Dating to February 12, 1945, the 69th issue of the Army Air Force’s Combat Digest features several fascinating segments. First, the use of small planes to carry wounded in and out of combat areas on Leyte, in the Philippines. This was the 159th Liaison Squadron which saw combat during the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) with the 3d Air Commando Group. Flying unarmed Stinson L-4 and L-5 Grasshopper and UC-64A Norseman light aircraft, the squadron flew courier and aerial reconnaissance missions and dropped munitions and supplies to American and Philippine forces fighting in the Battle of Luzon, and rescued many wounded soldiers.
The next segment “Rescue Station” shows an amazing secret air station on Dipolog, Mindanao where American pilots are able to land crippled aircraft for repair, and for medical care. A PBY Catalina is used to rescue stranded airmen.
The 13th Air Force celebrates its anniversary in Morotai. Established on 14 December 1942 at Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield, on New Caledonia, 13 AF was a United States Army Air Forces combat air force deployed to the Pacific Theater of World War II. It engaged in operations primarily in the South Pacific, attacking enemy forces in the Solomon Islands, Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaigns; Mariana and Palau Islands campaigns and the Philippines campaign (1944–45). Women flight nurses of the 13th are shown being decorated.
Bombing campaigns by the Fourteenth Air Force in the CBI are seen, with bombings at Hochih in expectation of attacks on Chungking. Attacks are seen in Indochina / Vietnam and Burma, including the severing of a major railroad bridge.
The film concludes with images of heavy bombers attacking Offenburg and Berlin, Germany and exacting a heavy toll on the Luftwaffe in aerial combat. The fighter kills and gun camera footage begins around 19 minutes.
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