- Title: V-2372
- Summary: THUNDERBOLT: COLOR WWII FOOTAGE AS DIRECTED BY WILLIAM WYLER & JOHN STURGES. INTRODUCTION BY ACTOR JIMMY STEWART & NARRATED BY COMMANDING GENERAL CARL SPOTZ. DOCUMENTARY ON THE P-47 THUNDERBOLT FIGHTER BOMBER & ITS USE IN MISSIONS OVER EUROPE & PACIFIC THEATRE DURING WWII. USING PLANE-MOUNTED CAMERAS FLY WITH BOMBER PILOTS DURING "OPERATION STRANGLE" TO BOMB BRIDGES, STRAFE ENEMY SUPPLY TRAINS & BLAST MUNITIONS STOREHOUSES. SEE ITS ROLE IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN; BREAKING THE STRANGLEHOLD GERMAN TROOPS HAD ON ALLIED FORCES AT ANZIO AND CASSINO.
- Description:01:00:03 - CU AIR FORCE ARM PATCH INSIGNIA. 01:00:03 - PAN TO CAMERAS MOUNTED BEHIND PILOT SEATED IN P-47. 01:00:08 - CU CAMERAS UNDER WING, IN THE WHEEL WELL, IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL 01:01:13 - ACTOR JIMMY STEWART SITS AT DESK. READS TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL SPOTZ 01:01:56 - ITALY. AERIAL ITALIAN VILLAGES: PEOPLE RIDING DONKEYS, CARRYING WASH ON THEIR HEADS, RIDING CARTS. BOMBED-OUT STRUCTURES, RUBBLE 01:02:44 - MOTHER WITH CHILD SEATED AT ROAD'S EDGE. CHILD PLAYING IN RUBBLE COMES UPON DECAYED BODY 01:03:02 - AERIAL VIEW OF REMOTE ITALY AS SEEN BY PILOT. 01:03:14 - AERIAL PAN MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE. 01:04:19 - VARIOUS AERIALS OF DESTROYED RAILROAD YARDS & ROADS IN ITALY. MOUNTAIN VILLAGES 01:04:45 - MAP OF ITALY WITH ISLAND OF CORSICA JUST NORTH OF SARDINIA 01:04:59 - AERIAL VIEW FRENCH-OWNED RUGGED, PRIMITIVE ISLAND OF CORSICA 01:05:09 - SMALL CONCRETE BUILDING, "BAR NAPOLEON". 01:05:14 - VARIOUS VILLAGE STREET SCENES OF CORSICA. CROSSES MARK GRAVES OF GERMANS LEFT BY WAYSIDE WHERE THEY FELL WHEN FRENCH LIBERATED CORSICA IN 1943. 01:05:34 - GI CLIMBS WATCH TOWER NEAR ALTO AIR BASE. 01:05:39 - GROUND CREW TURN AIRPLANE PROPS BY HAND TO LOOSEN IT BEFORE MISSION. TRACTOR PULLS RACKS OF BOMBS. CREWMEN PREPARE PLANES. 01:05:49 - PILOT ASLEEP IN BED IN TENT AWAKENS & GETS DRESSED. 01:06:27 - CU GI CHECKS FOR PIMPLES ON HIS FACE WITH SMALL HAND- HELD MIRROR. 01:06:32 - GI FILLS HELMET WITH WATER FROM CAN BEFORE USING IT TO WASH HIMSELF. 01:06:37 - GI OUTSIDE TENT PUTS ON HIS PANTS. 01:06:42 - CU GI WASHES FACE FROM HELMET. 01:06:47 - SHIRTLESS GI COMBS HAIR. 01:06:52 - CU GI SHAVING. OTHERS WIPING FACE, COMBING HAIR. 01:07:03 - MONTAGE SHIRTLESS GIS BRUSHING TEETH OUTSIDE TENTS. 01:07:08 - CU SHIRTLESS 22 YEAR OLD MAJOR "SPANKY" MANDA, SQUADRON OPERATIONS OFFICER, VIGOROUSLY BRUSHES TEETH. 01:07:39 - SHIRTLESS FLIGHT LEADER CAPTAIN HOWARD HICKCOCK COMBS HAIR AT MAKESHIFT MIRROR 01:07:59 - CU SHIRTLESS LT. COLONEL GILBERT O. WATT OPENS BACK OF ITALIAN GENERAL'S TRAILER. GRABS TIPPED-OVER BOTTLE OF WATER ON ROOF OF TRAILER. REMOVES CAP & STICKS HIS HEAD UNDER A STREAM OF WATER FOR QUICK WAKE UP. 01:08:30 - AERIAL VIEW ALTO AIRBASE 01:08:35 - AERIAL ZOOM IN RUNWAY. 