At start, the film shows a formation of American C-47 transport aircraft with paratroopers starting to jump from them during World War 2. Viewed moments later from the ground, the sky is filled with trooper' open chutes, descending. An animated map shows Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. It shows location of the Allied paratroopers drop in Holland, intended to spearhead a drive around the Main River into Germany. The map then shows German forces encircling the paratroopers and the Second British Army heading North to the rescue. Next, a huge number of American Soldiers are seen assembled out of doors in England. Closeup of General Dwight D. Eisenhower speaking in a microphone to the assembly. Closeups of soldiers including some who are American Army Air Corps pilots, and other aircrew members, mostly Lieutenants. Senior Paratrooper officers stand at attention in front of formation of troopers with American flag beside them.(Narrator says these were the men who made up the "lost division," heroes who fought alone for seven terrible days.) General Eisenhower makes his way between close ranks of the paratroopers. He is followed by Brigadier General and a Colonel. Lieutenant General Lewis H Bereton also makes his way through the ranks. Scene shifts to a base in England where many British Airspeed AS.51 Horsa gliders are seen with paratroopers heading across the airfield to board. American C-47 aircraft are seen in the background. All aircraft are painted with D-Day stripes. Several British and American paratroop officers review a map together. At a tent camp, A military policeman and two U.S. paratroopers checking their weapons and ammunition. Some troopers sharpen their knives. A trooper is issued Dutch and German money. A British and and American trooper in camouflaged helmets, pose before a glider with a huge British roundel on its side. British paratroopers boarding a Horsa glider, named "Gertie." A Horsa glider moving as it is towed by a British Whitley twin-engine bomber. View from side of runway as the bomber takes off with its towed glider behind. (Narrator comments: "Destination, Holland.") Formations of tow planes and gliders in flight. View of pilot in cockpit of a Whitley bomber. Formations of fighter aircraft in flight overhead. View from inside an aircraft as paratroopers exit through a side door. Sky filled with paratroopers in chutes descending. (Note: This Allied thrust into Holland to launch a drive around the German Siegfried Line was known as the Allied joint American-British "Operation Market Garden," which took place 17 to 25 September 1944, the 7 days referred to by the film Narrator. )
Opening scene shows ground crew loading bombs on a Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft of the USAAF 323rd Bombardment Group at Denain-Prouvy Airdrome, France (A-83) in World War 2. The aircraft is parked on pierced steel planking (Marsden Matting). Glimpse of aircrew members, carrying their parachutes, as they climb into the back of an open truck. Next, ground crewman steadies a bomb as another man operates controls to lower it from an M6 bomb service truck. Ground crewman screws fins on the bomb. View shifts to inside the truck carrying aircrew members, as more climb aboard it. Several crew members climb down from the truck, as it arrives at their aircraft. Others are seen already at their respective aircraft parked nearby. Rough slate identifies the airfield as A-83, and day as 22 April. An officer, bombardier, is seen strapping himself into the nose of a B-26. Bombardier makes adjustments to his bomb sight. Pilot and copilot close their respective canopies. Name: "Wild-Bill" seen painted below copilot's window.
New model jet fighters and bomber aircraft parade at the British Air Show in Farnborough, England. Advance jet bombers and jet fighters take off and display their tactics during the air show. People board a Bristol Type 167 Brabazon large airplane to see it. A English Electric Canberra jet bomber aircraft flying low over the airfield. New Hawker Hurricane Jet is shown flying low. It claims unofficial speed mark. Spectators watch anxiously the take off, landing and aerial display by the planes. Britain's new four engine jet bomber, the Vickers-Armstrongs Valiant takes off as the spectators watch.
Pilots of the United States Army Air Force 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, board their P-51D aircraft, for a mission against German targets, during World War II. They are operating from a bombed out captured German airfield, near the end of the War in Europe. Major L.K. Brueland is seen in cockpit of his airplane as he taxis with the canopy open, making his way between obstructions on the ramp. His aircraft displays 14 and one half swastikas. Another pilot climbs aboard his P-51D, as a photographer stands on the nose of the aircraft. His airplane has 16 German crosses (not swastikas ) painted on it. Crew chief cleans his canopy. He taxis out with canopy closed.
United States President Richard Nixon departs from Berlin, Germany during his official visit to Europe. President lays wreath at the Berlin Airlift Memorial (Platz d. Luftbrücke 2, 12101 Berlin, Germany). Enormous crowd of civilians on both sides of road cheers for him as his motorcade moves towards Tempelhof Airfield. Nixon gets out from the sunroof of his car and waves towards the crowd. Motorcycle escorts accompany the motorcade. Nixon stops at the Berlin Wall and waves towards the cheering crowd.
U.S. President Richard Nixon departs from Berlin, Germany, during his visit to Europe. Richard Nixon emerges from the sunroof of his car and salutes the civilians of Berlin gathered on roadsides to bid farewell to him. Large crowd cheers for him. Motorcade passes from among the crowd towards the Tempelhof Airfield.
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