COMBAT AMERICA

[Music] la la [Music] and so came that early April morning at an air base in Colorado 40 flying fortresses line the apron 4,000 men March out for a final inspection they've trained long and hard with these ships the 400 men who fly them and the 3600 who work to keep them flying now the 351st bombardment group is ready by the dawn's early light it assembles for overseas combat you're on your way Joe this is it with his staff Colonel William a Hatcher Jr looks over his four squadrons you feel the old man is proud of you he finds no fault with you today nor you with him you'd fly his wing to hell and gone Sergeant Philip J Halls top turret Gunner from Springfield Missouri he feels that way so does his pal Kenny Sergeant Kenneth El Hall's ball turret Gunner from Perkins Oklahoma related no they think they might have been several Generations ago back in Germany but now just two guys with the same Uncle Sam meet their pilot Lieutenant Theodore argeroplos of Reading California AR's brother is in the Air Corp too their dad was born in Greece yes the Greeks have a word for it fight their bombarder Lieutenant Daniel F Stevens of Chicago he can bat a thousand with a nordon bomb site Sergeant Paul J posy ball turret Gunner his dad came from Italy Paul was formerly a pastry cook he's got one brother in the Navy another a marine missing an action here's Sergeant Tim Touchin tail Gunter from Mariana Lake New Mexico on the reservation they named him AI that means boy in Navajo Uncle Sam's boy too a few last minute instructions and we're off the compass points [Music] Northeast take another look down there that's your part of the earth out of that desert those mountains those fields has grown the American way of life what you're fighting for you remember the Colonel's quiet words men the enemy has asked for let him have it seek No Quarter nor give any Beyond Reason be firm be just and godp you all 8 and 1/2 hours out of Newland another sunrise it's rising out of the red of battle this sun but 40 more b7s 3 minutes apart have roared across the Atlantic night the Irish Coast looks up to say top of the m and a lake in the ster Highlands gives the Navigator a checkpoint off the Scottish Coast der Craig is a signal for right Runners South across the English m Pilots are impatient with lack of sleep had up boy pour on the cold let's get there [Music] yes it must have been a lot different when the wings carried swastikas instead of these big white stars don't worry folks we're dropping nothing today just our hats in the ring hello Missy we brought something for you and brother chewing gum and chocolate bars and there's a crate of oranges in the ball turret ah there Grandpa we'll be seeing you for a glass of that and there is the base for 400 Acres of dispersal areas the RAF is on hand to welcome us set her down Colonel set her [Music] down the 351st becomes part of the E Air Force we've reached the Battlefront the combat Crews move into English Barracks they give them those simple quiet names for which Americans are [Music] famous 2 weeks later the ground Crews arrive hius great boat trip huh only seven days and without any escort too H see any submarines oh aund of them huh well I guess you want to know guess they tell me you was hanging over the rail all the way next day big doings class a uniform shine those buttons his Royal Highness the Duke of bler brother to the king of England drops in and is greeted by the old man what's up sergeant major says the RAF is handing over the field to us [Music] on behalf of the air Ministry I hand over this aone complete with buildings and equipment for your safekeeping gives me a great pleasure to accept this station on behalf of the United States Army Air [Music] Forces okay RAF if we can fit your boots we'll walk it straight brother another surprise visitor General Arnold himself doing a world inspection flight he tells you you got a tough assignment this is one head man who knows and doesn't kid you we have the privilege to meet General ler Commanding General a Air Force I'm glad to see you how are you coming to this camera tring fi well it's a little early to tell yet sir but we're turning a camera on everything and everybody well I know what general Arnold had in mind and having you make this Gunnery picture Captain Gable our Gunners are already the best in the business but if they were only 10% better it would cost the Germans another 100 Fighters a month so fire away Gunners plenty more practice before that first mission sleeve as a folk W track him if you don't he might get you and you might have to bail out over the channel perhaps but if you do a Spitfire of the airc rescue service is bound to spot you a stubborn Tough Gang this outfit they'll go after you any time any place they picked up men 3 miles off the French post with heiny