Step back into history with Combat America (1945), a vintage World War II documentary created by the U.S. Army Air Forces. Narrated by Clark Gable, this classic film takes you into the skies with American bomber crews as they face the challenges of aerial warfare. A powerful look at courage, duty, and the spirit of the 1940s.
Public Domain Film – preserved for historical and educational purposes.
#CombatAmerica #WWIIDocumentary #VintageFilm #PublicDomain #ClassicDocumentary #WWIIHistory #ClarkGable
Public Domain Film – preserved for historical and educational purposes.
#CombatAmerica #WWIIDocumentary #VintageFilm #PublicDomain #ClassicDocumentary #WWIIHistory #ClarkGable
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Short filmTranscript
00:01:30You feel the old man is proud of you.
00:01:32He finds no fault with you today, nor you with him.
00:01:36You'd fly his wing to hell and gone.
00:01:39Sergeant Philip J. Halls, top turret gunner from Springfield, Missouri.
00:01:42He feels that way.
00:01:44So does his pal Kenny.
00:01:45Sergeant Kenneth L. Halls, ball turret gunner from Perkins, Oklahoma.
00:01:49Related?
00:01:50No.
00:01:51They think they might have been several generations ago back in Germany.
00:01:54But now, just two guys with the same uncle.
00:01:57Sam.
00:01:59Meet their pilot, Lieutenant Theodore Argyropoulos of Redding, California.
00:02:03Argy's brother is in the Air Corps, too.
00:02:06Their dad was born in Greece.
00:02:08Yes, the Greeks have a word for it.
00:02:10Fight.
00:02:12Their bombardier, Lieutenant Daniel F. Stevens of Chicago.
00:02:16He can bat a thousand for the Norton bomb sight.
00:02:19Sergeant Paul J. Posty, Paul Turricunner.
00:02:22His dad came from Italy.
00:02:23Paul was formerly a pastry cook.
00:02:25He's got one brother in the Navy.
00:02:27Another, a Marine.
00:02:29Missing in action.
00:02:30Here's Sergeant Tim Touchett, tail gunner from Mariana Lake, New Mexico.
00:02:33On the reservation, they named him Aki.
00:02:37That means boy in Navajo.
00:02:39Uncle Sam's boy, too.
00:02:41A few last-minute instructions, and we're off.
00:02:44The compass points northeast.
00:02:49Take another look down there.
00:02:51That's your part of the earth.
00:02:53Out of that desert, those mountains, those fields, has grown the American way of life.
00:02:58What you're fighting for.
00:03:00You remember the colonel's quiet words?
00:03:02Men, the enemy has asked for it.
00:03:06Let him have it.
00:03:08Seek no quarter, nor give any beyond reason.
00:03:12Be firm.
00:03:14Be just.
00:03:15And Godspeed you all.
00:03:18Eight and a half hours out of Newfoundland, another sunrise.
00:03:22It's rising out of the red of battle, this sun.
00:03:25But 40 more B-17s, three minutes apart, have roared across the Atlantic night.
00:03:32The Irish coast looks up to, say, top of the morning.
00:03:35And a lake in the Ulster Highlands gives the navigator a checkpoint.
00:03:42Off the Scottish coast, Dernia Craig is a signal for right rudder south, across the English Midlands.
00:03:51Pilots are impatient with lack of sleep.
00:03:54Atta boy, pour on the cold.
00:03:56Let's get there.
00:03:56Yes, it must have been a lot different when the wings carried swastikas.
00:04:26Instead of these big white stars.
00:04:28Don't worry, folks.
00:04:30We're dropping nothing today.
00:04:31Just our hats.
00:04:32In the ring.
00:04:34Hello, Missy.
00:04:35We've brought something for you and brother.
00:04:37Chewing gum and chocolate bars.
00:04:39And there's a crate of oranges in the ball turret.
00:04:43Ah, there, Grandpa.
00:04:45We'll be seeing you for a glass of that.
00:04:48And there is the base.
00:04:51400 acres of dispersal areas.
00:04:56The RAF is on hand to welcome us.
00:05:02Set her down, Colonel.
00:05:04Set her down.
00:05:05The 351st becomes part of the 8th Air Force.
00:05:18We've reached the battlefront.
00:05:23The combat crews move into English barracks.
00:05:26They give them those simple, quiet names for which Americans are famous.
00:05:30Two weeks later, the ground crews arrive.
00:05:49Hiya, Gus.
00:05:50Great boat trip, huh?
00:05:51Only seven days and without any escort, too, hmm?
00:05:54See any submarines?
00:05:56Oh, a hundred of them, huh?
00:05:57Well, I guess you ought to know, Gus.
00:05:59They tell me you was hanging over the rail all the way.
00:06:03Next day, big doings.
00:06:05Class A uniform.
00:06:06Shine those buttons.
00:06:08His Royal Highness, the Duke of Foster.
00:06:11Brother to the King of England.
00:06:12Drops in and is greeted by the old man.
00:06:15What's up?
00:06:17Sergeant Major says the RAF is handing over the field to us.
00:06:20On behalf of the Air Ministry, I hand over this character.
00:06:47I hand over the field to the building for your safe keeping.
00:06:52It gives me great pleasure to accept the station on behalf of the United States Army Air Force.
00:06:57Okay, RAF, if we can fit your boots, we'll walk it straight, brother.
00:07:22Another surprise visitor.
00:07:30General Arnold himself, doing a world inspection flight.
