This black and white Historical documentary film, Air Force Story Chapter 9, The AAF Fights Back, was produced around 1953 by the Department of the Air Force. The Department of the Air Force was formed September 18, 1947, within the Department of Defense. Musical score is by The U.S. Air Force Band under the direction of Lt. Col. George S. Howard, commander and conductor of the band from 1944-1963. The film documents paratroop and glider training and the Battle of Midway in the Pacific Theater of World War II which occurred between April and June, 1942.
The film opens with a message to the American people (0:39-1:14). Nazi’s and Japanese diplomats meet in Germany (1:23-1:47). Map of their desired conquest (1:48-2:03). American industry (2:04-2:22). Building airplanes (2:23-2:33). Secretary of War Henry Stimson served under Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman (2:41-2:49). Air troop, parachute jumpers making ready their chutes and loading on Douglas C-47 aircrafts (2:54-3:27). Airborne army training to parachute behind enemy lines (3:35-3:57). Troop carrier Gliders attached to C-47 Skytrains are pulled into flight (3:58-4:49). Gliders landing behind the enemy line with supplies and equipment (5:02-5:21). Infantry fighters (5:25-5:28). Commercial airlines also carried supplies under what was called the Air Transport Command (5:40-5:44). General Harold L. George and C.R. Smith inspect new installations (5:45-5:53). Air Transport Command (ATC) Center (5:55-6:14). Air Transport Command sky wagon (6:15-6:34). American’s broke the Japanese secret code (6:37-6:51). Decoding machines (6:52-6:56). ATC delivering bombs and ammunition and B-17’s to Midway (7:22-7:51). The Japanese fleet (7:56-8:09). Navy Consolidated PBY Catalina (8:10-8:13). Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress & Consolidated B-24 Liberator readied for war (8:18-8:32). Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a four-engine heavy bomber retired in 1968 (8:45-9:34). Japanese Carrier Akagi with Mitsubishi B5M bombers on board (9:35-9:59). Marine Vindicators (Vought SB2U Vindicator) an American carrier-based dive bomber (10:12-10:15). Actual footage of the Japanese bombing Midway Island (10:16-10:59). American Carrier with fighters and bombers on deck (11:00-11:03). Japanese Destroyer (11:27-11:30). Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress four-engine heavy bomber (11:31-11:38). Bombs finding their target (11:45-12:04). Actual war scenes of the Battle for Midway (12:05-12:50). A Japanese destroyer on fire (12:50-12:52). The damage to Midway Island (13:23-13:30). The Service men of Midway Island (13:30-13:46). Flying Martin B-26 Marauder (13:48-13:52). Flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (13:53-14:18).
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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
