Formations of B-24 Liberator bombers are seen in flight, headed for Ploesti, Romania, on August 1, 1943, during World War 2. Next, vertical columns of bombs are seen falling from the planes. Animated map of Europe shows Romania and Ploesti. It show paths of oil from the Ploesti oil fields to Germany. (Narrator states Ploesti provides 30% of Axis oil.) Map show path of 9th Air Force bombers from Libya to the Ploesti oil fields. Scenes shift to captured German films from 1944, showing the fires and destruction resulting from the constant B-24 raids. Huge black clouds rise from the area. Firefighters rush to combat flames. They direct streams of water on the conflagrations. (Commenter states: "Delayed action bombs prevented firefighters from rushing in, until too late.") Nighttime views of large fires and heavy smoke from 6 of Ploesti's 7 refineries ripped wide open. Film advances to August, 1944, showing Ploesti with the fires out, following Rumania's capitulation. Next, with some fires still burning, King Michael I of Romania, tours the site with military officers. They walk amidst the debris. Smoke rising near a rail marshaling yard. Against a background of dense smoke rising, a Slate is displayed showing the cost to the United States of the Ploesti raids, as 300 bombers and 3000 American airmen were lost.
Aerial maneuvers of a British Spitfire plane with British insignia in the sky, England. The pilot of the plane sits in its cockpit. The insignia of Royal Air Force on the fuselage of Spitfire Camouflaged texture on the Spitfire flying in sky. The plane peels off in sky and disappears.
Aerial maneuvers of a British Spitfire plane with British insignia in England. The plane with a camouflaged body in flight. The insignia of Royal Air Force on the fuselage of the Spitfire plane. The plane dives off to its left in sky and disappears.
U.S. Army Air Forces operations in Germany near the end of World War II. Fire guard stands watch as a USAAF B-26 aircraft of the 323rd Bombardment Group, starts engines at Denain-Prouvy Airdrome (A-83) in France, during World War 2. More than 50 bombs are painted on fuselage of the aircraft, representing completed bombing missions. The aircraft is equipped with 4-bladed propellers. Airman stands fire guard with extinguisher as Left engine is started. He then goes to the other side of the airplane to stand fire guard as the right engine is started. Change of scene: Allied C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft are seen flying overhead in extremely loose formations.
United States tanks and trucks of the 40th Armored Cavalry march during a parade in Berlin, Germany. Russian harassment in the air and along ground routes to Berlin brings the display of Allied military power. Tanks, armored vehicles and artillery displayed during the parade. A crowd of German people watches the parade. United States soldiers and military officers during the parade.
Fire fighters and rescue workers at work at the crash site of flights United Airlines flight 826 and Trans World Airlines (TWA) flight 266 in New York. The accident became known as the Park Slope plane crash or the Miller Field crash after the crash sites. United Airlines Douglas DC-8 and Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation collided mid-air over New York. Rescue workers gather around at the venue and try to extinguish fire on the planes. New York's largest disaster force is called out to fight fire on the super-carrier Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation. Fire fighters fight to put down the flames. Smoke and fire all around in the area.
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