01:08:40 - TWO GIS IN HIGH WATCH TOWER. 01:08:45 - AMERICAN & FRENCH FLAGS FLY OVER BASE. 01:09:10 - CU GROUP COMMANDER LT. COL. ARCHIE J. KNIGHT, WITH PIPE IN MOUTH 01:09:15 - PILOTS WALK INTO BRIEFING TENT. PICK UP INSTRUCTION KITS & ENEMY MONEY 01:09:20 - CU SERIOUS FACED PILOTS LISTEN TO BRIEFING 01:10:31 - MAP SHOWS WHERE ALLIED FORCES, INCLUDING ANZIO BEACHHEAD & CASSINO, WERE STOPPED FOR FIVE MONTHS ALONG THE "GUSTAV LINE". 01:10:39 - AERIAL VIEW OF ABBEY ON MOUNT CASSINO WHERE BOMBING DIDN'T WORK. 01:11:20 - LT GENERAL HARRIS B. ACKER CLIMBING INTO COCKPIT OF PLANE 01:12:11 - ANIMATED DRAWING OF NOOSE TIGHTENING AROUND BOOT OF ITALY. ANIMATED DRAWINGS SHOW MANY RAILROAD LINES IN ITALY AS WELL AS RIVERS WITH HUNDREDS OF MAJOR BRIDGES. 01:12:34 - AERIAL VIEW BRIDGES IN ITALY, SOME BOMBED OUT 01:12:39 - VARIOUS SCENES P-47 THUNDERBOLT. 01:13:12 - VARIOUS SCENES P-47 SQUADRON LINED UP AT RUNWAY 01:13:17 - GROUND CREW WASHES WINDOW ON P-47. OTHERS LOOK OVER PLANES TO PREPARE THEM FOR FLIGHT. 01:14:09 - PILOT CARRIES PARACHUTE & GEAR TO PLANE. CLIMBS INTO COCKPIT WITH ASSISTANT OF GROUND CREWMAN. 01:14:38 - GIL WYMAN WHO FLIPS HIS INTO COCKPIT BEFORE CLIMBING ONTO PLANE WITH GEAR 01:14:43 - PILOT MAJOR RICHARD HUNTSINGER HANDS HIS PARACHUTE & GEAR TO CREWMAN ON WING BEFORE CLIMBING UP & INTO COCKPIT. PLANE HAS WHEEL EMBLEM ON RUDDER. 01:14:59 - CU VARIOUS SCENES PILOTS IN COCKPITS TALKING TO THEIR CREW CHIEFS 01:15:09 - PILOT DONS HIS PILOT HAT WITH GOGGLES 01:15:14 - PILOTS & CREW CHIEFS ARE SILENT FOR FIVE MINUTES. RELAX, SETTLE DOWN, & COLLECT THEIR THOUGHTS BEFORE STARTING ENGINES. 01:15:29 - CU SERIOUS FACED PILOT IN DEEP THOUGHT 01:16:28 - CU PROPELLOR REVS UP. ENGINE SPUTTERS 01:16:33 - CU LOGO ON COWLING. 01:16:37 - CU SPINNING PROP. 01:16:42 - PILOT HANDS CREW CHIEF HALF-FINISHED CIGAR. CREW CHIEF LOOKS AT CIGAR BEFUDDLED. 01:16:53 - LONG LINE OF P-47 THUNDERBOLTS SIDE BY SIDE WITH ENGINES REVVING UP. PREPARE TO TAKE OFF. 01:16:58 - CU BELLY TANKS, ROCKETS & MACHINE GUNS ON WINGS 01:17:21 - COMMANDER ON PHONE GIVES PERMISSION FOR TAKE OFF. 01:17:26 - TWO P-47 PLANES TAXI ON RUNWAY 01:17:31 - PILOT POV OF SPEEDING RUNWAY POV PILOT. 01:17:59 - ENTIRE SQUADRON AIRBORNE. HORSE IN PASTURE AS P-47s FLY OVERHEAD AFTER TAKE-OFF. 01:19:49 - AERIAL VIEW SQUADRON FLYING OVER COAST OF CORSICA & THEN OUT TO SEA. 01:19:54 - POV PLANE FLYING ABOVE. 01:19:59 - AERIAL VIEW GROUP OF FOUR P-47s FLYING SIDE BY SIDE OVER SEA ABOVE VIEW FAST MOVING SEA 01:20:09 - AERIAL VIEW LANDMARK CASTLE ON HILL AS SQUADRON ARRIVES IN ITALY 01:20:42 - AERIAL VIEW MOUNTAINS AS SEEN BY WING CAMERAS. 