“AAF Combat Camera Units Weekly Digest No. 60” was produced by Army Air Forces Combat Film Service in 1944.
In Corsica, Italy, a United States Army malariologist introduces to a mosquito that carries malaria (0:55). Students examine a mosquito in a bottle. A scientist examines samples under a microscope. An airman walks into a medical tent with a panel reading “Ward II – Malaria” on the door (1:28). Men lay on cots inside the medical tent. A nurse examines an airman (1:36), and distributes medication to another.
Viewers see water in shallow ponds, surrounded by brush. Airmen and laborers work to remove stumps, brush, and vegetation to channelize the water’s flow into the sea (2:03). They continue shoveling out a channel (2:33). A military vehicle sprays an improvised decontaminator onto brush. Laborers spray the area with high pressure hand sprayers (2:58). Others pour Paris green and Lyme mixture into a barrel. Workers secure the lid on the barrel and mix it, then carry it to a bin where it is stored.
Laborers spray a field using a hand duster (3:53). Men load the Lyme mixture onto a Douglas A-20 Havoc (4:00). The lieutenant cuts a wide opening through the bottom of the fuselage. A pilot pulls a lever, and the mixture is dusted behind the plane (4:30). A plane flies low above the ground, dusting the fields (5:11). From the rear of the plane the mixture is seen dusting the terrain below (5:30). Viewers see an aerial of the terrain that has just been sprayed (5:42).
Airmen engage in other preventative measures. They take Atabrine anti-malarial tablets with their meals (6:13). A poster shows a woman in shorts, urging airmen to wear long trousers. An airman rubs repellent on his face, another adjusts his mosquito net above his bed, taping a hole he spotted. Another airman sprays an aerosol bomb spray inside the net around his cot, then tucks it under the mattress (7:36).
The raging waters of the Ombrone River flow under the bridge in Pistoia, Italy, as a result of a flood (8:23). American engineer units are seen walking across the bridge as the waters flow below. They work tirelessly to complete the new, more permanent structure. More scenes of the flooded city follow (9:17). Aerial shots show flooded Florence and the airbase viewed from above (9:45). The muddy airstrip is dotted with small planes. Airmen walk amongst the field, taking note of the damage (10:33).
B-17 Flying Fortresses are seen flying amongst the clouds (11: 02), on their way to provide ammunition and supplies to the French Forces of the Interior at Figeac on Bastille Day. Smoke pots burn on the borders of the target area to guide the planes (11:18). The shadows of the planes are seen on the landscape below (11:29). The lead plane fires flares, signaling the containers to be released (11:44), and the supply containers parachute down from the planes (11:48). One plane has a jammed bomb bay due to the faulty release of a parachute (12:19).
Viewers see Namur, Belgium and the destroyed railroad bridge over the Meuse River (12:47). It has been knocked out due to the Allies’ systematic destruction of bridges in France and Belgium to hinder Nazi movement. The bridge and nearby houses are demolished, covered in rubble and debris. Two felled railroad bridges at a river crossing are seen (13:08). In Dinant, Belgium, another rail bridge along the Meuse River has fallen to the air interdiction campaign (13:39). In Bouillon, Belgium, the road bridge over the Semois River has been destroyed (14:11). Pedestrians are seen crossing a makeshift footbridge, passing over the remains of the old road bridge (14:16).
The film moves on to feature a number of bombings throughout the China Burma India Theater (CBI). In Mangshi, China, B-25 Mitchells drop bombs on Japanese barracks (14:48). In Pyinmana, Burma (Myanmar), viewers see an aerial of a bridge being bombed on the railway, just south of Mandalay (15:28). Explosions are seen just below the river. In Taungup (Toungup), Burma (Myanmar) enemy supplies and stores are attacked by B-25 Mitchells, based out of the Fenny Airfield (16:13). B-25 Mitchells drop bombs over Wuntho, Burma (Myanmar), a military area, with the purpose of stopping Japanese personnel and supplies from reaching the battlefront (16:49). One of the planes is seen flying above the explosions below (17:26). In Pinlebu, Burma (Myanmar), B-25 Mitchells drop bombs (17:38). The film ends in the Lower Chindwin, Burma (Myanmar) where 24 B-25 Mitchells make a bomb run. (18:06).
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