00:07:34He tells you you've got a tough assignment.
00:07:37This is one head man who knows and doesn't kid you.
00:07:41We have the privilege to meet General Aker.
00:07:44Commanding General 8th Air Force.
00:07:46All right, sir.
00:07:47Yeah, glad to see you.
00:07:48How are you coming to this camera, a training film of yours?
00:07:51Well, it's a little early to tell you, sir.
00:07:53But we're turning a camera on everything and everybody.
00:07:56I know what General Arnold had in mind in having you make this gunner a picture.
00:08:00Captain Gable, our gunners are already the best in the business.
00:08:03But if they were only 10% better, it would cost the Germans another hundred fighters a month.
00:08:09So fire away, gunners.
00:08:11Plenty more practice before that first mission.
00:08:13Sleeve is a folk wolf.
00:08:16Track him.
00:08:17If you don't, he might get you.
00:08:19And you might have to bail out.
00:08:21Over the channel, perhaps.
00:08:23But if you do, a spitfire of the Air-Sea Rescue Service is bound to spot you.
00:08:29A stubborn, tough gang, this outfit.
00:08:32They'll go after you any time, any place.
00:08:35They've picked up men three miles off the French coast with Heidi defense batteries screaming,
00:08:40No, you don't.
00:08:42Their answer is always,
00:08:44Sorry, old boy.
00:08:45We will.
00:08:46You work on your identification of aircraft.
00:09:05Over here, it's with a real McCoy, such as this captured Ju-88.
00:09:14Well, there it is.
00:09:16Everything up forward, punched under the nose.
00:09:19But the Canadian pilot says it's a sweet flying ship.
00:09:22Yes, sir.
00:09:23A dangerous all-purpose aircraft.
00:09:27Or the Heinkel 111K.
00:09:32Here he's a bad hombre.
00:09:34But he makes good airplane, gentlemen.
00:09:39These will be a happy sight in days to come.
00:09:41Your fighter escort.
00:09:43That big barrel nose job, circled in white.
00:09:46Your own American P-47, the Thunderbolt.
00:09:49Side by side with a graceful spit.
00:09:52These are what you don't shoot at.
00:09:53You hear daily lectures on security, given by Major Scott, your Scotch-born intelligence officer.
00:10:03Let's stop kidding ourselves.
00:10:06This flying field is only 20 minutes from the battlefront.
00:10:10The dumb spies have all been shot.
00:10:16The smart ones are still living.
00:10:19And here we run into one of them tonight at the Red Lion Pub.
00:10:23And if you go to the pub...
00:10:26Remember, one phone is not one dollar, but four dollars.
00:10:32And that equals 20 shillings.
00:10:35One shilling equals 12 pennies, which equals 20 cents.
00:10:43One English penny equals two American pennies.
00:10:48And don't throw your pennies it out.
00:10:52Uh, Major, seems to me the patron's power is not very durable.
00:10:56What do you mean durable?
00:10:57I have a distance for 20 years.
00:10:59What is it, Fred?
00:11:10What is it?
00:11:11One of those bitter lessons you learn in training.
00:11:14Flying close formation in rough air at low altitude is no good, gentlemen.
00:11:19Save that for high altitude when you're headed for the target.
00:11:22Next morning, we crawl out of the sack to find Britishers on the field again.
00:11:43Big Halifax bombers that have blasted Berlin during the night.
00:11:47Their own field was closed in by weather, so they dropped in on us for breakfast.
00:11:52Say, uh, Percy, how's the yack-ack over there?
00:11:55Rough?
00:11:56Oh, not half that yack.
00:11:58Well, chitty old lads, thanks to the M&H.
00:12:02So long, Percy, old boy.
00:12:04We'll be finding out for ourselves one of these days.
00:12:13That day arrives.
00:12:15The order comes over the teletype.
00:12:17The communications clerk carries it to Colonel Milton, operations officer.
00:12:27To Colonel Burns, deputy commander.
00:12:29The old man is on the phone.
00:12:32Then in the briefing room...
00:12:34And summarizing, remember, you read in to this DR point where you go northeast to avoid this
00:12:40black area.
00:12:42P-47s will escort you to about this point on the way in.
00:12:47And Spit-9s will meet you about here on the way out and escort you all the way home.
00:12:53And now the weather officer.
00:12:54Weather's plenty important.
00:12:55You'll probably have to go over and above the altitude that you're scheduled to fly, 23,000 feet.
00:13:03From the IP to the target, the winds will be very strong tailwinds.
00:13:09And your ground speed will be, well, about 250, 260 miles an hour.
00:13:15The visibility is good everywhere east of that full front.
00:13:18And the temperature at the target should be convertibly warm, minus 25 degrees centigrade.
00:13:30Today is your baptism of fire.
00:13:34If Lieutenant Argyropoulos ever felt responsibility, he feels it now.
00:13:39In the armament shop, his crew is picking up their guns.
00:13:43Now remember, fellas.
00:13:44Don't let them get too close to him for a sure kill.
00:13:48Your main job is to bring these airplanes back.
00:13:51Get plenty of ammunition.
00:13:54Keep them out there at long range.
00:13:56All we know, they've given you an easy hop.
00:13:59Only three and a half hours in and out.
00:14:01What they call a milk run.
00:14:04But you'll remember this first mission.
00:14:06If you don't admit it now, you wouldn't show it for the world.
00:14:10But later you find out everybody else felt the same way you did.
