Combat America!
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:36 pm
I happened to stumble upon this gem on you tube. Its a 1943 colour film made by Clarke Gable for new USAAF gunners headed to Europe.
Scenes such as the one where he speaks to Gen. Eaker who says "Our gunners are already very good, but if they were just 10% better they would be costing the Germans 100 planes per month more" show just how much damage the US THOUGHT the heavies were doing.
This film (in 8 parts) is set around the 351st bomber group and approximately its first 9 montsh in England. Much of the film is about the life on base and in engalnd and only the last 15 minutes or so concerntrates on cambat over Germany with some good footage.
Clearly this is not an "objective" documentary, considering it was shot mid-war, but very interesting with some great colour archive footage (Albeit of 1943 quality).
If you're interested the first part is located here (with the links to the following parts available from there):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb6aPjjMq2Y
Scenes such as the one where he speaks to Gen. Eaker who says "Our gunners are already very good, but if they were just 10% better they would be costing the Germans 100 planes per month more" show just how much damage the US THOUGHT the heavies were doing.
This film (in 8 parts) is set around the 351st bomber group and approximately its first 9 montsh in England. Much of the film is about the life on base and in engalnd and only the last 15 minutes or so concerntrates on cambat over Germany with some good footage.
Clearly this is not an "objective" documentary, considering it was shot mid-war, but very interesting with some great colour archive footage (Albeit of 1943 quality).
If you're interested the first part is located here (with the links to the following parts available from there):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb6aPjjMq2Y