“Chapter XV: Two Years of War, September-December 1943” of the U.S. Air Force’s The Air Force Story film series gives viewers a look at events in the China-Burma-India theater as Allied forces push through Burma and attack Rabaul/Simpson Harbor. The chapter begins with an aerial shot of Burma in 1943. U.S. troops and a Chinese division march in Burma, through fields and along beaches, under the leadership of General Joseph Stilwell, also known as “Vinegar Joe.” Men in a plane drop supplies to the Allied forces (02:18), including an air drop of supplies to troops in the Naga Hills. There is a shot of a base camp (03:23), which is followed by Chinese troops marching past tents (03:46). Wounded soldiers are evacuated as General Stilwell looks on (04:02). A sky jeep, a type of plane commonly used in the China-Burma-India theater, is used to evacuate wounded troops (04:16). A sky jeep takes off from Burma. Sky jeeps fly through the air (05:06). South of New Guinea, in the Owen Stanley mountains, a group of U.S. troops and C-47s wait at an airstrip (05:22). Then, 1,700 paratroopers board the 5th Air Force transports. The C-47s take off for Nadzab, and the planes are shown flying in formation (06:15). Low-flying attack bombers lay a blanket of smoke (06:25) to hide the paratroopers’ jump. Paratroopers in a C-47 hook up and start jumping on Nadzab (06:33). A shot of a base with B-25s (07:07) shows gunners and other crewmembers of the 5th Air Force preparing the planes for the upcoming mission. Pilots flying P-38 Lightnings are briefed on the battle plan (07:58). The B-25s’ engines are started and shortly after begin takeoff (08:28). A squadron of Lightnings start their engines and take off following the B-25s. The task force heads to Rabaul, flying over the Solomon Sea. The P-38s move in to take on approaching Japanese Zeroes (10:18). A P-38 shoots down a Japanese plane (10:43). P-38s bomb targets and then strafe grounded Japanese aircraft (11:23), while the B-25s drop parachute fragmentation bombs on Japanese targets (11:54). An aerial shot shows Simpson Harbor (12:32) as P-38s and B-25s attack the Japanese fleet with machine guns and bombs. The film concludes with footage of P-38s flying back to base in formation.
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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