defense batteries screaming no you don't their answer is always sorry old boy we will [Music] you work on your identification of aircraft over here it's with a Real McCoy such as this captured ju88 there it is everything up forward punched under the nose but the Canadian pilot says it's a sweet flying ship yes sir a dangerous allpurpose aircraft or the H 111k carries a bad ombre but he makes good airplane gentlemen these will be a happy sight in days to come your fighter escort that big barrel nose job circled in white your own American p47 the Thunderbolt side by side with a Grace will spit these are what you don't shoot at you hear daily lectures on security given by Major Scott your scotch born intelligence officer let's stop kidding ourselves this flying field is only 20 minutes from the Battlefront the dumb spies have all been shot the Smart Ones are still living and you may run into one of them to tonight at the red line Pub and if you go to the pub remember1 is not $1 but $4 and that equals 20 Shillings one shilling equals 12 pennies which equals 20 c one English Penny equals two American pennies and don't throw your pennies around uh major seems to me the paper in this pwn is not very durable what do you mean durable I offer this one for 20 [Music] years what is it Fred what is it one of those bitter lessons you learn in training flying close formation in rough Air at low altitude is no good gentlemen save that for high altitude when you're headed for the Target next morning we crawl out of the sack to find britishers on the field again big Halifax bombers that have blasted Berlin during the night their own field was closed in by weather so they dropped in on us for breakfast say pery how's the yak over there rough oh not half bad y well CH old Lads thanks for the am and eggs so long bcy old boy we'll be finding out for ourselves one of these [Music] days that day arrives the order comes over the teletype the communications clerk carries it to Colonel Milton operations officer to Colonel Burns Deputy Commander the old man is on the phone then in the briefing room un summarizing remember your rude in to this Dr point where you go northeast to avoid this black area P 47s will escort you to about this point on the way in and spit nines will meet you about here on the way out and escort you all the way home and now the weather officer weather's plenty important you'll probably have to go over and about the altitude that you're scheduled to fly 23,000 ft from the IP to the Target the winds will be very strong Tailwinds and your ground speed should be well about 250 260 M hour the visibility is good everywhere east of that cold front and the temperature at the Target should be comparatively warm - 25° cenr today is your baptism of fire if Lieutenant argeroplos ever felt responsibility he feels it now in the Armament shop his crew is picking up their guns now remember fellows don't let them get too close trying for a sure kill your main job is to bring these airplanes back you got plenty of ammunition keep them out there at long range all we know they've given you an easy hop only 3 and 1/2 hours in and out what they call a milk rub but you'll remember this first mission you don't admit it now you wouldn't show it for the world but later you find out everybody else felt the same way you did Flash order from Wing headquarters Wing wants three more ships added to the High group three more Bombay have to be loaded got to step on it positions in the formation [Music] [Music] change this doesn't concern sergeants Kenny and Phil hulls Gunners think only of smooth working guns and plenty of ammunition ammunition is cheap 6 cents worth of 50 caliber wanged into the cockpit of a measure that's what will bring you home what did that weatherman say 30 below over the target electrically heated suits the air cord dresses for every occasion yes everything has to be right brother check everything every strap tight every Buckle set everything understood you get into your flax suit Mighty heavy material but it wears well the man says a thermos of hot coffee the uh Joker who brings it says it'll help keep you awake hard straps on his throat Mike over this intercom system he'll be able to talk to every man in the ship and they can talk to him they'll be talking for Keeps today [Music] well that clear from the tower ought to be along any minute [Music] now there it is start engines Colonel's already been on missions the seasoned outfits today he leads you on your first [Music] second flare start Taxi [Music] [Music] [Music] you punch Wing to Wing at the start of the runway easy now slow you cut somebody's tail off rever up and ride those brakes hard BR Roger you keep your eye on the tower take off the old man leans full on his throttle at 15 second intervals you [Music] follow you form