00:14:14Slice order from wing headquarters.
00:14:16Wing wants three more ships added to the high group.
00:14:20Three more bomb bays have to be loaded.
00:14:22Have to step on them.
00:14:23The positions in the formation change.
00:14:25This doesn't concern Sgt. Kenny and Phil Hulls.
00:14:45Gunners think only of smooth working guns and plenty of ammunition.
00:14:48Ammunition's cheap.
00:14:51Six cents worth of .50 caliber wanged into the cockpit of a Messerschmitt.
00:14:55That's what will bring you home.
00:14:59What did that weatherman say?
00:15:0030 below over the target?
00:15:03Electrically heated suits.
00:15:05The Air Corps dresses for every occasion.
00:15:06Yes, everything has to be right, brother.
00:15:10Check everything.
00:15:12Every strap tight.
00:15:14Every buckle set.
00:15:16Everything understood.
00:15:18You get into your flak suit.
00:15:23Mighty heavy material, but it wears well, the man says.
00:15:27A thermos of hot coffee.
00:15:29The joker who brings it says it will help keep you awake.
00:15:34Arch straps on his throat pipe.
00:15:36Over this intercom system, he'll be able to talk to every man in the ship.
00:15:40And they can talk to him.
00:15:42They'll be talking for keeps today.
00:15:44Well, that flare from the tower ought to be along any minute now.
00:15:58There it is.
00:15:59Start engines.
00:16:01The colonel's already been on missions.
00:16:03Seasoned outfits.
00:16:04Today, he leads you on your first.
00:16:14Second flare.
00:16:38Start taxi.
00:16:45Now, if you're at Civil War, let's go back.
00:17:14Punch wing to wing at the start of the runway.
00:17:32Easy now, slow.
00:17:33Cut somebody's tail off.
00:17:35Rev her up, but ride those brakes hard, Brent.
00:17:37Roger.
00:17:38You keep your eye on the tower.
00:17:39Take off.
00:17:45The old man leans full on his throttle.
00:17:48At 15 second intervals, you follow.
00:18:09You form over the feet.
00:18:19You're on your way.
00:18:27The rest of the outfit sits down to wait.
00:18:30Go ahead, Mike.
00:18:37Your deal.
00:18:38Come on, I ain't cut.
00:18:39Oh.
00:18:40Okay.
00:18:42What time are they due back, do you know?
00:18:44Scotty said around 520.
00:18:46Gosh.
00:18:48I sure hope they all...
00:18:49Hey, how many are dealing I'm in?
00:18:52Sorry.
00:18:54You know, Mike.
00:18:56Everybody's sweating them out.
00:18:57You mean what's coming over those trees, Major?
00:19:04No, that's not them.
00:19:06Just a flock of crows.
00:19:08I was a truck driver on Canal Street, but I never felt like this before.
00:19:13I ride the ambulances.
00:19:15I gotta be casual.
00:19:16You know, carefree and easy.
00:19:18Like the dock.
00:19:20Listen, wise guys, talk to us.
00:19:21The ground crew for each ship.
00:19:23We'll tell you how to feel.
00:19:24Okay, here they are.
00:19:321, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14.
00:19:39That's the stuff.
00:19:4017, 18, 19, 20.
00:19:44Here's the old man in Kenny.
00:19:46Yeah, that's your ship, Corporal.
00:19:54You can uncross those fingers now.
00:19:586, 2, 7.
00:19:59That's Joe Frischels.
00:20:00A little hot, Joe.
00:20:01But you're a hot pilot.
00:20:02Here's Kegel in 7, 4, 2.
00:20:17Chalk him up.
00:20:18Here's old Zip in 8, 7, 9.
00:20:21He's got number 4 prop feather, too.
00:20:24Here's 9, 5, 3 with number 2 out.
00:20:27And look, Jim couldn't get his bomb bay doors closed, either.
00:20:30Oh, the old OK sign, huh, Sergeant?
00:20:46Must have laid him right on the nose.
00:20:49Yep.
00:20:50Oh, he says he saw him land right on the MPI.
00:20:56Nice bombing, Steve.
00:20:58That's from me, Pete Provenzale, your navigator.
00:21:03OK, Phil.
00:21:04Chalk up number 1.
00:21:06Nice driving, Captain Arge.
00:21:08You sure know your evasive action.
00:21:10Uh-oh.
00:21:11Harry caught something.
00:21:1320 millimeter right across his radio.
00:21:16Arge looks at a hole in the horizontal stabilizer.
00:21:18Nothing at all.
00:21:20Hiya, Pete.
00:21:21Come on, let's stole these guns and get to interrogation.
00:21:24Yeah, you're feeling pretty cocky.
00:21:29Nobody blamed you.
00:21:30It's great to get that first one over with.
00:21:33But this one was pretty easy, remember?
00:21:35You got a lot more to go.
00:21:37Longer ones, tougher ones.
00:21:40Take it easy, boys.
00:21:41Take it easy.
00:21:42Back from the raid comes Major Louis Nowak, group surgeon.
00:21:48Doc flew this first mission to study the physical reactions of men in combat.
00:21:52He didn't have to go, but that's the kind of a doc he is.
00:21:56And today, on the walls of the officer's mess, begins the chronological record of the group's success.
00:22:00Coutre, a German fighter base in Belgium.
00:22:07And he doesn't live there anymore.
00:22:10In the meantime, we find Kenny and Phil cleaning their guns in front of the armament shop.
