Italian fliers land their aircraft at an Allied occupied air base (probably in Southern Italy) to join the Allies for the war against Nazi Germany during World War II. A three-engine Italian Savoia-Marchetti bomber in flight. The aircraft lands at the airfield. Other aircraft parked on the airfield. A hangar in the background. Italian fliers step from the aircraft. U.S. and Italian officer exchange greetings. Aircraft in formation. Italian fighter aircraft land and taxi at the air base. Officers and fliers. The fliers leave their aircraft. Italian fliers seated around a table eat American meal.
Allied soldiers in southern Italy during World War II. Allied soldiers on tanks advancing through the streets of southern Italy. A number of men and children holding a banner that reads 'Soldiers of Liberation, You are Welcome'. A photographer with a camera around his neck in front of the crowd. Soldiers moving in columns along the streets. Buildings along the streets. People with belongings on cattle carts coming back to Italy after they were driven out by the retreating Germans. A British soldier helping the people to unload their belongings. The soldier beside a cart with a child. The cart in front of a small hut. A soldier leading cattle away. The soldiers carrying small boxes move among the trees. The soldiers moving on a path. Troops on tanks moving through a water body. Hills and mountains in the background. The soldiers moving in columns through a stream. An aircraft at an airfield. A former Italian Commandant and other officers talking. The soldiers unearthing a booby trap. Equipment on the airfield. A damaged hangar. Debris strewn on the ground. Allied forces at work on the airfield. British soldiers firing artillery across a marshy terrain. Explosions occur and smoke rises from a building. Several LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank) at a sea shore. Trucks moving out of the LSTs. Soldiers beside an LST.
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.
July 10, 1943, U.S. invades Sicily in Italy. Fleet of warships underway. Navy bombardment of Sicily. Coast Guardsman observes through binoculars. Coast Guardsmen carry troops and supplies in LCVPs (Higgins Boats). LST-356 approaching Blue Beach 2, in the "Cent" area on July 10, 1943, loaded with tanks and other vehicles. A beach master signals with semaphore flags. Troops landing from assault boats. Concentrated enemy air attacks destroy U.S. boats and ships. Enemy aircraft in flight. U.S. troops firing. A map shows Italy. September 9, 1943, amphibious assault on Anzio, Italy. Naval bombardment, followed by troop assault on the beaches.
Bombing of Rekata bay (near Munda and Guadalcanal in the South Pacific) during August 24th 1943. U.S. B-24 Liberator bombers of the 13th Army Air Forces in flight at a high altitude over the bay. Bombers drop bombs on Japanese targets at Rekata bay. (World War II period).
Italian refugees evacuated to Southern Italy by Allied powers. Officers of Allied military Government sit and draw plans for evacuation. Allied flags. Animated map. Allied officer explains the route. Italian refugees evacuated along with children. A soldier on motorcycle. Refugees move on bullock cart. Young children cry. Buildings of Italian people destroyed. Army trucks take refugees to port of embarkation. Giant ship carries Army trucks and human cargoes for transport. Italians evacuated to Southern Italy. (World War II period).
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