entrance. They walk away. Daily News newspaper with headline, "Talks on Oil Dispute Broken Off in Tehran." A man strikes off the name of the newspaper 'Daily News'. A British man types on a typewriter. Two other British men standing near him leaf through papers. The name of the newspaper ' Daily News' is struck off and a paper is placed on the newspaper. The men go through papers as the typist types.
Footage from the Tehran Conference (project "Eureka") during World War 2. The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the United States President Franklin Roosevelt and the General Secretary of the Communist Party Joseph Stalin sit on a porch of the Russian Embassy in Tehran, Iran. The three leaders were in Iran for the Tehran Conference at the Soviet Embassy. Officers stand in the background. Prime Minister Churchill's daughter is introduced to Stalin. Premier Molotov, Harry Hopkins and Anthony Eden stand behind.
The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill walks across a garden in the British Embassy, Tehran, Iran. He is followed by dignitaries including the young Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Churchill reviews the British and Indian Colonial troops. Three soldiers representing the British and Indian Colonial Regiments hold gifts for Winston Churchill celebrating his 69th birthday. Each man steps forward, delivers a speech and hands a gift to Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill addresses the soldiers. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi again visible behind Churchill. Soldiers raise their hats and cheer. Winston Churchill salutes and walks off. (World War II period, during Tehran Conference).
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives at the Russian Embassy in Tehran, Iran. He climbs the stairs. Marshall Joseph Stalin stands at top of the stairs. The U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Joseph Stalin sit on a porch of Russian Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Cameramen take photographs. General George Marshall, Harry Hopkins, Admiral EJ King, General HH Arnold, General Sir Hastings Ismay, Sir Alexander Cadogen, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, Averell Harriman and Marshall Voroshilov stand behind.