USAF Story: The Air War Begins 1939-1941
USAF Story: The Air War Begins 1939-1941
Produced in 1947 by the Department of the Air Force, this film regards the war preparations put forth by the USAF, 1939-1941.
USAF Story: The Air War Begins 1939-1941
Germany invades France. Occupation of France. Subjective & objective shots Luftwaffe Stukas flying over bucolic countryside; CU pilot smirking into cam. MSs Panzer tank units advancing. Low angle tilt U shot Eiffel Tower. CU French flag waving in wind, cut to explosion. CU Nazi soldier in Paris. LS/MSs Nazi infantry & cavalry units marching through Paris; MS officer on horseback, saluting; great shot Nazi flag being unfurled over French monument to independence.
USAF Story: The Air War Begins 1939-1941
The Battle of Britain / London Blitz. Map of England. LSs Luftwaffe taking off, in flight. MSs RAF pilots recreating in quarters, playing pool, chess, piano until air raid summons them to duty. MS/CUs RAF communications operators at work. LSs Spitfire & Hurricane fighters in flight, fending off Nazi air advance; two Nazi planes are hit, another crashes into the Channel. MS British soldiers on look-out for air raid. MSs London citizens sleeping, knitting, etc, in subway (london underground) during raid. MSs raid lights probing sky. LS/MSs anti-aircraft ack-ack guns firing at night. LS/MSs burning buildings, London
USAF Story: The Air War Begins 1939-1941
MSs British sailors marching along dock. LSs old US destroyers sailing. Map of areas leased by the US from England to build naval bases. Louisiana and Carolina tactical maneuvers: LS/MSs US Army engineers constructing airfield; MSs landing mats being installed; LS/MSs simulated warfare, planes dropping sacks of flour on M-3 Stuart tanks; good low angle shot of a tank rolling over parapet and just over camera
USAF Story: The Air War Begins 1939-1941
Attack on Pearl Harbor (mix of actual and recreated footage). Aerials of Honolulu. MS group of local children crossing street. LSs 13 unarmed B-17 bombers taking off from Hamilton Field. MSs officers conferring aboard Japanese aircraft carrier; MSs Japanese pilots, one carrying a daito (samurai long sword), getting into torpedo, dive & horizontal bomber planes; MS signal flag being waved on deck; TLSs bombers taking off from deck of carrier. EST shots Pearl Harbor. LSs B-17 bombers in flight; MSs US navy men on ground, looking up. LS/MSs Japanese bombers in flight, attacking Pearl Harbor. LS/MSs brief Navy AF resistance. Actual aftermath footage of Pearl Harbor and neighboring airfields
USAF Story: The Air War Begins 1939-1941
General Henry Hap Arnold in office, speaking to the camera.
USAF Story: The Air War Begins 1939-1941
End credits