Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In December 2004 Newsletter
Hello All --
You are invited to drop by Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In
(
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com) and catch our Holiday Triple Feature of
World War II aviation films for free online video viewing.
* This month "At the Matinee," we're showing a Holiday Triple Feature:
Ramrod to EmdenThe 56th Fighter Group (made up of the 61, 62 & 63 squadrons) was one of the most storied Air Corps units of World War II. Home to aces like David
Schilling (22 kills), Frances "Gabby" Gabreski (28), Robert S. Johnson (27),
Fred Christensen (21.5), Walker Mahurin (21), and CO Hubert "Hub" Zemke
(18), the 56th blazed an early trail across the skies of the ETO in their
massive, but deadly P-47 Thunderbolts. "Ramrod to Emden" is the story of the
Dec 11, 1943 bomber escort mission (aka "a ramrod") to Emden, Germany. As
you'll see in the film, the 56th encountered heavy, determined opposition
from Germans, but it proved to be an exceptionally productive day. With Lt.
Col. Schilling leading 50 planes of the group, they claimed 17-0-5, with two
aircraft lost in a midair collision and no aircraft lost to enemy action.
Allied bomber losses were minimal.
Landing & Re-Spotting Carrier AircraftMajor air battles in the Pacific in World War II often turned on the ability
of each side to quickly launch, land, re-arm & refuel, and then re-launch
their aircraft. This unique film is a rare look (in color) at how US Navy
carrier flight deck crews were trained to quickly land, park, fuel & re-arm
incoming aircraft. As a bonus, you'll see GM FM-1 "Wildcats" and Grumman TBF
"Avengers" up close, handled expertly on the tiny deck of a CVE "jeep"
escort carrier. Built on merchantmen hulls, the 78 jeeps were pressed into
service for a variety of rolls, including anti submarine war in the Atlantic
and covering amphibious landings in the Pacific. Their greatest moment came
on Oct. 35, 1944, in the battle of Samar in the Philippines, when the CVEs
of Task Group 77.4 (Task units "Taffy 1, 2, 4") launched a furious attack on
Adm. Kurita's massive battleship and cruiser led task force and caused it to
retreat. The CVE St Lo was lost and several others were heavily damaged, but the landing at Leyte was successfully protected.
Combat AmericaI picked this film just for the holidays. This warm hearted documentary was
produced, written, directed, and narrated by movie star Clark Gable while he
was on assignment with the 8th Air Force, developing a gunnery training
film. Though it contains plenty of combat footage and doesn't flinch in
showing the high cost of war in the air, in many ways, it's more of a warm
home movie than a hard bitten, wartime "information" film. Gable chronicles
the experiences of the men of the 351 Bombardment Group from the cool early
morning mists of Colorado to the frigid skies over Germany. His affection
and admiration for these men comes through loud and clear. This film is like
a Kodachrome album out of the past, giving us snapshots of life on a front
line air base in 1943. Though he doesn't mention it in the film (and
generally keeps himself in the background) Gable flew combat missions with
the Group until he was ordered to stop by "the brass" He was 42 at the time
and of course, a Hollywood Star. But, he felt he couldn't accurately portray
the air war unless he shared the experiences of the men who fought it . He
did. It shows.
Coming next month: "Report from the Aleutians," Director John Huston's
Academy Award nominated color documentary on the 1942 air campaign against the Japanese in Alaska. Rare footage of early War B-24s & P-38s.
If you haven't stopped by Zeno's Drive-In before, we also feature 1942-45
vintage WWII Army & Navy pilot training films on how to fly the F4U, SB2A,
F6F, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-61, TBF/TBM, AT-6, B-17, B-24, B-25,
A-20, A-26, B-26, B-29, Stearman N2S and more. That's over 13 hours of
rockin' props for free viewing over the internet. See detailed charts,
diagrams, and interior photos from original WWII pilot's manuals too.
Finally, our "Control Tower" page has the largest collection of World War II
Aviation links on the 'net
So drop your flaps & drop in!
That's
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.comCheck six,
Zeno