01:20:47 - VARIOUS ANGLE VIEWS PLANES FLYING FORMATION IN GROUPS OF FOUR, WING TIP TO WING TIP. 01:20:53 - FRONT VIEW FORMATION TOWARDS CAMERA, MOUNTAINS IN BKGD. 01:20:59 - ALL PLANES FOLLOW SQUADRON LEADER. PLANES CLIMB INTO CLOUDS. 01:21:59 - AERIAL VIEW OF GROUND LOOKING FOR TARGET. 01:22:23 - FORMATION SPREADS OUT. 01:22:28 - AERIAL VIEW ROAD BELOW IS CHECKPOINT TO TARGET. 01:22:57 - AERIAL VIEW TARGET BRIDGE. 01:23:02 - PLANES GO INTO "LOOSE STRING FORMATION": ONE PLANE BEHIND THE OTHER. PLANE PEELS OFF & DIVES TO ATTACK WHILE REST OF SQUADRON FOLLOWS. 01:23:57 - PLANE CAMERAS SHOW VARIOUS DIRECT HITS & MISSES BY DIVING PLANES. 01:24:02 - CU BOMB DROPPING FROM WING. 01:24:07 - CU VIEW PILOT AS HE BLACKS OUT TEMPORARILY FROM THE DIVE. 01:24:49 - AERIAL VIEW OF BRIDGE BEING HIT & MISSED BY BOMBS AS SECTION AFTER SECTION OF SQUADRON ATTACKS. 01:24:54 - AERIAL VIEWS STRAFING OF TARGETS WITH MACHINE GUN FIRE. 01:25:04 - GROUP OF FOUR PLANES PEEL OFF FOR STRAFING ATTACKS AFTER RUNNING OUT OF BOMBS. PLANES PROWL FOR TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY. 01:25:50 - MONTAGE VARIOUS VIEWS HERDS OF CATTLE & HORSES RUNNING AS PLANES FLY LOW. 01:25:55 - CU AERIAL PLANE FOLLOWS RAILROAD TRACKS BELOW 01:25:59 - VARIOUS SCENES TRAIN BEING STRAFED AS SEEN THROUGH WING CAMERAS. 01:26:51 - TANK CARS & BOX CARS BIENG STRAFED CAUSES HUGE SECONDARY EXPLOSION ON TRAIN. 01:26:56 - AERIAL STRAFING OF LIGHTHOUSE & RADIO STATION. 01:28:13 - AERIAL STRAFING OF COUNTRYSIDE ANYTHING THAT MOVES. VO PILOT TALKING TO HIMSELF AS HE FIRES AT VEHICLES PARKED AT FARM HOUSES & OTHER BUILDINGS IN FARM AREA. 01:28:39 - VEHICLE EXPLODES AFTER BEING HIT. 01:29:07 - SQUADRON TAKING OFF AT ALTO AIRFIELD 01:29:24 - SCENES OF PILOTS LEISURE: GROUP OF PILOTS CROWD INTO LARGE JEEP FOR TRIP T TOWN. 01:29:29 - GROUP PLAYING DICE. 01:29:34 - CU GI TAKING SHOWER OUTSIDE TENT. 01:29:39 - GI WASHING CLOTHES OUTSIDE TENT. CLOTHES LINE FULL OF LAUNDRY DRYING IN SUN. 01:29:44 - PAN PUMP WITH HOSE LEADING TO HOT WATER CAN & 50 GALLON DRUM COMBINE TO MAKE HOMEMADE WASHING MACHINE 01:30:24 - SHIRTLESS GI BARBER CUTS HAIR OF GI IN OUTDOOR BARBER SHOP. 01:30:29 - CU SIGN "JERRY'S CLIP JOINT" 01:30:34 - GI SITS IN SHADE READING NEWSPAPER. 01:30:36 - CROWD OF GIS HITCH RIDE ON HUGH FLAT BED ARMY TRUCK. 01:30:39 - GI WATCHES BUDDY PRACTICE WITH YO-YOs. 01:30:44 - CU GI DOING FANCY TRICKS WITH YO-YO TOWARDS CAMERA. 01:30:49 - GI WITH CIGAR IN MOUTH BOBS HEAD AS HE TRIES TO WATCH EACH YO-YO IN MOTION. 01:30:58 - VARIOUS VIEWS GIS BUILDING SMALL SHACKS FOR LIVING. 01:31:19 - LARGE HOUSE ALONG BEACH AS BEACH CLUB. 01:31:31 - GIS ENJOY SWIMMING & WATER SPORTS, FROLIC ON HOMEMADE RAFT. GIS RUN INTO SURF CARRYING RUBBER RAFTS. 01:31:36 - CU TWO GIS PLACE SMALL DOGS IN WATER & WATCH THEM RACE FOR SHORE. 01:31:41 - GIS ENJOYS RIDING IN SMALL SAILBOAT MADE FROM SING TANK WITH PARACHUTES FOR SAILS. 