Videos & Etc.

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B-17 Flight Of The 2nd Bomb Group Association (18:52 minutes)

filmed and produced by Todd Weiler

The 2nd BG veterans and their children and grandchildren take a flight over Galveston Island

in the B-17G "Thunder Bird" from the Lone Star Flight Museum

during their 2007 Reunion in Houston, Texas. This video contains on-board footage of the sights

and the sound of four thundering 1,200hp Wright 9-cylinder radials of a B-17G during the engine start-up,

taxi, run-up, take-off, and flight.

Libertatem Defendimus / The Defenders Of Liberty (3:02 minutes)

filmed and produced by Todd Weiler

A collage from the 2007 Reunion of the 2nd Bomb Group Association in Houston.

Soaring Valor (7:47 minutes)

courtesy of the Gary Sinise Foundation

With a hero's welcome, the Gary Sinise Foundation brought WWII veterans and their guardians to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. A one-of-a-kind experience that included a tour of this incredible museum, as well as entertainment, celebratory meals and an opportunity for community with their fellow veterans.

La Citta' Distrutta - Foggia dal 1943-1945 (21:13 minutes)

courtesy of the 32 Stromo (Bomb Wing) of the Italian Air Force and Linda Gartz

This video has photos and film of Foggia, Italy and the 15th Air Force during WW2. It also shows photos and film of Amendola Air Base during WW2 plus photos and film of the 32 Stormo of the Italian Air Force which has been based at Amendola since WW2. This video is an Italian production. The text is in Italian with narration in English. This video was obtained by Linda Gartz (niece of Lt. Frank Ebner Gartz of the 49th Bomb Sqdn) during her visit to Amendola Air Base in October of 2009. You can read about Linda's "pilgrimage" on the "War Stories" webpage.

John Bryner - Honored 70 Years Later (3:18 minutes)

courtesy of Stephanie Moore, Matt Baker, and Rob Peterson of WHOtv.com

An interview by Stephanie Moore (WHOtv) of John H Bryner, Tail Gunner, 2nd Bomb Group, 20th Squadron. The World War II Veteran is honored for his service during a special ceremony. Ninety-year-old John Bryner Jr was honored by the Story County Veterans Affairs in Ames, Iowa on 3/3/15 for his service during the war. Bryner was presented with the America Campaign medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign medal, WWII Victory medal, Air medal, a Purple Heart and Prisoner of War medal. The story by Stephanie Moore can be viewed and read at http://whotv.com/2015/03/03/ames-wwii-veteran-honored-70-years-after-service/

Joe Gossen - 57 Missions with the 20th Squadron - CAF Oral History (32:18 minutes)

courtesy of the Commemorative Air Force of Arizona and Gretchen Erickson (Joe's daughter)

An interview of Joe Gossen who flew 57 mission as a B-17 Ball Turret Gunner with the 20th Bomb Squadron of the 2nd Bomb Group.

Harold Plunckett - A Ball Turret Gunner's Story (2:56 minutes)

courtesy of WTHI-TV and Harold Plunckett

An interview by WTHI-TV of Harold Plunckett, B-17 Ball Turret Gunner, 2nd BG, 49th Bomb Squadron.

Interview of Al Nash - 429th BS Tail Gunner (5:27 minutes)

courtesy of "agitatorxmedia" and Al Nash

An interview of Al Nash, B-17 Tail Gunner, 2nd BG, 429th Bomb Squadron. Al Nash's B-17 "Little Butch" was shot down on Mission 52, August 4, 1943 and he became a POW for the next two years. This video is edited from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBXx5nXrT8g AIRSHOW B-17 - B-24 VET INTERVIEWS which is an excellent collection of 1992 interviews of B-17 and B-24 veterans.

One Last Salute to SSgt Marvin Steinford 66 Years Later (2:16 minutes)

courtesy of KCRG-TV and Jeff Tilson

A news video of the military repatriation burial of SSgt Marvin Steinford who was finally brought home to Cedar Rapids, Iowa after being MIA for 66 years. Steinford was a waist gunner of the 429th Bomb Squadron. His B-17 was shot down over Hungary on March 24, 1945 on a bombing mission to Berlin, Germany (the 2nd Bomb Group's longest mission). His daughter is interviewed in this story.

Grey Eagles (8:24 minutes)

courtesy of the Grey Eagles - www.greyeagles.org

An interview of Jim Brooks, P-51 ace of the 31st Fighter Group in Italy, about his experience flying fighter coverage for the heavy bombers of the 15th Air Force during WW2. The video also interviews his children and grandchildren about the importance to them of learning about their father and grandfather's WW2 experience. This is a very well made video by the Grey Eagles organization and is an excellent example of honoring and preserving the story of the veteran WW2 airmen.

