Videos

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B-17 Flight Of The 2nd Bomb Group Association (18:52 minutes)

filmed and produced by Todd Weiler

The 2nd BG veterans and their children and grandchildren take a flight over Galveston Island

in the B-17G "Thunder Bird" from the Lone Star Flight Museum

during their 2007 Reunion in Houston, Texas. This video contains on-board footage of the sights

and the sound of four thundering 1,200hp Wright 9-cylinder radials of a B-17G during the engine start-up,

taxi, run-up, take-off, and flight.

Libertatem Defendimus / The Defenders Of Liberty (3:02 minutes)

filmed and produced by Todd Weiler

A collage from the 2007 Reunion of the 2nd Bomb Group Association in Houston.

La Citta' Distrutta - Foggia dal 1943-1945 (21:13 minutes)

courtesy of the 32 Stromo (Bomb Wing) of the Italian Air Force and Linda Gartz

This video has photos and film of Foggia, Italy and the 15th Air Force during WW2. It also shows photos and film of Amendola Air Base during WW2 plus photos and film of the 32 Stormo of the Italian Air Force which has been based at Amendola since WW2. This video is an Italian production. The text is in Italian with narration in English. This video was obtained by Linda Gartz (niece of Lt. Frank Ebner Gartz of the 49th Bomb Sqdn) during her visit to Amendola Air Base in October of 2009. You can read about Linda's "pilgrimage" on the "War Stories" webpage.

A Ball Turret Gunner's Story (2:56 minutes)

courtesy of WTHI-TV and Harold Plunckett

An interview by WTHI-TV of Harold Plunckett, B-17 Ball Turret Gunner, 2nd BG, 49th Bomb Squadron.

One Last Salute to SSgt Marvin Steinford 66 Years Later (2:16 minutes)

courtesy of KCRG-TV and Jeff Tilson

A news video of the military repatriation burial of SSgt Marvin Steinford who was finally brought home to Cedar Rapids, Iowa after being MIA for 66 years. Steinford was a waist gunner of the 429th Bomb Squadron. His B-17 was shot down over Hungary on March 24, 1945 on a bombing mission to Berlin, Germany (the 2nd Bomb Group's longest mission). His daughter is interviewed in this story.

Grey Eagles (8:24 minutes)

courtesy of the Grey Eagles - www.greyeagles.org

An interview of Jim Brooks, P-51 ace of the 31st Fighter Group in Italy, about his experience flying fighter coverage for the heavy bombers of the 15th Air Force during WW2. The video also interviews his children and grandchildren about the importance to them of learning about their father and grandfather's WW2 experience. This is a very well made video by the Grey Eagles organization and is an excellent example of honoring and preserving the story of the veteran WW2 airmen.

Mission Accomplished: The Flying Fortress Story (10:42 minutes)

courtesy of the US Government

This is a vintage WW2 documentary film of the first all-USAAF operational B-17 mission over Europe.

Winning Your Wings (17:33 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF

Lt. Jimmy Stewart is featured in this short 1942 recruiting film encouraging men to enlist in the Army Air Force.

How to Fly the B-17: Flight Operations (28:24 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF and Boeing Aircraft

This is a vintage WW2 training film to familiarize student pilots with the check list, run-up, take-off, flight, and landing of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

The Memphis Belle: A Story Of A Flying Fortress (41:30 minutes)

courtesy of the US War Department

This is a vintage WW2 documentary film of the 25th bombing mission of the B-17 Memphis Belle.

Combat America (61:45 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF

This is a vintage WW2 documentary film of the 351st Bomb Group. The film documents the deployment of forty B-17s from Colorado to England, crew experiences, and combat action over Europe. The film was narrated by Capt Clark Gable who trained as a gunner and was assigned to the 351st BG to produce this documentary.

Target For Today (92:30 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF

This is a vintage WW2 training film that provides an excellent overview of the USAAF strategy and tactical coordination of a B-17 daylight precision bombing mission. This film covers an 8th Air Force B-17 bombing mission from start to finish beginning with weather forecasting and recon intelligence. It then outlines the following steps of target selection, bomb-load optimization, scheduling, navigation planning, liaison between HQ and operational groups, field orders, operational command planning, fighter group coordination, ground crew prep of bombers, flight crew briefing, combat crew preparation, bomber take-off, bomber rendezvous/formation, enemy fighter/flack attacks, bomb-run from IP (initial point) to the target, bombs-away, reformation for return flight, fighter support, return landing, aid to wounded, sea rescue, crew debriefing, damage assessment, and mission reporting.

