A film on Pope Pius XII blessing the U.S. troops after liberation of Rome during World War II. Visitors strolling in St. Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City). View of St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Pius XII seated on ceremonial throne and shaking hands with the soldiers around him. Pope Pius XII is being carried on a sedia gestatoria by sediari. The Pope blesses the soldiers as he passes them. The Pope seated on the throne and the priests standing on either side. Pope Pius XII delivers a speech in English. The soldiers listening to the Pope. The Pope blesses the men. Pope Pius XII seated on the throne being taken through the men gathering around.
United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) P-47 Thunderbolts, aka "jugs," fly low over an airfield in France. Some of the P-47s display yellow cowlings and blue and red striped tails. Others display red cowlings. The aircraft fly over in flights of 4 aircraft each, and break for landings. However, they do not land, but either buzz low over the runway, or make touch and go landings.
Allied bomber lands at an airfield in North Africa. Airmen on the airstrip. Several Allied planes at the air base as one taxis on the runway. Allied officers at a retreat ceremony in Casablanca, Morocco. A soldier with the American flag patch on sleeve. United States soldiers and military band march with the American flag. Soldiers raise the flag. Soldiers march with the French flag. French and other Allied officers at the ceremony. A soldier takes photographs. Soldiers at the French 'Base Aeronautique Navale De Lartigue' in Lartigue, Algeria. American and French flags. Allied officers talking. Soldiers around tents in a camp area. (World War II period).
A ceremony at an airfield in Madrid, Spain. Bishops conduct a Catholic mass on a stage set in front of a hangar. Soldiers and civilians attend mass. Spanish General Francisco Franco and soldiers at attention. Priests praying in front of a Virgin Mary statue. The General and other officers at a table. General Franco decorates and congratulates Spanish soldiers. The crowd of civilians applauds. The General reviews the Spanish troops. (World War II period).
Report from Texas: Texas' contribution to World War II on both battlefield and home front. Cowboys on horseback gallop across ranch terrain toward camera position. Man on horse herding cattle. Texas increases its production of synthetic rubber, magnesium, sulphur and agricultural products. Factories and industries. Construction work underway. An airfield. Soldiers march. Downtown street views and town views of commercial centers with traffic, pedestrians, shops, and businesses in various areas of Texas including Dallas, Amarillo, Houston, Fredericksburg (with view of the Hotel Nimitz), Ft. Worth, Pampa, Kerrville, San Antonio (with views of the Alamo), Kilgore, (view of many oil well towers), El Paso, Beaumont, Wichita Falls, San Angelo and Austin. City road signs identifying many of those cities are also seen.
At start of film, a U.S. Army officer is seen talking with some soldiers preparing to depart Tay Ninh airfield for Nui-Ba-Den mountain, Vietnam. Next, the troops head across the field to helicopters of the 187th Assault Helicopter Co. (the Crusaders), waiting on marsden matting pavement at the field. A line of helicopters with troops aboard and engines running. They take off sequentially in trail formation. (Vietnam War period).
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