00:22:16Hello, Captain.
00:22:17Hello, fellas.
00:22:19Well, how is it?
00:22:20You know, Captain, I don't think those Germans like it.
00:22:23Are you ready to go again?
00:22:24Sure.
00:22:25Gotta get this thing over.
00:22:27Did you learn anything you didn't know before?
00:22:29Funny.
00:22:29At home, they told the Jerry's they'd both their tanks on a tail.
00:22:33Today, most of them are on the nose.
00:22:34Yeah.
00:22:35Most of the time, I had my turret pointed at 12 o'clock.
00:22:39I must have fired a thousand rounds.
00:22:40Let's go all these guns, Ken.
00:22:42All set.
00:22:43Yes, check those guns.
00:22:45You'll have plenty more use for them the next two weeks.
00:22:48Hemded.
00:22:49Heal.
00:22:50Thillamshoppel.
00:22:51St. Desair.
00:22:53Raymond.
00:22:54And every swastika stands for a Han pilot that asked for it and got it.
00:22:59Came days when enemy targets were hidden by weather.
00:23:14So the more energetic of you found relaxation in peaceful combat.
00:23:18While the more studious men discussed tactical charts and maps.
00:23:22Or something.
00:23:25Where they have found the kennel.
00:23:27Yes.
00:23:29But the more cultured of the group, like Kenny and Phil, went into the nearby villages to visit
00:23:34the quaint old cathedrals.
00:23:36Churches and shops in the English countryside surrounding us.
00:23:39Or on days when they were confined near the base, the old cathedrals and shops would come out to see them.
00:23:51Hmm.
00:23:52This little shop wants to go home.
00:23:56Meanwhile, back at the kitchen, we find a very unhappy and angry man.
00:24:01Hello, Sergeant Posty.
00:24:05Hello, Captain Gable.
00:24:07That's good.
00:24:08I thought you were a volunteer, Bennett.
00:24:10I thought so too, sir, but I've been grounded.
00:24:12Oh.
00:24:12Your past sets up on you, huh?
00:24:14Yes, sir.
00:24:15They found I was chef at the Brown Derby in Hollywood, and now they have me in the mess,
00:24:18making the cake come after the officer's party.
00:24:21Nothing you can do about getting back in the company?
00:24:23I don't think so, Captain.
00:24:26Well, Sergeant, remember this.
00:24:27There are two kinds of cake.
00:24:30One of them's good, and the other one...
00:24:34I'll be seeing.
00:24:39But gals or parties, you're still fighting a war.
00:24:43And you're getting mighty good at it.
00:24:45Nobody knows it better than the sucker who started it.
00:24:48Little Adolf.
00:24:53Well, Sergeant Posty, back at the contact, huh?
00:24:57Yes, sir.
00:24:59How'd you manage it?
00:25:01Well, sir.
00:25:02You know what you said.
00:25:03Well, it's a kind of cake.
00:25:07So, Posty's back in the air with you.
00:25:09You're blowing factories and power plants a thousand feet in the air.
00:25:16Okay, how about you, Winchester?
00:25:18Well, I have a little excitement.
00:25:19What happened?
00:25:20I have a little present here for you.
00:25:22What's that?
00:25:26Black?
00:25:26Came in the side of the radio room and picked the buffer on my parachute.
00:25:30It's on the floor.
00:25:31Who left this plane?
00:25:33Bill.
00:25:35What time was that?
00:25:37It was about $1,600.
00:25:39$1,600.
00:25:40Where did it happen?
00:25:42You know?
00:25:43Well, it's right here just east of Austin.
00:25:45East of Austin.
00:25:47Who confirmed that?
00:25:48Well, I saw it.
00:25:49I confirmed it.
00:25:51After he fired it, it came down and passed underneath their left wing and exploded right underneath them.
00:25:58Nobody's bailed out.
00:26:01And when you hand out punishment like this, you've got to take some, too.
00:26:07The day you got back from over Veloca Blay, just outside of Paris, was plenty rugged.
00:26:12Signal flares, that means wounded aboard.
00:26:21What's tough about it was, you had to bring your bombs back.
00:26:25You couldn't drop them.
00:26:27When you reached a target, you found it closed over by weather.
00:26:32That's an order when you're flying over France.
00:26:35No indiscriminate bombing.
00:26:38Just German installations.
00:26:39Colonel Milton, who led the raid, is a tired, sick guy this day.
00:27:09And nobody blames him.
00:27:11He had to fight his way three hours in, three hours out.
00:27:16Under constant attack by over 200 Messerschmitts and Falk Wolves.
00:27:21He lost men.
00:27:24He lost ships.
00:27:26And couldn't strike his blow.
00:27:29That's rough.
00:27:30Here's Peter Provenzale.
00:27:35Remember him?
00:27:36Arch's navigator.
00:27:38Today, he got a 20 millimeter through the lake.
00:27:41Control cable shot him, too.
00:27:56But some wounded gunner wouldn't quit.
00:27:58He tied them together.
00:27:59And there.
00:28:12Both waste gunners, huh?
00:28:14The docks are working on them now.
00:28:16One's pretty bad.
00:28:17People kept moving on.
00:28:30Let go.
00:28:31Check them out.
00:28:34Check the blue line.
00:28:42Check the blue line.
00:28:44Check them out.
00:28:45Easy now, you guys. It's Bob Wallace, co-pilot.