Flying Fortress (3:39 minutes)

courtesy of the US War Department and www.pastfinder.de

An excerpt of combat action from the vintage US War Department documentary film "The Memphis Belle".

B-17 Down (3:05 minutes)

courtesy of "bomberguy"

A compilation of WW2 film footage of flack and German fighter attacks on B-17s

set to Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries". WARNING - Not for the faint of heart.

Call To Arms - The Lead To WW2 (4:20 minutes)

courtesy of Unknown

An animated newsreel history of the events that led to WW2 and the mobilization of the Allied forces

against the Axis powers.

World War 2 History - European & Mediterranean Theater (5:40 minutes)

a PowerPoint PPS slide show courtesy of the Combat Studies Institute

Please allow a minute for this animated graphical map representation of the combat sequence of WW2

in Europe to download. The following PDF file contains notes for the PPS slide show.

The Beginning - FDR's "Date In Infamy" Speech (2:37minutes)

courtesy of "forquignon" and the Discovery Channel

On December 8, 1941 (the day after the Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor), President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed congress with his famous "December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy" speech.

The End - Japan Signs Surrender (8:36 minutes)

courtesy of United Newsreels

On September 2, 1945, General Douglas McArthur presides over the formal surrender of Japan. The declaration of peace is signed first by the delegation from Japan, followed by representatives from the "warring nations". The formal surrender took place on the Battleship U.S.S. Missouri at Tokyo Bay.

Victory Through Air Power (2:10 minutes)

courtesy of Walt Disney Productions

This is a vintage movie trailer of the 1943 film based on the 1942 book of the same title

by Alexander Seversky that advocated the formation of an independent air force,

the development of long-range bombers, and a commitment to the strategic use of air power.

Out Of The Frying Pan And Into the Firing Line (3:18 minutes)

courtesy of the Conservation Division of the US War Production Board & Walt Disney Productions

A vintage 1942 cartoon film encouraging Americans on the home front to recycle their waste kitchen grease

for the production of glycerin and explosives for the war effort.

Der Fuehrer's Face (7:52 minutes)

courtesy of Walt Disney Productions & RKO Radio Pictures

A vintage 1942 anti-Nazi propaganda cartoon film staring Donald Duck.

The Star Spangled Banner - sung by Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians (1:56 minutes)

courtesy of Movietone News

A vintage Movietone News film shown in American theaters during 1942.

Help keep`em flying. Buy War Bonds NOW !!!

Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer - sung by the Song Spinners (2:27 minutes)

a PowerPoint PPS slide show courtesy of Unknown

Please allow a minute for this slide show of WW2 vintage photos to download.

Awesome Warbird Art of WW2 - by various artists (2:51 minutes)

a PowerPoint PPS slide show courtesy of Unknown

Please allow a minute for this slide show to download.

The artist of each painting of WW2 aircraft is listed on each slide. The music is by George Fenton from the movie soundtrack of "Memphis Belle".

Kate Smith Introduces God Bless America (5:21 minutes)

courtesy of Warner Bros.

This clip is from the 1943 patriotic movie "This Is The Army�. In early 1940, Kate Smith asked Irving Berlin

if he could give her a song that would reignite the spirit of American patriotism and faith. He had a song that he had written in 1917 when he had been in the Army, but had never used it. When she sat at the piano and played it, she realized how good it was. She called Mr. Berlin and told him that she couldn't take this from him for nothing. So, they agreed that any money that would be made off the song would be donated to the Boy Scouts of America.

American Patrol - by the Glenn Miller Orchestra (3:48 minutes)

courtesy of "roadcaptainentertain"

A collage of photos from WW2 plus a speech by President Truman foretelling the atomic bomb drop on Japan.

In The Mood - by the Glenn Miller Orchestra (2:56 minutes)

courtesy of the unknown

A vintage film of the Glenn Miller Orchestra conducted by Tex Beneke.

Moonlight Serenade - by the Glenn Miller Orchestra (3:22 minutes)

courtesy of "jamesdeanfan"

A collage photos in tribute to Glenn Miller.

The US Air Force Blue - sung by the Mitch Miller Singers (3:04 minutes)

courtesy of the USAF

Recorded in 1957.