over the field you're on your way the rest of the outfit sits down to wait go ahead Mike your deal come on I cut oh okay what time are they do back do you know Scotty said around 520 gosh I sure hope they all hey how many you dealing I'm in oh sorry we know Mike everybody's sweating them out you mean what's coming over those trees major no that's not them just a flock of crows I was a truck driver on Canal Street but I never felt like this before I ride the ambulances I got to be casual you know carefree and easy like the dock listen why guys talk to us the ground crew for each ship we'll tell you how to feel okay here they are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 13 14 that's the stuff 17 18 19 20 here's the old man in Jenny yeah that's your ship Coral you can uncross those fingers now 627 that's Joe fols little hot Joe but you're a hot pilot here's Kagel in 742 chalk him up here's old zip in 879 he's got number four prop feather too here's 953 with number two out and look Jim couldn't get his Bombay doors closed [Music] either oh the old okay sign huh Sergeant must have laid him right on the nose yeah old he says he saw him land right on the [Music] MPI nice bombing Steve that's from me Pete provenzale your Navigator okay Phil Chu up number one nice driving Captain arge you sure know your evasive action uh-oh Harry caught something a 20 mm right across His Radio arge looks at a hole in the horizontal stabilizer nothing at all I come on let's Stow these guns and get to interrogation yeah you're feeling pretty cocky nobody blamed you it's great to get that first one over with but this one was pretty easy remember you got a lot more to go longer ones tougher ones take it easy boys take it easy back from the raid comes major Lewis Noak group surgeon doc flew this first mission to study the physical actions of men in combat he didn't have to go but that's the kind of a dock he is and today on the walls of the officer's mess Begins the chronological record of the group success coutre a German fighter base in Belgium anny doesn't live there anymore in the meantime we find Kenny and Phil cleaning their guns in front of the Armament shop hello G hello fell well how was it you know cap I don't think those Germans like us are you ready to go again sure got to get this thing over did you learn anything you didn't know before funny at home they told the Jerry's made most of their attacks on the tail today most of them were on the nose yeah most the time I had my third point at 12:00 I must fir a th000 rounds let's go all these guns K all set yes check those guns you had plenty more use for them the next 2 weeks emden heal dams hopp s nir Bayon and every swasa stands for a hun pilot that asked for it and got [Music] it came days when enemy targets were hidden by weather so the more energetic of you found relaxation in peaceful combat while the more studious men discussed tactical charts and Maps uh or something give me a pound to 10 brought the more cultured of the group like Kenny and Phil went into the nearby villages to visit the quaint old Cathedrals churches and shops in the English Countryside surrounding us or on days when they were confined near the base the old Cathedrals and shops would come out to see them [Music] H this little shop wants to go home meanwhile back of the kitchen we find a very unhappy and angry man hello sery hello Captain Gable what's this I thought you were a bald tur Gunner I thought so too sir but I've been grounded oh your P prepped up on you huh yes sir they found I was chef at the Brown Derby in Hollywood and now they have me in the mess making a cake tonight for the office is party nothing you can do about getting back into combat I don't think so Captain well Sergeant remember this there are two kinds of cake one of them's good and the other one I'll be seeing but gals or potties you're still fighting a war and you're getting mighty good at it nobody knows it better than the sucker who started it little ad doll well Sergeant poy back in the combat huh yes sir how' you manage it well sir you know what you said there are two kinds of cake so P's back in the air with you you're blowing factories and power plants 1,000 ft in the air okay how about you Winchester we have little excitement what happened I have a present here for you what's that Black came in the side of the radio room and hit the buckle on my parachute down on the floor who has this claim uh Phil uh what time was that it was about $1600 $1600 where did it happen you know yeah it's right here just east of east of a that's right we'll confirm that I saw it I confirm after he fired it came down and passed underneath our left wing and exploded right underneath nobody bailed out for and when you hand out punishment like this you've got to take some too the day you got back from