01:32:51 - DRUNKEN SOLDIERS WITH BEER BOTTLES IN HAND STAGER AROUND IN THE WATER. PILE HANDS FULL OF MUD ON HEAD OF BUDDY. 01:33:16 - GIS PLAY CATCH WITH BASEBALL & GLOVES OUTSIDE "COUNTRY CLUB" BUILDING THEY BUILT. 01:33:21 - CU 2 GIs PLAYING CHECKERS OUTSIDE TENTS. 01:33:26 - TWO LAYING SUNNING AT BEACH. 01:33:31 - CU VARIOUS VIEWS GIS WRITING LETTER HOME, READING NEWSPAPERS, SLEEPING WITH DOG, IN RUBBER RAFT WITH DOG. RELAXING 01:34:12 - GI TENDS TO THREE PUPPIES. 01:34:17 - CU GI WITH PET BLACK BIRD ON SHOULDER, 01:34:39 - VARIOUS VIEWS P-47 SQUADRONS IN FLIGHT: AERIAL VIEW SQUADRON SECTION WITH ONE PLANE MISSING FLYING LOW OVER SEA ON WAY TO HOME BASE. 01:34:59 - CU VIEW PILOT IN COCKPIT. 01:35:29 - AERIAL VIEW SQUADRON FLYING LOW OVER HOME BASE. 01:35:46 - VIEW OF RUNWAY AS SEEN BY PILOT AS HE COMES IN FOR LANDING, FOLLOWED BY OTHERS. 01:35:54 - VIEW SQUADRON PEELING UP TO REDUCE SPEED. CIRCLE FIELD FOR BEFORE LANDING. 01:36:11 - P-47 COMING IN FOR LANDING, FOLLOWED BY OTHERS 01:36:16 - CU LANDING GEAR AS IT HITS GROUND. 01:36:29 - GROUND CREW WATCHING. 01:37:02 - GROUND CREWMAN GESTURES WITH ARMS AS HIS PLANE COMES IN FOR HARD LANDING. 01:37:07 - PLANE LANDING HARD. GROUND CREW SHAKE HEAD AS PILOT IS EMBARRASSED 01:37:14 - COLONEL GETS OUT OF PLANE & CHECKS FLAK HOLES IN RUDDER. 01:37:19 - CU PILOTS HAVING COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS. CHAT ABOUT MISSION. 01:37:52 - ANIMATED MAP SHOWS THAT EVERY ENEMY RAIL LINE WAS HIT LEAVING ONLY THE ROADS FOR SUPPLY TO ENEMY 01:38:15 - MONTAGE VARIOUS SCENES ROADS BEING STRAFED BY P-47 PLANES. POV PLANE-CAMERAS. 01:38:29 - VIEW OF CAR RIDING ON ROAD BEING STRAFED. 01:38:59 - CU FACE OF PILOT AS SEEN BY CAMERA. 01:39:32 - VARIOUS VIEWS FRENCH & AMERICAN SQUADRONS ON WAY TO MISSIONS. POV GROUND. 01:39:57 - GIS WATCH P-47 GO UP IT FLAMES AFTER MISSED LANDING STAY CLEAR OF EXPLODING AMMO. 01:40:02 - BLACK SMOKE & FLAMES RISE FROM PLANE. 01:40:07 - GRAPHIC SCENE OF CHARRED BODY BEING PULLED FROM FLAMES WITH GRAPPLING HOOKS. 01:40:12 - GIS CARRY COVERED BODY ON STRETCHER. 01:41:07 - AERIAL VIEW CAR BEING STRAFED. 01:41:20 - ANIMATED MAP SHOWS ROPE TIGHTENING AROUND ITALY'S MID-SECTION. 01:41:38 - ALLIED JEEPS & TANKS IN ROME. CROWDS WAVING FROM STREETS, BALCONIES. 01:41:54 - VICTORIOUS GIS RIDING IN HORSE & BUGGY WITH GIRLS. GI IN JEEP WEARING TOP HAT. 01:42:09 - TANKS PASS BY DESTROYED ENEMY VEHICLES STREWN ALONG ROADS. PAN VEHICLES 01:42:31 - MONTAGE VARIOUS VIEWS DESTROYED BRIDGES, TRAINS, RAILROAD TRACKS, BUILDINGS 01:43:09 - CU GRAPHIC VIEW DEAD GERMAN SOLDIER. 01:43:53 - CU SMILING GIS HOLD UP GLASSES FOR TOAST. 01:43:58 - GROUP OF GIS. ONE PLAYING ACCORDION WHILE THEY SING "LITTLE BROWN JUG". }G
- Collection: Historic Films
- Producer:Historic Films
- Transmission Date:01/01/1945
- Rights:On request
- Decade: 1940s
- File Name: V-2372