Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In November 2011 Newsletter
Hello World War 2 aircraft fans –
If you're reading this newsletter, we know you honor our veterans throughout the year. Join together with friends and family this Friday and attend your community Veterans or Remembrance Day observance. Tell our heroes how much you appreciate their sacrifices.
You are invited to drop by Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/ to view this month's flight of six classic World War 2 aviation videos streaming over the Web. We've moved on from the ETO to nonstop air action in the Pacific Theater.
As always, all of the videos showing on our web site are for your free viewing pleasure. Follow us on Twitter @ZenosWarbirds!
Now showing "At the Matinee " at Zeno's Drive-In
“The Story of the Black Cat PBYs” Revised edition with restored print. This restoration was particularly satisfying for us. After many hours of archival research, the identities of the previously undisclosed secret PBY base shown in this film and the men who flew from it are revealed for the first time in this exclusive new release. During World War 2 that info was all "Top Secret" and kept from the public. Designed primarily as a reconnaissance and antisubmarine amphibious patrol plane, the big twin engined PBY Catalina's super long range, all weather capability, capacity to lug both bombs and radar, ability to loiter for hours hunting convoys and operate from anywhere in the watery PTO, made it an ideal naval night attack bomber. One of the least known stories of the war in the Pacific, these black painted PBY "VPB" ('Patrol Bombing") squadrons spread destruction and chaos far out of proportion to their small numbers.
“John Ford's Battle of Midway” Digitally restored Academy Award Winner. Directed by four time Oscar Winner John Ford. This stirring documentary was shot by Ford during the intense June 4th Japanese carrier plane attacks on Midway Island and by Navy Combat Cameramen aboard the USS Yorktown during the epic carrier battle, along with color gun camera film of air to air and air to sea combat. Highlights include memorable scenes from the Marine Base on Midway, airfield B-17s leaving to attack the Japanese fleet, patrolling PBYs, action packed Japanese attacks on the Yorktown and Midway, and up close shots of the Yorktown's squadron VF3 and their F4F Wild Cats, including aces John S. "Jimmy' Thach ("The Thach Weave") and Lt. E. Scott McCuskey.
“Mission to Rabaul" Exclusive Digital Audio & Video restoration. This exciting, high impact documentary shows some of the most memorable footage of 5th Air Force B-25G bombers conducting tree top level attacks with machine guns and delayed action bombs to come out of World War 2.The first step in the reduction of the Japanese island fortress of Rabaul was the seizure of a string of Japanese bases along the Northeast coast of New Guinea. The film focuses on the decisive and revolutionary impact of the air component in the strategy, including high & low level attacks, parachute drops, and resupply, accompanied by a magnificent musical score drawn from Holst's "The Planets."
“Saipan Superforts” Exclusive original documentary from Military Arts PicturesThis recently discovered footage shows the 73rd Bomb Wing, based on the island of Saipan in the Marianas, operating against Japan in early 1945. You'll see B-29 pilots & crews on R&R and on mission in their magnificent Superfortresses. The fates of many of the B-29s seen in this picture are documented during the film. Some made the ultimate sacrifice. You'll see a gallery of memorable 73rd Bomb Wing nose art too -- all in living color. "The "maximum effort" take-off scene is an awe inspiring combination of 18 cylinder engine roar and a musical score that's guaranteed to raise goose bumps.
“The Fleet that Came to Stay” In March, 1945, the US Army, Navy and Marines, with the support of the British Pacific Fleet, launched "Operation Iceberg" against the Japanese Island of Okinawa, in the Ryukus, a key stepping stone for the invasion of the Japanese home islands. In response, over the next tree months, the Japanese launched a series of terrifying kamikaze suicide aircraft attacks from land bases only 350 miles away against the screening Allied naval forces. The Japanese flew 1,900 sorties, sinking dozens of Allied ships and killing more than 5,000 U.S. sailors at the cost of 1,465 kamikaze planes. 2,200 other Japanese and 763 U.S. aircraft were also destroyed during the battle. "The Fleet that came to stay" tells the high tension story of the air defense of the landing beaches with some of the most exciting and dramatic air combat footage to come out of World War II.
“The Fighting Lady” We color corrected color this print from the National Archives and it really brings this film to life! "The Fighting Lady" follows the fictional career of an Essex Class aircraft carrier from the Marcus Islands campaign, through Tinian, Truk, the "Mariana's Turkey Shoot" and much more. But don't let the term "fictionalized" miss lead you. All of the footage shown in this fascinating composite documentary is real -- shot by combat cameramen on board ship and in the air, showing actual Navy and Marine pilots and crewmen up close and personal. ("The Fighting Lady was actually the nickname given to the Yorktowns, CV-5 & CV-10.) You'll see dramatic action showing Hellcats, Hell Divers, Corsairs on deck and in the air, including exciting dive bombing, anti-aircraft, and gun camera footage and some amazing walkaway crash landings.
If you haven't stopped by Zeno's Drive-In before, we also show 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films and pilot's manuals on how to fly the F4U, F6F, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-61, TBF/TBM, AT-6/SNJ, B-17, B-24, B-25, A-20, A-26, B-26, B-29, and Stearman N2S. Alert! - don't miss the F-86 & B-58!
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Zeno
Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/ Now on Twitter @ZenosWarbirds
WW2 Videos: Air Action in the Pacific: Carriers, Black Cat PBYs, B-29s, Midway, Rabaul
