U.S. Army Air Forces C-47 aircraft painted in D-Day stripes, seen taking off at nightfall on June 5, 1944, carrying Airborne troopers from a base in England, during World War 2. Large formations of U.S. B-17 bombers en route to targets in Europe. Clusters of indendiary bombs falling from a U.S. bomber. View from a bomber of explosions on the ground from bombing at a coastline. Allied paratroopers fill the sky with their parachutes as they jump from formations of C-47 transport aircraft. Thirty minutes before the amphibious assaults at Normandy, Allied warships bombard the shore with heavy naval guns. Troops leave their transport ships and board small landing craft (Higgins boats). Soldiers try to stabilize the rope nets for others climbing down, as their small craft pitch in choppy seas. The boats speed away from their transport ships, and head toward the shore. Smoke rising from the shore where naval shelling has caused explosions and fire. Troops from landing craft of the USS, Samuel Chase (APA-26), wade ashore under enemy machine gun fire, at "Fox Green" section of Omaha Beach. They are far away from the beach itself, because of steel and concrete obstacles placed by the Germans, and relatively low tide.
Montage of scenes illustrating Office of Strategic Services (OSS) airlift activities in Burma during World War II. C-47 with number 26 on its tail seen on landing roll at an airfield. A C-47 (serial number: 41-19476) with number 33 on its tail. Men in khaki are loading supplies in the aircraft and several wearing parachutes board the aircraft. View of a C-47 with number 42 on its tail taking off from well established airport. A man with parachute stands in open cargo door of the aircraft during takeoff. (This segment of film is reversed.) A C-47, tail number 31 is seen cruising in flight. View from inside an airplane cruising over fog filled valleys and then later over jagged mountains. View of C-47 number 31 from cabin of another C-47. View of passengers inside C-47 cabin. A fighter escort of Two USAAF P-51s passes close to the C-47. Inside a C-47, crew members prepare supplies and then airdrop them behind enemy lines. View from below of supplies being dropped from a C-47. Views of airdrops from inside and outside C-47 aircraft. Commandos including indigenous personnel,parachute from C-47s. Views from camera strapped to leg of one paratrooper. View from ground of a parachutist descending. (Note: C-47 serial number: 41-19476 was assigned to the 10th Air Force, 443rd Troop Carrier Group in Burma, during world War 2, and was lost on on a mission, January 18, 1944, piloted by Ferde A. Larsen, of the 2nd Troop Carrier Squadron.)
Formation of Soviet YAK fighter aircraft in flight. A lone German Messerschmitt Bf 109 in flight. The YAKs peel off and dive to attack. Aerial dogfight footage as the Soviet aircraft pursue the German airplane and shoot it down. It crashes into the ocean. The flight of Soviet aircraft attack a lone German Me-110 and it descends in flames to crash and explode on the ground.The Soviets attack another German aircraft that also crashes and explodes. German pilot is seen descending in parachute. A downed German airplane begins to burn on the ground and bursts into flames that consume it. In separate sequence, Soviet General, Fedor Ivanovich Tolbukhin, looks through binoculars as he observes artillery fire on Sapun Mountains, Ukraine. Views of the General's staff. Soviet gun crews firing 203mm B-4 heavy artillery. Soviet officers discussing target map. Animated map showing the Soviet advances and capture of Sevastopol in May 1944
Allied campaign against the Axis in 1944 during World War II. The Soviet Army advances towards Romania after running over Ukraine. The tanks advance. German soldiers captured by the Soviet Army.
German soldiers in France during the Battle of Villers-Bocage of World War 2. A pictorial map showing cities along French coastline. A German soldier looking through binoculars. Allied ships at sea. German soldiers prepare artillery and fire. Smoke rising from explosions. German soldiers beside artillery. Smoke rising from Allied vessels at sea. Explosions on land and smoke rising. Two German soldiers talking. A wrecked landing craft at a beach. Debris of wreckage spread on the beach. A bomb wrecked U.S. LST (Landing Ship, Tank) on the beach and armored vehicles aboard the ship. Vehicles moving along a road. recked British Cromwell tanks and M3 Halftracks along the side of a road. A German soldier beside a damaged tank. Wide shot of a Stuart light tank. A damaged signboard which reads 'Villers Bocage'. Damaged buildings on the street of Villers-Bocage and a wrecked Tiger tank beside the buildings. Debris strewn on the ground and a damaged tank among the debris. A damaged tank with its front part into a building. A British helmet in the debris on a Cromwell tank. (Note: During this battle, On June 13th, 1944, German tank commander, Michael Wittmann, in a single Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger tank reportedly destroyed up to 14 tanks and 15 personnel carriers along with 2 anti-tank guns. Many were of the British 22nd Armored Brigade of the 7th Armored Division, AKA the 'Desert Rats'.)
French General Marie-Pierre Kœnig and his staff (plus a civilian official) review U.S. Army troops in Paris, before they depart, after the liberation of Paris,in 1944, during World War 2. General Koenig has been appointed by General Charles de Gaulle to consolidate French control and administration in Paris. In the opening scene, He and the group are seen walking past the U.S. troops as they stand at attention. Later Koenig and the others stand at attention as the American troops march past, on parade. Views of the U.S. troops marching out of Paris, past landmarks and along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and through the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (Arch of Triumph). Complete change of scene, shows an American armored personnel carrier moving through a French town and an M3 half track firing at a building. Then U.S. infantry spread out as they attack the area. Next American jeeps are seen traversing a steep bridge. Winding roads in rugged country are seen. A GI using binoculars. American artillerymen firing M116 75mm Pack Howitzers, including some under camouflage nets. Soldiers working to repair and strengthen a timber bridge. A truck carrying Free french soldiers who climb down and receive small arms from another French soldier in a jeep. Camera pans over the boots worn by the French soldiers. Closeups of two. Change of scene shows Free French troops in snow at an Alpine location, where they set up military equipment. French soldiers scanning mountain peaks. A soldier on skis. The soldiers responding to a whistle signal from an officer. They take up positions and fire weapons.
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.