U.S. infantrymen wading across a flooded region during the Korean War. They emerge on a sandy beach near a mountain. Next, they are seen heading up a hillside. A soldier arranges mortar shells in a bunker. He then begins firing them in rapid succession at an enemy held hill. Scene shifts to U.S. Army General Mark Clark announcing the armistice ending hostilities, in July, 1953. He speaks in a hall packed with military personnel.
United States military airman with British civilians discussing politics in The Mother Shipton Pub (Mother Shipton, 1 Malden Road, NW5) in London. U.S. Soldier listens with British spectators to speaker in Hyde Park. British steelworker relaxing at home with wife and daughter, in unfazed by political issues in newspaper of the day. Photo album with family pictures. Queen Elizabeth II riding in Royal Coronation Coach on streets of London, surrounded by cheering crowds, on the day of her Coronation, June 2, 1953, escorted by Royal Guards on horseback. American servicemen and women watch changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth on horseback during the Trooping the Colour.
An Allied airlift in West Berlin, Germany. British European Airways office at Berlin Tempelhof Airport. Women refugees from East Germany sign flight papers. Refugee women in a waiting room as they look at an aircraft. Two women smiling. The women board a British airplane (G-AMSR). A clerk marks a British European Airways bulletin board listing the number of refugees who left the area on March 8th, 1953.
Operation Little Switch in which released POW are taken from Panmunjom, Korea to Tachikawa, Tokyo, and then on to the United States during repatriation of former prisoners late in the Korean War. The released POW (Prisoners Of War) eating food that will probably be the last meal there before leaving Korea. Food items kept in a shelf and on a table. A cook severs food in bowls to U.S. soldiers. Injured or former POW seated on a bed eating a bite of chicken is A/2C Robert L. Weinbrandt of El Cajon, California, a B-29 Super Fortress tail gunner captured after his plane was shot down the night of January 28-29, 1953. A wounded POW drinks soup and eats food kept on his bed. Liberated former prisoners drinking. Another former prisoner eating food. (Alarger Operation Big Switch followed in August.)
Operation Little Switch (first phase of Operation Big Switch) in which released U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force POW (Prisoners Of War) are taken from Panmunjom, Korea to Tachikawa, Tokyo as part of repatriation effort late in the Korean War. Medical staff carry a number of sick or injured US military personnel (former prisoners) on stretcher. The first one seen is A/2C Robert L. Weinbrandt of El Cajon, California, a B-29 "Super Fortress tail gunner captured after his plane was shot down the night of January 28-29, 1953. He is seen being transported with his luggage out of annex ward. Several views of the released, former POW including several taken on stretchers out of the ward, and others that walk out on foot, smiling. Soldiers grab packs of Lucky Strike cigarettes from a basket. A car parked in the background. Officers and nurses in the hospital. General Shambora shakes hands with a released U.S. Army soldier.
Operation Little Switch effort underway for repatriation of former prisoners of war near end of the Korean War. Released POW (Prisoners Of War) had been taken from Panmunjom, Korea to Tokyo, Japan. A number of injured former POW U.S. Army soldiers are seen receiving Purple Heart awards from U.S. Army Colonel Kirkpatrick. Several views of Colonel awarding Purple Hearts to six soldiers, including two African American soldiers. The medals pinned on the robes of the hospital patients. (A larger Operation Big Switch followed, in August 1953).