over vé just outside of Paris was plenty rugged signal flares that means wounded aboard what's tough about it was you had to bring your bombs back you couldn't drop them when you reached the target you found it closed over by weather that's an order when you're flying over France no indiscriminate bombing just German installations [Music] Colonel Milton who led the raid is a tired sick guy this day and nobody blames him he had to fight his way 3 hours in 3 hours out under constant attack by over 200 mess Schmidts and wol he lost men he lost ships and couldn't strike his blow that's rough here's Peter provenzale remember him AR's Navigator today he got a 20 mm through the lake control CA shot in too but some wounded Gunner wouldn't quit he tied them together who's in there both waste Gunners huh the docks are working on them now one's pretty bad easy now you guys it's Bob Wallace co-pilot they slammed one through the cockpit T in the Wally below his [Music] knee bulletproof glass well Sergeant guess you live right yes the bombardiers with their first aid kits had plenty of work today crawling back through the Bombay trying to keep a steady hand in the rough going many of your pals left you that day [Music] [Music] [Music] the ring worthy de and [Music] the S is a discouraging word and the star not cloudy all day [Music] bring it up you guys there's another loading but if you happen to catch one in the wrong place they've got a pretty nice repair shop ever see a sergeant flip a tul of in a Lieutenant's face well you just did yeah while the gang at the base carries on you can take it easy for a while how the B are nice fat pip H this one's been stretch just a little we drop in on Lieutenant Bob Wallace to see how he's doing how you feeling greaty I'll be out of here in a couple of weeks oh miss O'Neal it's Captain Gable how do you do Captain G how you do Miss O'Neal well I never got a chance to ask you uh uh tell me just H what happened when you got hit Well we'd left the target we were on our way home we got to the post and we had our gun stoed away couple FW snuck up on us and gave us a good burst oh I see you had your gun stowed away eh that's right that was a little early wasn't it it certainly was it's not a very good idea to relax over here until you get back to your own base is that right that's right well go ahead then then what happened well we uh after I got hit I cled down out of the pilot compartment and uh got the top turret Gunner to help me down in the bom B he gave me some first aid put the turnit on my leg took a good good job of it well that's fine I guess you think it's a good idea for these combat Crews to have first aid training then is that right I sure do yeah so Wally what do you think of the the b7s your uh instruments your guns and all the rest of the equipment they're giving you to fight this war with It's the Best Equipment in the world that's good say I hear you got your purple heart too yes Colonel kennel was in the other day and gave it to me I was more nervous than when those FWS were diving on us well outside of that are they treating you all right around here did you hear that Miss O'Neal Wall's doing okay back at the base they repair your ships too the busiest legs in the outfit belong to Major Ace aens the S4 this airplane's got to fly in the morning going to be ready oh major I don't know sir well let's have no ceron let's get the fans turning keep the fans turning the slogan of the ground crew they work hard these boys they worked 90 hours straight without sleep but your ship is their baby and she's got to fly and if you need to repair a few thoughts Sunday's always a nice day for it if there's no rid [Music] schedule what do you know Kim this church was built 900 years ago over at the hospital father o Conor celebrate Mass the boys receive Holy Communion here's Pete provenzale he's leaving the hospital tomorrow Mar [Music] Mar next day Pat's back to work the outfits back to work the 351st is still flying [Music] Adolf attention to orders general order number 93 headquarters a bomber command 11th July 1943 you can't get out of it you know they pin medals on you for this sort of work it's not so much a thrill for you it's the big kick it will hand the folks back home the Silver Star the distinguished flying cross the solders medal dad and M and that certain girl he'll cut out the clippings and drive the neighbors nuts bombarder Stevens the DFC because he's been batting a thousand over Germany and one to Pilot Peters he had to ditch in the channel but his coolness and saved his crew Bill Halls gets two clusters on his air medal for straight shooting the DFC to Tim Touchin a Fulk wolf and a mountain lion no difference he says the control wires were shot in two so the DFC to Sergeant Del Connie who tied them together his hands punctured