Dating to 1944-45, these silent films contain a record of Luftwaffe pilot kills over Europe. These kind of “gun camera” films were used both to document and verify kills and probables, but also to assess the techniques used in the dogfights.

The film contains various encounters beginning with an attack by an Fw-190 on a Lagg 5, or Lavochkin La-5 This was one of the Soviet Air Force’s most capable types of warplane, able to fight German designs on an equal footing. In this case however the Soviet pilot was shot out of the sky.

At 1:25 is footage of the shoot down of a P-38 Lightning by an Fw-190. At 2:30, a B-24 Liberator is attacked by a Bf-109 / Me-109. At 3:34, an attack by an Fw-190 on a Boeing B-17. This approach is typical, from the rear and aimed at the engines and tail gunner. At 4:29 and 4:50, 5:19, 5:55, 6:17, more Fw-190 attacks on the B-17. The attack at 7:43 is very close, likely indicating that the tail gun on the bomber was put out of action. Around 7:42 you can see a large piece of aircraft depart (or possibly someone bailing out through a roof hatch?) At 7:54, 8:39, 9:37, Fw-190 vs. B-24 Liberator. At 9:56, in an astonishing sequence, a Liberator takes a severe beating and is wracked with explosions of cannon fire.