This ‘Combat Weekly Digest’ is WW2 newsreel series that ran from 1943 to 1945 and was produced by the U.S. Army Air Force Combat Film Service. This is number 54 in the series. (:29). It begins with the bombing of the Philippines on September 6th, 1944 (:38). A map shows the 650-mile mission from Middleburg to Buayan in the Philippines(:44). At the Middleburg Island airfield, B-25 Mitchells are checked and gassed for the 11-hour mission ahead (:52). The first large scale mission began on September 1st (1:00). P-38 Lightnings are seen taking off around 4 a.m., refueling at Middleburg and then again taking off (1:15). A view is given looking out over the coastline of Buayan (1:33) and the B-25’s are then preparing to swing low (1:40) as the fighter planes lower to assist in strafing (1:45). This was the first use of parademo bombs (1:51) and footage of bombs dropping and strafing on repair shops, motor parks and barges follow (2:12). These attacks cost Japan 1,500 planes and 200 ships (2:57). A map shows the next target in Celebes (3:14). A series of raids had occurred in the Dutch East Indies in September (3:20). Bombs are seen dropping over airfields (3:31). On September the 18th, the Somate strip was assaulted (3:57). Boela airfields, fuel tanks and main jetty’s were hit in September on the 25th (4:00). Poltava, an airfield in Ukraine had been used by the American Air Force (4:32). On the night of June 21st, the German Air Force attacked here with success (4:41). The overcrowded air base is shown (4:44) which included 73 8th Air Force B-17’s, 6 transports, and one P-38 (4:50). The planes are shown in ruin and it would take three weeks for the field to return to full operation (5:02). After the bombing, a US Army investigative board recommended to ramp up camouflage of all planes and facilities as well as dispersal rules (6:12). A return to the map, and the next target was Ploesti which was the center of Romania’s oil industry (6:49). The footage that follows is from captured German films (6:58). It shows water hoses pumping to put out massive fires at the second largest oil refinery after the attack (6:58). The 15th Air Force regiment carried out much of the attack (7:16). Men are seen running into billowing smoke clouds (7:50) and 188 enemy planes had been destroyed by US forces (7:59). These attacks ruined 90% of Ploesti which removed it as a rich source of fuel (8:13). The smoke seen burning was so thick it completely obscured the skies (8:37). The result of this attack showed that oil refineries could be taken out and placed them as a high strategic priority (9:09). This began an air campaign against Nazi oil installations (9:22). On May 30th, the same refinery was attacked and it is seen ablaze (9:25). On August 30th, it fell to the Russians and was left with 4/5th of it’s refining capabilities (9:30). In September 1944, the Commander of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces and the Commanding General of the 15th Air Force came in to inspect the damage (9:53). The entryway into the Astra Romana Refinery is shown (10:02) and this was the largest in the area. Two dummy towns had been constructed as a way to deter attacks (10:49). Damage to the Romano Americano plant three miles away is inspected by military officials (11:49). By August 19th, 5,500 tons of bombs had ruined most of the 16 refineries and storage depots in Ploesti and outlying areas (12:33). In October of 1944, Aachen was to be the first city taken by American troops after an 18-day siege (12:58). The tracks which American troops crossed on October 10th to encircle the city are shown (13:20). After the German army rejected surrender, bombing of the historic city began (13:31). Tanks and tank destroyers are seen pummeling the outskirts (13:37). The 9th Airforce bombers are also depicted bombing from overhead (13:40). Delayed action bombs were largely used in this assault and they can be seen popping off in the skyline (13:46). On the ground, GI’s helped evacuees get to refugee camps (14:40). Troops are walking with prisoners (14:54) as about 1,500 had been taking. A tank dozer is seen coming out of an entryway (15:09) in order to allow other tanks to pass through as Nazis had destroyed the road. Footage from fighter planes in September of 1944 (16:07) show the skill of fighter pilots as they shot their way through Germany. Strafing and exploding bombs follow (16:49). The end screen appears and this had been from the Army Air Forces Combat Film Service (16:58).

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