with flat a silver star finds itself next to provenzal Purple Heart he refused first aid till the Jerry Fighters quit and stuck to his gun the day the group led the wing over schweinf for Colonel Hatcher was air Commander to him the Silver Star and the DFC to Kenny hulls Colonel Gro is smiling because Kenneth was having a Coke in the PX when his name was called are you forgetting your five confirmed Jerry Sergeant we're not and they don't forget you when you're a little battle weary and need a rest at a very gay Seaside Community a world famous resort hotel has been converted for your pleasure by the Red Cross a great place here sleep eat or what have [Music] you [Music] hey not on your life Park none of that here oh but look our just a few shots oh we're here for a rest right you guys well all right then how's this I'll follow them around with a silent camera for one day they won't have to say a word good deal good deal an English Sur with a fringe on top nice Fringe carry you to the old swimming hole let down your flaps slide [Music] in now let's see what the boys back at the face are doing why they're getting a few laughs too we'll let the man who's handing them out tell you about it hello everybody this is Bob somewhere in good old Jolly hope laying a few eggs for the boys that really know how to lay him yes sir this is one of the happier cow pastors that we worked in over there in England and look who's dancing you know I used to dance with Freda stair when we couldn't get girls and right here you see Jack pepper through here through the courtesy of his draft board his pictures a little dark I understand but after we were there a couple of weeks we got a little braver and we started to work with the lights on this is really a great great crowd out there tonight and I understand Rett Butler Is On The Fringe of the crowd they tell me that uh they stopped him from flying in those b7s they claimed his ears held the plane back nice little scene shows pepper trying to get his expense money look at that mob you should have heard him cheer when Francis Langford walked out and when Tony Romano played the guitar yes sir you you never know how this bunch of boys picked up arm morale and again the weather breaks over the continent and the handwriting on the wall spreads your story you're into the third panel now you've been out 8 days in a row and done a double header over France on the nin this man's air force is piling it on new combat Wings have been added new air divisions formed so you're not very surprised when Jen ler comes that day something big is up he goes into the briefing room to confer with the old man and his staff they call in the Squadron commanders even the flight commanders what did he tell them your four Squadron CEOs they know but don't talk just wiin a little with excitement it's something big all right because the bomb dumps have been getting plenty of heavy stuff lately and a loading order came through this afternoon stand by more than that Wing racks we're really going to pile it on [Music] and that night as always when you know a real Dilly is coming up you're a little Restless out in the dispersals you hear them winding up those engines [Music] that's all right ground grou make them sing make them sing [Music] good all right you guys breakast a tree breathing at 4 okay man for security sake anyone know what the target is for today s is there oh we'll see all [Applause] right freaking Z do this is the longest penetration for this group we've got a A+ Target over here we've got to get itday okay gentlemen stations are at 505 start engines 605 taxi at 615 take off 630 got it that's all okay man let's go get this T and then we'll take the Jab w [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] 10,000 ft go on oxygen check in your station at the designated splasher Point still over friendly territory you Rondevu with other groups your combat Wing banks in into position then Wing after Wing as far as the eye can believe the attack performs it heads for its assigned targets 500 M away up until this moment your fighter escort is still on the ground guarding his limited fuel capacity now flight control gives a signal to the Thunderbolts they climb upstairs to overtake you [Music] [Music] Fighters 3:00 low watch it that should be our escort you're right sir [Music] 47s pilot to crew pilot to crew over enemy Coast on the ball you got guys hey get a load of that flag chance I throw it any higher than that where do you want to have it in the Bom Bay why don't you lean out and smell it that's right you guys laugh at all right now a bum joke goes better than two fingers of Ry around 3 hours out arge looks at his watch he knows it's time for the fighter escort to turn back from all over the ship you watch them Le you're really on the ball now because you know that