Just watched a classic on Netflix's streaming download service. John Ford's 1942 documentary on the Battle of Midway is available for instant viewing.
In case anybody isn't aware, masterful director John Ford was on site at Midway before and during the famous battle, working for the US Navy. He developed his footage into a color documentary/propaganda film. It's only 18 minutes long, and it's heavily weighted toward events on the island, but it was cool to see stuff like that hangar burning in real time...blast effects from Japanese ordnance...and some Japanese torpedo planes making their run on US carriers. Some Wildcat action, some nice AA work, and some after battle wreckage. Even a few shots of TBD Devastators on their way to their natural environment (as in, soon to be floating in the drink....)
Of course what we'd love to see - the actual dive runs by the Dauntlesses that did so much damage - didn't get filmed. And there's the unmistakable tendency for using the same footage over and over. But all in all it's a pretty good show, and well worth the time it takes to watch it.
After all, its the real thing.
