Office leaving ceremony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Strange McNamara in the United States. Rain is falling. Dignitaries and officials depart after the ceremony. Cameramen leave the area with their cameras. Honor guards stand in formation. The U.S. flag flying atop a flag pole.
An interview of United States Air Force Lieutenant General Ira Eaker conducted by Dr. Maurer in the United States. General Eaker talks about why had he said that the United States Army Air Force was inferior to certain European air forces in the beginning of World War II. He said that European air forces were in operation during the war. He says that very few people in the U.S. had visualized that the country would get involved in the war. European Air Forces were in urgent need of advanced air forces and further efforts to win against the enemy. U.S. was not in the same position. Their aircraft production was also limited.
U.S. soldiers in the European Theater during World War II. Announcements on radio about take off, taxi out, stations and briefing of air force units. An officer briefs a crew. A wall map in the background. He speaks about targets of U.S. bombers. They are briefed about strategies and target areas. Bombs on trailers. The crew writes messages on the bombs. A message reads: 'Death to Hitler'. The crew loads the bombs in an airplane. Officers shake hands. The crew board the airplane and its engine starts. The officers watch the airplane. The airplane taxis and takes off from an airfield.
U.S. Army Air Corps Third Aviation Instruction Center in Issoudun, France during World War I. U.S. Army soldiers seated in flight simulators fire machine guns at target boards that are mounted beside aircraft models. Officers instruct the gunners as the simulators move at various angles, simulating aerial dogfight battle. Smoke rises from firing.
U.S. Army Air Corps Third Aviation Instruction Center in Issoudun, France during World War I. Pilot and gunner U.S. Army students practice aiming machine guns on tripods at mock aircraft targets, simulating potential views during aerial dogfight combat. Officers instruct them. The targets are models of airplanes on stands, and they are pivoted into different positions for the soldiers to review.
The Second Aviation Instruction Center in Tours, France during World War I. An aircraft takes off from an airfield and is in flight overhead. U.S. Secretary of War Newton Diehl Baker, Chief of the Air Service John D. Ryan and U.S. Army General Bliss, Lieutenant General James Guthrie Harbord and General John J. Pershing standing on the airfield. They discuss and inspect airplanes.
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.