'The Big Picture' episode narrated by Ronald Reagan depicts the life of U.S. General George S Patton, Jr. Opening scene shows General George S. Patton, Jr. stepping from a landing craft in France, during World War 2. He stands by the side of a road and waves, as elements of his 3rd Army pass in tanks. Patton in a jeep moving with his troops. General Patton pointing with a baton, in North Africa. View of a world globe being circled by a satellite. A baby picture of Patton (called "Georgie"). Patton seen as a boy, fencing, as a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, and as a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. A smiling Patton at West Point. Members of the first football team for soldiers established by Patton. Renault tanks of the 1st Tank Battalion moving with AEF soldiers in World War I. Tank commander George Patton standing in front of a Renault tank. Group picture of American soldiers and tanks, at the Tank School, in Fort Meade, Maryland, after World War I. Closeup of Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton, in the group. Patton and his wife, Beatrice Banning Ayer, in Old West costumes, for a party, where he displays a pistol in his belt, and in costumes for another party, where they dress as a knight and his lady on horseback. American recruits and draftees being issued uniforms in World War 2. Lieutenant General George S. Patton, Jr. commanding forces for the invasion of North Africa, in November, 1942. U.S. Navy warships fire their guns in advance of an amphibious landing. Landing craft heading toward shore. U.S. troops coming ashore at Casablanca, French Morocco. General Patton accompanied by French officers. Glimpse of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill at their conference in Casablanca in 1943. Patton riding in an armored car with three-star flag displayed. Artillery firing in battle of Tunisia. Lt. Gen. Patton and others observing operations. British General, Sir Harold Alexander, steps from a light airplane to meet with General Patton in North Africa. They converse. General Patton in March 1943 with binoculars observing battle, with Major General Terry Allen on his right, and Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. to the right of Allen. They are viewing from a ridge by the village of El Guettar, as allies engage German troops and armor from the 10th Panzer Division. M3 Lee tanks moving in the desert. Knocked out tanks of the German 10th Panzer Division, including German Panzer IV tanks, in the aftermath of the Battle of El Guettar. General Patton coming aboard an American warship, and then standing with an Italian officer and a U.S. Major General. Allied naval bombardment at night. Patton observing though binoculars. Allied warships bombarding Sicily. Allied amphibious forces heading ashore in landing craft. Troops moving ashore. Closeup of troops in a landing craft. Glimpse of Patton in a landing craft. Troops walking across floating dock from a landing ship. U.S. flag flying in sand at beachhead. Landing ships in background. General Patton stepping ashore from small boat, and conversing onshore with a Brigadier General and some troops.
U.S. tank crews and support personnel on demonstration maneuvers in desert terrain. Support truck and personnel respond to tank out of fuel. They throw fuel cans down from truck and tank crew refuels from jerry cans using tank-installed hand-pump. After refueling, the tank moves out.
American aviation pioneer Glenn Hammond Curtiss sits at the controls of his first aircraft. Two mechanics assist in starting the engines. The first Curtiss aircraft takes off. Louis Bleriot, who was the first to fly across the English Channel, sits at the control of his aircraft in France. Lincoln Beachey, the first man to perform aerobatics in an airplane, dives his first aircraft which is a Curtiss model. Spectators are lined at a fence and watch him flying.
The Liberty L-12 engine. Scenes of its manufacture in American war plants. U.S. Air Service crews training in DeHavilland DH-4 aircraft. An airplane falling and crashed, with wreckage seen on ground. Head of the U.S. Army Air Service, General Patrick, and General Billy Mitchell, presenting medals to Captain Eddie Rickenbacker and other fliers of the U.S. Army 94th Aero Squadron, in France, during World War 1.
Views of U.S. Army Air Service Lieutenant James Doolittle, winner of the Schneider Cup Race, and of his Curtiss R3C-2 airplane equipped with floats. Brief view of Lieutenant Cyrus Bettis, climbing out of his R3C racing airplane, after winning the Pulitzer Trophy.
U.S. Army Air Corps douglas Model O-2C biplane (number 26-410) taxis and takes off (possibly piloted by Army Captain J.R. Schumaker). The pilot demonstrates several aerobatic maneuvers, including loop, barrel roll, double roll, tail spin, and inverted flight.
CRITICALPAST.COM: About Us | Contact Us | FAQs - How to Order | License Agreement | My Account | My Lightboxes | Shopping Cart | Advanced Search | Featured Collections | Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy ©2026 CriticalPast LLC.
License Agreement |
Terms & Conditions |
Privacy Policy
©2026 CriticalPast LLC.