U.S. Army paratroopers of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, bivouacked at British RAF Greenham Common, England, prior to the Operation Market Garden invasion of Holland. Two paratroopers of 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (hearts on their helmets), 101st Airborne Division, clown for the camera with foreign currency. A Lieutenant performs a good-natured inspection of his platoon, for the camera. Paratroopers prepare boxes of demolition charges for air drop. Another Lieutenant of the 502nd PIR inspects members of his Platoon. Soldierss clown around and have fun giving and receiving haircuts. Troopers seated under a tent, sharpening their personal knives and testing the edge by shaving hair on their arms. Group of U.S. Army paratroopers being briefed outside tents and reviewing orientation techniques while one holds a magnetic compass.
A U.S. Army Air Force C-45 Expeditor aircraft taxis up and parks near an Honor Guard. Lieutenant General Jacob L. Devers, Commander of U.S. Army Forces in Europe, steps from the aircraft (which displays "V" tail code usually associated with the XXI Bomber Command, 499th Bomb Group). Members of his party, including Major General Ira Eaker, Commander if the U.S. 8th Air Force, and a British civilian official (Member of Parliament?) stand near the airplane as General Devers inspects the honor guard. General Devers then leads the party to where a group of American Air Corps officers is standing. Devers stands aside while General Eaker and the British official and the other members of their party meet and greet the Air Corps officers. (World War II period).
U.S. Lieutenant General Jacob L. Devers, Commander of U.S. Army Forces in Europe, and Major General Ira Eaker, Commander of the U.S. 8th Air Force, escort a British official visiting an air base in the UK. The official speaks momentarily with U.S. ground crewman. Then a U.S. Lieutenant Colonel escorts him in a walk around a B-17, named "Delta Rebel" while the Generals and others stand nearby.(Captain Robert K Morgan, Pilot of the "Memphis Belle" is a member of the visiting party.) The British Official has an extended dialog with escorting officer. All members of the visiting party begin climbing aboard a C-45 aircraft. Change of scene show the party walking from the C-45 past an honor guard. General Devers greets several Air Corps officers standing in a line. He is followed by the British official, with his Lt. Col. escort. Generals Devers and Eaker speak with the Lt. Col. escort and then General Eaker walks with the official to a waiting car (appears to be a 1938 Packard sedan). The official enters the car and drives away, followed by American staff car and another vehicle.
B-17Fs of the 8th Bomber Command, 1st Bomb Division, 305th Bomb Group, 366th Bomb Squadron, landing at their base, RAF Chelveston, in Northamptonshire, England, during World War II. The first to land displays a dozen yellow bombs, for missions, painted under the pilot's cockpit window, and Squadron code KY, and L, on its fuselage. Its tail number is 42-5053. The second plane to land displays KY and D, on fuselage, and tail number 42-29553. The third, shows the squadron's KY, but other markings are not readable. The fourth to land displays some mission bombs below its cockpit window, the Squadron KY, and J on the fuselage. Its tail number is 41-21624. Bomb Group tail codes and nose art are not seen on any of the aircraft. But, researchers have identified names of three of them: Bloody Tangier Show (42-5053), Arkie II (42-29553),and Madame Betterfly (41-24624), and estimate the film to have been shot between 3/1/1943 and 5/19/1943.
U.S. 8th Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in England during World War II. A weapon trailer with bombs being towed across an area to a B-17. An airman plays harmonica on the trailer loaded with bombs. Ground crew of 8th Air Force fuse bombs near B-17s.
Activities of U.S. 8th Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in England during World War II. View from inside a B-17. Airmen stand clear as the B-17 taxis along a runway and takes off. View to the rear as the B-17 becomes airborne. Another B-17 in flight. View from inside of B-17 propellers turning.
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