Mission Accomplished: The Flying Fortress Story (10:42 minutes)

courtesy of the US Government

This is a vintage WW2 documentary film of the first all-USAAF operational B-17 mission over Europe.

Winning Your Wings (17:33 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF

Lt. Jimmy Stewart is featured in this short 1942 recruiting film encouraging men to enlist in the Army Air Force.

How to Fly the B-17 - Part 1 - Ground Operations (34:09 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF and Boeing Aircraft

This is a vintage WW2 training film to familiarize student pilots with the pre-flight inspection and check list of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

How to Fly the B-17 - Part 2 - Flight Operations (28:24 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF and Boeing Aircraft

This is a vintage WW2 training film to familiarize student pilots with the check list, run-up, take-off, flight, and landing of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

How to Fly the B-17 - Part 3 - Emergency Operations (21:17 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF and Boeing Aircraft

This is a vintage WW2 training film to familiarize student pilots with steps to take in emergency situations such as loss of engine, plane out-of-control, fire, stalling, insufficient lift, and the loss of stability of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

The Memphis Belle: A Story Of A Flying Fortress (41:30 minutes)

courtesy of the US War Department

This is a vintage WW2 documentary film of the 25th bombing mission of the B-17 Memphis Belle.

Combat America (61:45 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF

This is a vintage WW2 documentary film of the 351st Bomb Group. The film documents the deployment of forty B-17s from Colorado to England, crew experiences, and combat action over Europe. The film was narrated by Capt Clark Gable who trained as a gunner and was assigned to the 351st BG to produce this documentary.

Target For Today (92:30 minutes)

courtesy of the USAAF

This is a vintage WW2 training film that provides an excellent overview of the USAAF strategy and tactical coordination of a B-17 daylight precision bombing mission. This film covers an 8th Air Force B-17 bombing mission from start to finish beginning with weather forecasting and recon intelligence. It then outlines the following steps of target selection, bomb-load optimization, scheduling, navigation planning, liaison between HQ and operational groups, field orders, operational command planning, fighter group coordination, ground crew prep of bombers, flight crew briefing, combat crew preparation, bomber take-off, bomber rendezvous/formation, enemy fighter/flack attacks, bomb-run from IP (initial point) to the target, bombs-away, reformation for return flight, fighter support, return landing, aid to wounded, sea rescue, crew debriefing, damage assessment, and mission reporting.

Flying Fortress (3:39 minutes)

courtesy of the US War Department and www.pastfinder.de

An excerpt of combat action from the vintage US War Department documentary film "The Memphis Belle".

B-17 Down (3:05 minutes)

courtesy of "bomberguy"

A compilation of WW2 film footage of flack and German fighter attacks on B-17s

set to Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries". WARNING - Not for the faint of heart.

Call To Arms - The Lead To WW2 (4:20 minutes)

courtesy of Unknown

An animated newsreel history of the events that led to WW2 and the mobilization of the Allied forces

against the Axis powers.

World War 2 History - European & Mediterranean Theater (5:40 minutes)

a PowerPoint PPS slide show courtesy of the Combat Studies Institute

Please allow a minute for this animated graphical map representation of the combat sequence of WW2

in Europe to download. The following PDF file contains notes for the PPS slide show.

The Beginning - FDR's "Date In Infamy" Speech (2:37minutes)

courtesy of "forquignon" and the Discovery Channel

On December 8, 1941 (the day after the Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor), President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed congress with his famous "December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy" speech.

The End - Japan Signs Surrender (8:36 minutes)

courtesy of United Newsreels

On September 2, 1945, General Douglas McArthur presides over the formal surrender of Japan. The declaration of peace is signed first by the delegation from Japan, followed by representatives from the "warring nations". The formal surrender took place on the Battleship USS Missouri at Tokyo Bay.

Victory Through Air Power (2:10 minutes)

courtesy of Walt Disney Productions

This is a vintage movie trailer of the 1943 film based on the 1942 book of the same title

by Alexander Seversky that advocated the formation of an independent air force,

the development of long-range bombers, and a commitment to the strategic use of air power.

The Wright Flyer (2:43 minutes)

courtesy of British Pathe

This is vintage film footage of the Wright Flyer.

100 Years of US Military Aviation (23:39 minutes)

courtesy of the USAF "Today's Air Force" News

This is an Air Force TV news video commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first military flight of the Wright Flyer-B by Lt Benjamin Foulois at Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX on March 2, 1910. As well as vintage film of that first flight, this video highlights record breaking aircraft, pioneering legends of aerospace, and the milestones in US aviation in the 100 years since that first flight.

Virtual Tour of the National Air Force Museum (take your time)