Sparrow III, American air to air missile hits an aircraft in United States. Sparrow III climbs up through the sky as it leaves a vapor trail behind. It strikes at a Drone aircraft and smoke rises. Aircraft drops. United States F6F Drone aircraft in flight as a Sparrow III missile hits it. Smoke rises and aircraft descends.
United States Army Air cadets graduate in Glendale, California. Film opens showing a graduating class of U.S. Army Air Corps aviation cadets at attention along with their instructors, in front of a line of PT-13 training aircraft. A senior officer is reading from notes for their graduation ceremony. Closeups of individual aviation cadets. A formation of 6 PT-13s flies toward and over the camera at very low altitude. Next, an aerial view shows the 6 aircraft flying in formation at altitude. Point of view (POV) shot from inside one aircraft, as it banks gently over a highway with only two cars driving on it. POV shot from back seat, of pilot in helmet, at controls in front cockpit. Several views of individual airplanes flying past movie cameraman filming them from another aircraft. Views of aircraft performing aerobatic rolls, including one from inside a maneuvering plane.
Evacuation of personnel from and delivery of emergency supplies to Bludenz, Austria after the avalanche disaster of 13 January, 1954. A United States Air Force Sikorsky H-19 helicopter lifts off. The helicopter hovers above a field and in flight. Officers and civilians consult a map. The Commanding Officer of the 12th Air Force Group, Colonel Robert Rizon, discusses the map with the people of Bludenz. The H-19 helicopter lands as a man in the foreground gives instructions.
Home-made deep sea scuba diving suits in Venice Beach, California. Men don hot water boiler diving helmets and get into water. Women stand on beach and pump bicycle syle air pumps to provide air through long black tubes extending to the divers. Divers come out of the ocean water carrying a "treasure" box from bottom of the ocean floor. Woman comes out of the treasure box as they open it.
Opening scene shows British artillerymen bombarding the Italian town of Ortona, on the Adriatic coast of Italy, which is held by paratroops of the German 1st Parachute Division in World War 2. Closeups of British soldier operating 155mm gun. British officers planning the barrage. Battery of guns firing. View of shells striking Ortona, along the coastline. Heavy guns firing from under camouflage netting. Smoke rising from artillery strikes. Scene shifts to Allied occupied airfield in Foggia, on the coast, South of Ortona, where P-40 aircraft of the 99th Pursuit Squadron are preparing to fly in support of the Ortona offensive. (This U.S Army Air Forces unit is comprised entirely of African American pilots and support personnel including Tuskegee Airmen.) Closeups of airmen fueling and arming the aircraft, and of pilots gathered in a mission briefing. 99th Squadron aircraft taking off and departing overhead in formations. View from the British artillery position of numerous bombs bursting on Ortona. Film shifts to the Central Front in Italy where U.S. forces are engaged in the Battle of San Pietro. Views of American artillery bombarding German positions in San Pietro. Closeups of numerous U.S. guns being fired. An ejected shell flies through the air from a U.S. Sherman tank during the bombardment. Views of U.S. troops passing a Sherman tank as they enter San Pietro and begin searching for booby traps in the wreckage of the town. Closeup of a soldier dismantling a booby trap. German aircraft sweep overhead and bomb the town. American soldiers dig out a buddy who was buried by a bomb burst, but rescued unhurt. He smiles for the camera. Casualties of the fighting, including many civilians are carried on stretchers and assisted. Local residents are seen grieving over fallen relatives and friends. Groups of townspeople stand along a hillside and watch as Italian soldiers join with the Allies in the fighting. Jeeps are seen navigating the muddy mountain trails as far as possible. Then further movement requires the use of mules. Troops are seen with mule trains. Soldiers shoulder heavy ammunition crates and slog uphill with them over a muddy mountain trail.
U.S. infantry and M4 Sherman tanks move against heavily fortified Japanese positions on Okinawa during World War 2. American soldiers use flame throwers to dislodge Japanese defenders. Two soldiers run as an explosion occurs behind them. U.S. artillery firing from under camouflage netting. Glimpse of soldier walking past a burning building. Okinawan women and children seek refuge behind the U.S.Tenth Army lines. A soldier carries a naked baby to safety. View of Okinawan refugees (Ryukyuan people), mostly women and children and some old people, seated together where they are to be cared for by the Army's Civil Affairs Command. Wounded American soldiers being placed aboard a U.S. Air Transport Command C-47 aircraft number 42-72383. Change of scene to the battlefield where a U.S. Army soldiers throw a hand grenades that explode on a Japanese caves. A Japanese soldier is shot as he stumbles out of his cave. Another Japanese soldier is take prisoner. U.S. soldier fires his rifle and a Japanese soldier falls to the ground. Scenes shift to the sea off of Okinawa, where a Benson-Livermore class destroyer is seen under a sky full of black flak clouds. Closeup of the destroyer. A Japanese aircraft is shot down as it flies toward a U.S. New Orleans class heavy cruiser. It crashes into the sea near another U.S. capital ship. An attacking Japanese plane is shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashes into the sea. More flak filled skies and bombs exploding along with machine gun fire raking the waters. Anti-aircraft tracer bullets firing from ships. A Japanese plane hit, is burning, and then explodes in the air. A Douglas dauntless aircraft lands on an aircraft carrier. Another aircraft doesn't make it to the carrier, and ditches in the water nearby. The pilot is seen standing on the plane's right wing, awaiting pick up. A Navy F4U Corsair plane approaches its carrier to land but loses control and crashes into the carrier's island. Firefighters direct streams of water on it's burning wreckage.
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