00:28:49Slammed one through the cockpit, tore in the wallet below his knee.
00:29:09Bulletproof glass. Well, Sergeant? Guess you live right.
00:29:13Yes, the bombardiers with their first aid kits had plenty of work today, crawling back through the bomb bays trying to keep a steady hand in the rough going.
00:29:23Many of your pals left you that day.
00:29:29Many of your pals left you that day.
00:29:33Many of your pals left you that day.
00:29:43Many of your pals left you that day.
00:29:45Many of your pals left you that day.
00:29:47Many of your pals left you that day.
00:29:53All along the ries.
00:30:07All along the rain
00:30:21Worthy, dear, and an anglo-flake
00:30:30Worth seldom is heard a discouraging word
00:30:39And the skies are not cloudy all day
00:30:48All along the rain
00:30:56Worthy, dear, and an anglo-flake
00:31:05Bring it up, you guys. There's another loading.
00:31:12But if you happen to catch one in the wrong place,
00:31:15they've got a pretty nice repair shop.
00:31:21Ever see a sergeant flip a tulip in a lieutenant's face?
00:31:25Well, you just did.
00:31:32Yeah, while the gang at the base carries on,
00:31:35you can take it easy for a while.
00:31:46How's the body, Sarge?
00:31:48Nice, fat body, hmm?
00:31:50This one's been stretched a little.
00:31:55We drop in on Lieutenant Bob Wallace
00:31:57to see how he's doing.
00:32:00How are you feeling?
00:32:01Great. I'll be out of here in a couple of weeks.
00:32:03Hello, Mr. O'Neill. It's Captain Gable.
00:32:05How do you do, Captain Gable?
00:32:06How do you do, Mr. O'Neill?
00:32:07Wally, I never got a chance to ask you.
00:32:09Tell me just what happened when you got hit.
00:32:12Well, we'd left the target and we were on our way home.
00:32:15We got close and we had our guns thrown away.
00:32:17And a couple of FWs snuck up on us and gave us a good burst.
00:32:20Oh, I see.
00:32:21You had your guns thrown away, eh?
00:32:23That's right.
00:32:23That was a little early, wasn't it?
00:32:24It certainly was.
00:32:25It's not a very good idea to relax over here
00:32:28until you get back to your own base.
00:32:29Is that right?
00:32:29That's right.
00:32:30Well, go ahead.
00:32:31Then what happened?
00:32:32Well, after I got hit,
00:32:34I climbed down out of the pilot's compartment
00:32:36and got the top turret gunner
00:32:38to help me down in the bomb bay.
00:32:40He gave me some first aid,
00:32:41put the turn cut on my leg,
00:32:43and took a good job of it.
00:32:44Well, that's fine.
00:32:45I guess you think it's a good idea
00:32:47for these combat crews
00:32:48to have first aid training then,
00:32:49is that right?
00:32:49I sure do.
00:32:50Yes.
00:32:51So, Wally, what do you think of the B-17s?
00:32:54Your instruments, your guns,
00:32:56and all the rest of the equipment
00:32:57they're giving you to fight this war with?
00:32:58The best equipment in the world.
00:32:59That's good.
00:33:00Say, I hear you've got your Purple Heart, too.
00:33:02Yes, Colonel Kendall was in the other day
00:33:04and gave it to me.
00:33:05I was more nervous
00:33:06than when those FWs were dining on it.
00:33:08Well, outside of that,
00:33:09are they treating you all right around here?
00:33:11Did you hear that, Mr. O'Neill?
00:33:13Wally's doing okay.
00:33:16Back at the base,
00:33:17they repair your ships, too.
00:33:18The busiest legs in the outfit
00:33:20belong to Major Ace Aiken,
00:33:22the S-4.
00:33:23This airplane's got a fly,
00:33:25and I'm worried it's going to be ready.
00:33:26Major?
00:33:27I don't know, sir.
00:33:28Well, let's have no ceremony.
00:33:29Let's get the fans turning.
00:33:30Let's get the fans turning.
00:33:33Keep the fans turning.
00:33:35The slogan of the ground crew.
00:33:37They work hard, these boys.
00:33:39They work 90 hours straight without sleep.
00:33:43But your ship is their baby,
00:33:45and she's got to fly.
00:33:50And if you need to repair a few thoughts,
00:33:53Sunday's always a nice day for it,
00:33:55if there's no raid scheduled.
00:34:03Well, you know, Kim,
00:34:04this church was built 900 years ago.
00:34:19Over at the hospital,
00:34:20Father O'Connor celebrates the Mass.
00:34:22The boys receive Holy Communion.
00:34:41Here's Pete Provenzale.
00:34:42He's leaving the hospital tomorrow.
00:34:44Ave Maria.
00:34:55Santa Maria.
00:35:05Next day, Pete's back to work.
00:35:22The outfit's back to work.
00:35:24The 351st is still flying, Adolph.
00:35:27Engine to order.
00:35:42General orders number 93.
00:35:45Mid-quarter date bomber command.
00:35:4611th July, 1943.
00:35:49You can't get out of it, you know.
00:35:51They pin medals on you for this sort of work.
00:35:53It's not so much a thrill for you.
00:35:55It's a big kick and we'll hand the folks back home.
00:35:59The Silver Star.
00:36:00The Distinguished Flying Foss.
00:36:03The Soldier's Medal.
00:36:05Dad and Ma and that certain girl.
00:36:08Still cut out the clippings
00:36:10and drive the neighbors nuts.