enemy Fighters will appear any minute they know exactly where you are they've been watching the stratosphere condense off your wing tips giving you away in Long Trails of magnificent [Music] treachery okay here they are 9:00 High enemy Fighters same thing at 3:00 yes at least those Vapor Trails work both ways Arch watches the enemy formations as they parallel your course seems obvious they're staying out of range going out ahead to turn in for a frontal attack High all turrets swing about to help guard the rear top turrets hunt the sky above in all directions there's some more out there keep your eyes peeled now it com the enemy pours in at you from every point on the dial 6:00 level two more five watching [Music] get that one at three 11:00 hi [Music] 9:00 level oh he's going low here he comes up he got the Colon's wingman smoking on number four he's going going out and down check the shoot you guys one shoot out of the tail two out of the waist other two boys out of the nose that's two more pilot the tail pilot the tail let me know how they're doing back there Roger finder 6:00 coming through 11:00 [Music] L 5:00 by got one out of the high Squadron yep no chance there [Music] 290s hi somebody got one of them on the button that J bot bail out he's not walking away from it [Music] [Music] still late Barrel in at a little short on hard plenty long on guts this enemy another 17 hit and again you have to close the gap in the formation [Music] and again and again they come 12:00 High 4:00 level out of the Sun and up from the ground [Music] some more coming through 5:00 you're Crossing another Flack area it's heavier this time so black and thick you can almost hear it and it's more effective Shorty's been hitting Fe the number four cover him all you can everybody [Music] [Music] pilot to left waste pilot to left waste there's another one working shorty over can you help him no can do sir out of [Music] range beginning of smoke screens announces the approach to the Target area the enemy's been caught off guard he's trying to cover up too late in desperation through his own Flack a final hunt fighter makes a pass at the low Squadron he's driven off but [Music] still did a fight or a flack get that ship flank I think there it is the flare out of the lead ship the signal for the bomb run this is your [Music] attack all right Steve we're on the IP she's yours I got her Bombay doors [Music] open make a good run now Steve I'm on it yes Make It Count bombardiers they build these ships around you bombs away the Mead group picks out his MP in the dock area let's go with the heavy stuff and the big incendiaries the High group heads for the industrial section and hands out the same medicine the low group turns for the adjacent air drone it blasts the fields the hangers and repair shops with hundreds of deadly anti-personnel bombs a nice pattern bombarder good deal you can't hear what's going on down there 5 miles below you but marshalling yards and chemical tanks s ships and warehouses spare engines and ballbearing factories are disintegrating in molden [Music] chaos it's Thunder out of the alligan Adolf you said Americans were soft and decadent well here's a red white and blue headache that'll help you change your mind [Music] as the Bombay doors close you take a last look at the Target area the smoke from its burning debris Rises 16,000 ft into the air or Flack The aim's still good down there how about this trip home is it going to be rough pilot the crew pilot the crew well you guys we're over an hour out they haven't come back at us yet looks like we're lucky this trip enemy Fighters 11:00 High another 1:00 hi coming level to three 4 mw's 8:00 high they don't want it m me 110 1:00 High M at 2:00 I got him I'll say you did bailing out either another 110 at 10:00 he's yours okay there he goes he's my pigeon stle commanders throw their pets at the formation with suicide orders that's what they get formation is tighter than ever and you're not sparing ammunition you're knocking them down like Mallet one more [Music] and another he's through one right behind him Steve another two in a row for the boys up forward that's mine you see him Ken sure go I'll confirm him all right get this 110 call her up H her up FW 3:00 take time Joel for your fire at 190 that's a spit on this tail yeah cover good here out of more spit hi Taylor jury it's all for the spit right them down oh you sweetheart good sweee tomor good sweee sleep [Music] your shadow on the undercast the Pilot's rainbow missions end but not the end of the battle fighting men from Maine to California still have a long tough rainbow to travel but they're looking the enemy right between his eyes they're fighting him the American way but their American way of life enemy of America look at these men they're not going to lose brother [Music]