WWII aircraft video set - cheap...

[Kratzer]

My wife found a 5 video set in the bargain rack at Barnes & Noble for $13.  It's called 'WWII in Color - World War II Flying Fighters'.  Looks like they are all 1940s programs.  

The individual videos are:
Report from the Aleutians - um... about the Aleutians, I'd wager.
The Fighting Lady - Aircraft carrier... a 1944 'newsdrama'
Hook Down, Wheels Down - Aircraft carriers in the Pacific... Coral Sea and Midway, maybe?
Combat America - B17 Flying Fortresses of the 351st BG(H).
Thunderbolt - this one looks most interesting to me.  P47s in Italy in 'Operation Strangle'

Probably worth taking a look for if you are in a B&N anytime soon...  it was just in with the bargain books.

[gofaster]

Report from the Aleutians -  haven't seen it (yet)

The Fighting Lady - its about the USS Yorktown (the 2nd one) on a typical combat cruise in the south Pacific.  Lots of great color footage of the naval air war, kamikaze attacks, beach invasions, mission briefings, air-to-air gun camera films.  Lots of good stuff to get you ready for a naval TOD.

Hook Down, Wheels Down -  haven't seen it (yet)

Combat America - B17 Flying Fortresses of the 351st BG(H) - If this is the one I think it is, then this is hosted by Captain Clark Gable (yep, the actor).  Color footage of a bombstrike over Germany.  Good stuff. You'll want to watch it again.

Thunderbolt - definately worth the money you paid, even if you don't like the rest of them.  This is squadron life in Italy, from the booze fests in the Officer's Club (with custom lyrics sung to the tune of "Little brown jug how I love thee!") to the make shift showers, to the gritty reality of a ground strike against bridges, houses, trains, what have you.  Unlike typical gun camera footage, the producers mounted cameras in the cockpit, facing the pilot, in the wheel wells, and other spots for some great angles.  All in glorious color.

[Kratzer]

I watched Thunderbolt - pretty interesting, though it seemed to just do kind of a single 'day in the life', and I could've gone for more.  Had some good footage of jabo attacks on a bridge, and then strafing attacks on trucks, etc.

Combat America is next!

[gofaster]

I got my copy of "The Fighting Lady" at the USS Yorktown herself at Charleston, South Carolina.  The version sold there includes follow-up footage about some of the people named in the wartime documentary and what became of them after the film was completed.  It also describes how the Yorktown became a museum after the war, mainly through the efforts of her officers.  

For some of the pilots named in that film, that was their final flight.

[Animal]

Is 'Thunderbolt' the same one shown on History Channel?
If so it was very gritty. I really liked it, I want that on DVD.

[Kratzer]

If you are thinking of the history channel one that I saw, then no, this is different.  This is a program from the 40s, intro by Jimmy Stewart.

Are you thinking of the one that was 'weapons at war' or something like that, and was history channel produced?  If so, that one had absolutely incredible footage, much better quality and production value, and honestly was a much better program than this one I just picked up.

[senna]

It was the squadron with the Indian Chief painted on the cowl (can remember Group designation) like the 1/48 Testors Jug. Mediterranean service (think on Sicily). Good video but one I have was badly recorded and I got mine years ago for 50 bucks.