00:36:12Bombardier Stevens, the DFC.
00:36:15Because he's been batting a thousand over Germany.
00:36:18And one to Pilot Peters.
00:36:20He had to ditch the channel.
00:36:22But his coolness and courage saved his crew.
00:36:23Bill Howells gets two clusters on his air medal.
00:36:29For straight shooting.
00:36:31DFC to Tim Touchett.
00:36:34A folk wolf and a mountain lion?
00:36:36No difference, he says.
00:36:39Control wires were shot in two.
00:36:41So the DFC to Sergeant Del Conte,
00:36:43who tied them together.
00:36:45His hands punctured with flat.
00:36:46A Silver Star finds himself next to Provenzali's Purple Heart.
00:36:52He refused first aid till the Jerry Fighters quit.
00:36:55And stuck to his gun.
00:36:58The day the group led the wing over Schweinfurt,
00:37:01Colonel Hatcher was Air Commander.
00:37:03To him, the Silver Star.
00:37:05And the DFC to Kenny Hull.
00:37:12Colonel Gross is smiling
00:37:14because Kenneth was having a Coke at the PX
00:37:16with his name was called.
00:37:17Are you forgetting your five confirmed Jerry sergeants?
00:37:21We're not.
00:37:22And they don't forget you
00:37:23when you're a little battle-weary
00:37:24and need a rest.
00:37:26At a very gay seaside community,
00:37:28a world-famous resort hotel
00:37:29has been converted for your pleasure
00:37:31by the Red Cross.
00:37:34A great place here.
00:37:36Sleep, eat, or what have you.
00:37:42Hey!
00:37:49Not on your line, Clark.
00:37:50None of that here.
00:37:51Oh, but look, just a few shots.
00:37:53Oh, we're here for a rest.
00:37:55Right, you guys?
00:37:56Right.
00:37:56All right, then, how's this?
00:37:57I'll follow him around with a silent camera for one day.
00:38:00Don't have to say a word.
00:38:00Good deal?
00:38:02Good deal.
00:38:04English Surrey with a fringe on top.
00:38:07Hmm, nice fringe.
00:38:12Carry you to the old swimming hole.
00:38:30Now let's see what the boys back at the base are doing.
00:38:43Why, they're getting a few laughs, too.
00:38:56We'll let the man who's handing them out
00:38:58tell you about it.
00:38:59Hello, everybody.
00:39:00This is Bob somewhere in good old Jolly Hope
00:39:02laying a few eggs for the boys
00:39:04that really know how to lay them.
00:39:06Yes, sir.
00:39:07This is one of the happier cow pastors
00:39:08that we work in over there in England.
00:39:10And look who's dancing.
00:39:12You know, I used to dance with Fred Astaire.
00:39:14But we couldn't get girls.
00:39:17And right here you see Jack Pepper,
00:39:19who's here through the courtesy of his draft board.
00:39:22The picture's a little dark, I understand.
00:39:24But after we were there a couple of weeks,
00:39:26we got a little braver
00:39:26and we started to work with the lights on.
00:39:28This is really a great, great crowd out there tonight.
00:39:32And I understand Rhett Butler
00:39:33is on the fringe of the crowd.
00:39:36They tell me that they stopped him
00:39:38from flying in those B-17s.
00:39:40They claimed his ears held a plane back.
00:39:42Nice little scene.
00:39:43Joe Pepper trying to get his expense money.
00:39:46Look at that mob.
00:39:47You should have heard him cheer
00:39:48when Francis Langford walked out
00:39:49and when Tony Romano played the guitar.
00:39:52Yes, sir.
00:39:52You'll never know how this bunch of boys
00:39:54picked up our morale.
00:39:55But again, the weather breaks over the continent
00:39:59and the handwriting on the wall spreads your story.
00:40:02You're into the third panel now.
00:40:05You've been out eight days in a row
00:40:06and done a doubleheader over France on the 9th.
00:40:09This man's air force is piling it on.
00:40:12New combat wings have been added.
00:40:14New air divisions formed.
00:40:16So you're not very surprised
00:40:17when General Ager comes that day.
00:40:19Nothing big is done.
00:40:21He goes into the briefing room
00:40:23to confer with the old man and his staff.
00:40:25They call in the squadron commanders.
00:40:27Even the flight commanders.
00:40:30What did he tell them?
00:40:31Your four squadron COs.
00:40:33They know, but don't talk.
00:40:35Just grin at them with excitement.
00:40:38It's something big, all right,
00:40:40because the bomb dumps have been getting
00:40:41plenty of heavy stuff lately.
00:40:43And a loading order came through this afternoon.
00:40:45Stand by.
00:40:47More than that, wing racks.
00:40:49We're really going to pile it on.
00:41:06And that night, as always,
00:41:08when you know a real dilly is coming up,
00:41:10you're a little restless.
00:41:12Out in the dispersals,
00:41:13you hear them winding up those edges.
00:41:29That's all right, ground crew.
00:41:31Make them sing.
00:41:33Make them sing good.
00:41:34All right, you guys.
00:41:54Breakfast at three, briefing at four.
00:41:56Okay, man.
00:42:05For security's sake,
00:42:06anyone know what the target is for today?
00:42:09The station's there.
00:42:10Russell.
00:42:11Harris.
00:42:12How's the...
00:42:13All right, sir.
00:42:14Mr. Frequency, do you do it?
