African American signal troops of the 459th Signal Construction Battalion, 9th Air Force stringing wire alongside railroad tracks in Central Italy (documents accompanying footage note location as “LITHAIRO, ITALY”) during World War 2. Black United States soldiers working as linemen on top of utility poles alongside railroad track. Close view of an African American soldier lineman working on wires of the utility pole. A soldier guards alongside railroad track. African American soldiers pull wires after the wires of the utility pole are lowered. USA linemen soldiers tighten the wires with block and tackle. African American soldier uses hand cranked Signal Corps signal generator to test connections. Wire spools turn as the wire is strung out.
Wreckage of a bomber, probably associated with United States Ninth Air Force raids in Europe during World War II. Out of focus views of an airfield and bombers in flight.
"The Big Picture” host Alexander Scourby interviews General Omar Bradley, the architect of Operation Cobra in Normandy during World War II. General Omar Bradley recounts his experience with handling Operation Cobra in Normandy. Omar Bradley attributes several factors for Operation Cobra’s success such as the aggressive and strong fighting spirit of the American troops, the teamwork displayed by the combat armies and air force, the alertness of subordinate commanders such as General Collins. On Martin Blumenson’s book, “Breakout and Pursuit”, General Omar Bradley says that reading the book sounds like “traveling down the road in the daylight than is the time you had taken it in the dark. It is generally familiar, which is always interesting to see the whole picture- part of which is hidden before”. General Omar Bradley gives a positive review on the historicity and veracity of “Breakout and Pursuit”. General Omar Bradley speaks about the value of military historians studying the events of World War 2. “Despite the fact that the weapons of war changes, the principle of war remain the same” said Omar Bradley. “War was a big thing in all our lives. We’ve been reading about the Revolution, the Civil War for a long time, to get a clear picture of ourselves as a nation. The Army is giving us the ability to do that now. The greatest war we have ever fought in our history” said General Bradley as he concludes the interview.
Italian celebrity Giovanna Ferrara is interviewed for an Italian TV show on WATV 13 in Newark, New Jersey. A television show for the Italian American community in New York is aired on WATV 13 (now known as WNET – THIRTEEN). A cameraman moves his camera. Camera is labeled with “WATV 13”. A production sound mixer prepares before taping. A boom microphone rotates. Front view of a studio color camera. A male host interviews Giovanna Ferrara, a celebrity and winner of a popular game show in Italy (“Lascia o raddoppia?”, the Italian version of “The $64,000 Question”), in Italian. The Italian host speaks to Giovanna Ferrara talk during the show. Both the host and Ferrara are seated behind a table with a sign that reads “WATV NEWS”. The Italian host asks Signora Ferrara, who won 5 million lire (approximately $ 8,000 in 1957), her motives in joining the game show. Giovanna Ferrara expressed feelings of gratitude and generosity after winning “Lascia o raddoppia?”. The host thanked Giovanna Ferrara for her time and congratulated her in her new career. The host shakes hands with the Italian celebrity after the end of her interview.
A United States Army Piper Cub air show over the Arc de Triomphe after the Liberation of Paris during World War 2. Piper Cub takes off from the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, in front of the Arc de Triomphe (Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France). The light aircraft circles over Arc de Triomphe. A motorcycle drives in Avenue des Champs-Élysées. U.S. Army Piper Cub moving towards the Arc de Triomphe in Avenue des Champs-Élysées after its touchdown. The Piper Cub slightly turns. Pilot of the Piper Cub smiles before getting off the aircraft.
A United States nuclear test conducted on the Bikini Atoll, likely the Cherokee test (the first conducted by the US of an air-dropped thermonuclear weapon). Condensation cloud forms after the detonation of the thermonuclear bomb. The skies become bright upon detonation explosion, before turning into dark. A photographer uses a camera to capture nuclear bomb detonation from an aircraft. View of the Pacific Ocean. Skies over the Pacific Ocean changes from apparently sunny to dark. A large Wilson cloud formation partially obscured by dark clouds. Two men watch the nuclear test detonation from a ship. Bright light obscures clouds after bomb detonation. The skies become darker, with the Wilson cloud becoming more prominent.
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