U.S. Army 88th Division troops advance along a road, in the Apennine Mountains of Italy, in final days of World War 2. Members of an Italian Alpinieri Brigade greet them. They serve wine to the soldiers as they pass through the area. Italian soldiers are gathered around a wagon where they drink wine from a large barrel. American infantrymen, in succession, without breaking step, sip wine from a metal cup offered by an Italian Alpinieri trooper. Another view of the Italian soldiers around the wagon containing their wine barrel. In change of scene, American infantry of the 10th Mountain Division are seen moving down a slope, single file, to a mountain road and then proceeding across a small stream in a barren region of the mountains. Later, as they proceed on either side of a mountain road, a jeep passes in the road center, raising dust. The Americans pass Italian troops relaxing near destroyed buildings. Several sit on remains of an Italian Centauro armored personnel carrier overgrown with weeds. Next, a mountain road is seen, clogged with jeeps and trucks. Along the side of the crowded road, Italian soldiers of the Salmerie da Combattimento, 5° group " Montecassino" (Baggage Combat, 5th group "Montecassino") are seen walking with their mules, fully loaded with rations and medical supplies. One of them has been identified as Mario Pace, (Rome 1923-1995) along with his mule, Adeodato. The Italian Baggage Combat Group and mules, continue along the road .(Note: Under the name "5th Pack Mule Group", this Italian unit was assigned the task of bringing supplies to front line combat troops in the mountains.) They are followed by U.S. soldiers on horseback with more horses and mules.
Several WB-29A Weather Reconnaissance aircraft of the 53rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Hurricane Hunters). Their unique sampling fixture is seen atop their fuselages. These are stationed at Kindley Air Force Base, Bermuda. The unit belongs to the Air Weather Service of the Military Air Transport Service (MATS). Aside from the aircraft, a few of their Squadron facilities are seen on the ramp.
Pilot of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (Hurricane Hunters) getting last minute briefing at Squadron operations, in Bermuda. A WB-29A of the Squadron, with unit logo and "Hurricane Hunters,"painted on its fuselage. The logo depicts a pilot on a flying carpet, with weather instruments, holding a crystal ball and an umbrella. It also includes a Lightning flash and clouds and rain drops. As the aircraft taxis slowly past the camera, the seal of the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) can be seen below its tail. Scene shifts to Dade County, Florida, where a uniformed Red Cross woman helps two women into her station wagon.
Crew member speaking on interphone in a U.S. Air Force WB-29 Hurricane Hunter aircraft. View of the pilot advancing the throttles and pulling back the yoke (staged). Scene repeated. View of flight engineer advancing throttles at his panel location. Dropsonde operator entering data on a form. Ground crewman disconnects auxiliary power unit from parked WB-29 aircraft parked at Kindley Air Force Base, Bermuda. View from nose gear well, of number three engine running on a WB-29 aircraft.
Training of U.S. Army Air Forces flying cadets. Cadets watch a three bladed propeller turning on a Class 26 instructional airframe at Randolph Field, Texas. (Class 26 refers to an airplane damaged beyond repair, from which the parts of the display were made. ) Cadets, at Kelly Field, look at BC-1airframe, resting on blocks, with skin partially removed to reveal internal structure. An instructor points out hydraulic lines as a cadet seated in the cockpit manually operates hydraulic pump to retract the landing gear. The landing gear is dropped and the process repeated several times. Cadets in a hangar learn about the construction of an airplane wing. The cadets receiving instruction on electrical system of an aircraft. Electrical units and circuitry mounted on a table.
U.S. Army 44th Division honors American actor and U.S. Army First Lieutenant Audie Murphy at Fort Lewis in Washington. Audie Murphy along with officers standing and being greeted by people. He gives an autograph to a woman. Soldiers march in formation. Murphy and other officer review them from a reviewing stand. Mechanized units and tanks parade.
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