00:42:23This group,
00:42:24the longest penetration
00:42:25for this group
00:42:27has got an A-plus target over here
00:42:32that we've got together with it.
00:42:36Okay, gentlemen.
00:42:37Stations are at 5.05.
00:42:39Start engines at 6.05.
00:42:41Taxi at 6.15.
00:42:43Takeoff 6.30.
00:42:44Got it?
00:42:45That's all.
00:42:48Okay, man.
00:42:49Let's go get this, Terry,
00:42:50and we'll take the jet.
00:42:51Take it, man.
00:43:14I let's go get this, Terry.
00:43:19Take it, man.
00:43:20I can't take it.
00:43:21I can't do it, see you, Terry.
00:43:23Take it.
00:43:24Hold it, Josh.
00:43:24Make it up.
00:43:25Come be, hey, honey.
00:43:25Let's go get this.
00:43:26Don't cut this.
00:43:27Take it to Pat.
00:43:27Here is a cook-wise.
00:43:29Take it away.
00:43:29Take it away.
00:43:30Take it away.
00:43:30That's all.
00:43:32Attaching it.
00:43:32Take it, Stan.
00:43:33Take it away.
00:43:34Take it, guys.
00:43:35Thank you, Alex.
00:43:36Take it away.
00:43:37Tell us to...
00:43:37Break it away.
00:43:38Have it.
00:43:38�table ones.
00:43:40Have it.
00:43:40Hey.
00:43:41THE Biot Polka.
00:44:1210,000 feet, low on oxygen.
00:44:33Check in your station.
00:44:42At the designated splisher point, still over friendly territory, rendezvous with other
00:44:50groups.
00:44:51Your combat wing banks into position.
00:44:54Then wing after wing, as far as the eye can be lead, the attack forms.
00:44:59It heads for its assigned targets 500 miles away.
00:45:04Up until this moment, your fighter escort is still on the ground, guarding its limited
00:45:08fuel capacity.
00:45:10Now flight control gives a signal to the Thunderboats.
00:45:13They climb upstairs to overtake you.
00:45:15The Thunderboats
00:45:32Fighters, three o'clock low.
00:45:58Fighters, three o'clock low.
00:46:00Watch it. That should be our escort.
00:46:02You're right, sir. 47s.
00:46:16Pilot to crew. Pilot to crew.
00:46:19Over enemy coast.
00:46:21On the ball, you guys.
00:46:28Hey, get a load of that slag.
00:46:30Can't they do it any higher than that?
00:46:32Where do you want it, in the bomb bay?
00:46:34Why don't you lean out and smell it?
00:46:36That's right, you guys. Laugh it off.
00:46:38Right now, a bum joke goes better than two fingers of rye.
00:46:43Around three hours out, Orange looks at his watch.
00:46:47He knows it's time for the fighter escort to turn back.
00:46:50From all over the ship, you watch them leave.
00:46:56You're really on the ball now.
00:46:58Because you know that enemy fighters will appear any minute.
00:47:01They know exactly where you are.
00:47:03They've been watching the stratosphere condense off your wingtips.
00:47:06Giving you away at long trails of magnificent treachery.
00:47:10Okay, here they are.
00:47:23Nine o'clock high, enemy fighters.
00:47:27Same thing at three o'clock.
00:47:29Yes, at least those vapor trails work both ways.
00:47:32Arch watches the enemy formations as they parallel your course.
00:47:36Seems obvious.
00:47:38They're staying out of range.
00:47:39Going out ahead to turn in for a frontal attack?
00:47:42High.
00:47:43All turrets swing about to help guard the rear.
00:47:45Top turrets hunt the sky above in all directions.
00:47:49There's some more out there.
00:47:50Keep your eyes peeled.
00:47:53Now it comes.
00:47:54The enemy pours in at you from every point on the dial.
00:47:57Six o'clock, level to more.
00:48:20Five.
00:48:21Watch it.
00:48:22Get that one at 3.
00:48:4211 o'clock.
00:48:44Hi.
00:48:529 o'clock, level.
00:49:06No, he's going low.
00:49:09Here he comes up.
00:49:16He got the colonel's wingman.
00:49:18Smoking on number 4.
00:49:22He's going out.
00:49:23And down.
00:49:25Check the chute, you guys.
00:49:32One chute.
00:49:33Out of the tail.
00:49:34Two out of the waist.
00:49:36The other two boys out of the nose.
00:49:38There's two more.
00:49:39Pilot to tail.
00:49:40Pilot to tail.
00:49:42Let me know how they're doing back there.
00:49:43Roger.
00:49:44Fighter, 6 o'clock.
00:49:46Coming through.
00:49:5211 o'clock.
00:49:55Close.
00:50:09Five o'clock.
00:50:10Five.
00:50:16He got the one out of the high squadron.
00:50:19Yep.
00:50:19No chance there.
00:50:20No one 90s.
00:50:32Hi.
00:50:37Somebody got one of them on the button.
00:50:39That jury found a bailout.
00:50:40He's not walking away from it.
00:50:41No.
00:50:42Still laid barreled in at you.
00:51:01A little short on the mark.
00:51:03Plenty long on guts to this enemy.
00:51:04Another 17 hit.
00:51:12And again, you have to close the gap in the formation.
00:51:14And again, and again, they come.
00:51:3012 o'clock high.
00:51:324 o'clock level.
00:51:33Out of the sun.
00:51:34And up from the ground.
00:51:35More coming through.
00:51:565 o'clock.
00:51:575 o'clock.
00:51:57You're crossing another flak area.
00:52:08It's heavier this time.
00:52:10So flak and thick you can almost hear it.
00:52:12And it's more effective.
00:52:19Shorty's been heading to the number four.
00:52:21Cover him all you can, everybody.
00:52:221 o'clock.
00:52:221 o'clock.
00:52:35Pilot to left waist.
00:52:37Pilot to left waist.
00:52:38There's another one working shorty over.
00:52:40Can you help him?
00:52:41No can do, sir.
00:52:42Out of range.
00:52:49Beginning of smoke screens announces they approach to the target.
00:52:52The enemy's been caught off guard.
00:52:55He's trying to cover up.
00:52:56Too late.
00:52:58In desperation, through his own flak, the final Hun fighter makes a pass of the low squadron.
00:53:06He's driven off.
00:53:07But still...
00:53:16There's a platter of luck at that ship.
00:53:18Flank, I think.
00:53:22There it is.
00:53:32Flare out of the lead ship.
00:53:34Signal for the bomb, Ron.
00:53:35This is your attack.
00:53:40All right, Steve.
00:53:42We're on the IP.
00:53:43She's yours.
00:53:44I got her.
00:53:44Bobby, door is open.
00:53:54Bobby, door is open.
00:53:58Bobby, door is open.
00:53:59Make a good run now, Steve.
00:54:17I'm on it.
00:54:18Yes, make it count, bombardiers.
00:54:20They build these ships around you.
00:54:22Bombs away.
00:54:23The lead group picks out his MPI in the dock area.
00:54:46Let's go with the heavy stuff and the big incendiaries.
00:54:49The high group heads for the industrial section and hands out the same medicine.
00:54:52The low group turns for the adjacent airdrome.
00:55:16It blasts the field, the hangers, and repair shops with hundreds of deadly anti-personnel bombs.
00:55:22Nice pattern, bombardier.
00:55:40Good deal.
00:55:41You can't hear what's going on down there, five miles below you.
00:55:50But marshaling yards and chemical tanks, ships and warehouses, spare engines and ball-bearing factories are disintegrating in molten chaos.
00:55:58It's thunder out of the alleghenies, Adolph.
00:56:14You said Americans were soft and decadent?
00:56:18Well, here's a red, white, and blue headache that will help you change your mind.
00:56:21As the bomb bay doors close, take a last look at the target area.
00:56:35The smoke from its burning debris rises 16,000 feet into the air.
00:56:41More flat.
00:56:43He ain't still good down there.
00:56:45How about this trip home?
00:56:54Is it going to be rough?
00:56:57Pilot to crew.
00:56:58Pilot to crew.
00:56:59Well, you guys, we're over an hour out.
00:57:01They haven't come back at us yet.
00:57:02Looks like we're lucky this trip.
00:57:04Enemy fighters.
00:57:0511 o'clock high.
00:57:06Another one o'clock high.
00:57:31Coming level to three.
00:57:33Okay.
00:57:364MW is 8 o'clock high.
00:57:42They don't want it.
00:57:47M.A., 110.
00:57:48One o'clock high.
00:58:01M.A. is 2 o'clock.
00:58:06I got him.
00:58:10I'll tell you, Jim.
00:58:14He's bailing out, either.
00:58:19Another 110 at 10 o'clock.
00:58:22He's yours, Kim.
00:58:22There he goes.
00:58:33He has my pigeon.
00:58:34Stoffel commanders throw their pilots at the formation with suicide orders.
00:58:40That's what they get.
00:58:42The formation is tighter than ever.
00:58:44You're not sparing ammunition.
00:58:46You're knocking them down like ballets.
00:58:48One more.
00:58:49One more.
00:58:49One more.
00:58:52And another.
00:59:19He's through.
00:59:19Here's one right behind him, Steve.
00:59:38Another.
00:59:39Two in a row for the boys up forward.
00:59:49That's mine.
00:59:55You see him, Kent?
00:59:56Sure do.
00:59:57I'll confirm him, all right.
01:00:03Get this 110.
01:00:08Pull her up, Mars.
01:00:09Pull her up.
01:00:09The F.W., 3 o'clock.
01:00:20Take time, Joe.
01:00:22Pull your fire on that one, Danny.
01:00:23That's a spit on his tail.
01:00:25Yeah, a fire-to-covered gun here.
01:00:29That a poor spit.
01:00:30Gee.
01:00:31I feel it, Jerry.
01:00:32It's over to this, pal.
01:00:33Look at that spit right up down.
01:00:35For you, sweetheart.
01:00:36Good night, sweetheart.
01:00:38Till we be tomorrow.
01:00:42Good night, sweetheart.
01:00:46Sleep will be in sorrow.
01:00:58Your shadow on the undercast.
01:01:00The pilot's rainbow.
01:01:01Missions end, but not the end of the battle.
01:01:09Fighting men from Maine to California still have a long, tough rainbow to travel.
01:01:15But they're looking the enemy right between his eyes.
01:01:18They're fighting him the American way.
01:01:21Their American way of life.
01:01:24Enemy of America, look at these men.
01:01:26They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:30They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:30They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:31They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:32They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:33They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:34They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:35They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:36They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:37They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:38They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:39They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:40They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:41They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:42They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:43They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:44They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:45They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:46They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:47They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:48They're not going to lose, brother.
01:01:49They're not going to lose, brother.