USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Produced in 1947 by the Department of the Air Force, this film regards the role the United States Army Air Force (USAAF, U.S.A.A.F) played in the retaking of the Philippines, June 1944 to March 1945. Highlights (and sanitizes) the invasions of Leyte Gulf, Luzon & Corregidor Island, and also features an excellent segment on the 14th Air Force A.V.G. Flying Tigers stationed in East China.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Opening Titles
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
East China, 1944, base of the 14th American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force Frontier Flying Tigers: US bomber plane taking off from base nestled in valley; side view TLS several US P-40 Warhawk fighter planes parked on runway (note the infamous nose cone art of attacking shark faces); panning LS B-24 Liberator bomber plane taxiing after landing, passing several parked P-40 Warhawks. MS USAAF Major General CLAIRE CHENNAULT (Claire Lee Chennault, Claire L. Chennault) seated at desk in office, looking over map w/ military aides. TLS/LSs crude sheet metal shop at base, AVG Flying Tigers airmen cannibalizing planes for parts, rebuilding fighter and bomber planes; TLS/MSs A.V.G. mechanics working on P40 fighter planes (note, mechanics receive help from local Chinese peasants).
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
East China. US Airfields being evacuated, AVG pilots and mechanics loading supplies, equipment and gear onto bomber planes. TLS/MSs Chinese peasants digging holes, placing large fuse bombs into ground; CU burning fuse; LS large explosion, Chinese-built airfields being destroyed per U.S. request. MS/LSs A.V.G. Flying Tigers airmen torching AVG huts and facilities via burning gas-soaked rags, then running away. LS burning buildings, thick black smoke flooding sky. Tilting TLS American flag being lowered down flagpole at base, burning hut in BG. Panning low angle TLS B-24 Liberator bomber flying low to ground, passing through smoke rising from burning A.V.G. base.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Pacific Theater, Philippines. U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur and Lieutenant General George Kenney, Commander 5th Air Force, standing on airfield, watching B-24 Liberator bomber planes land as U.S. forces accrue for invasion of the Philippines; TLSs B-24 Liberator and B-25 Mitchell bomber planes taxiing, taking off, in flight. CU Lt. Gen. George Kenney wearing sunglasses, talking with airman on ground. Bombers taking off.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Pacific Theater, Philippines. Excellent subjective POV traveling shots USAAF fighter and bomber planes attacking, strafing and bombing Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) ships at sea. Great aerial shot of shadow of B-25 Mitchell bomber flying low over ocean.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Pacific Theater, Philippines. Aerial shots from bomber on low altitude run over shore and land, releasing parachutes attached to fragmentation bombs.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Pacific Theater, Philippines. Air to air shot of B-25 Mitchell bomber in flight, low over ocean. Aerial shots bombing run, ground explosions. Air to air shot four P-51 Mustang fighter-bomber plane flying in tight formation, releasing bombs, pulling up. Great air to air shot of P-51 Mustang in sheer dive bomb through clouds. More subjective POV traveling shots from U.S. fighter planes attacking Japanese military installations, "softening up" the enemy for the ground invasion.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944. Aerial shot and LS/TLSs Allied naval armada (cruisers, steamships, troop transports) sailing along choppy waters - note the cruiser with the camouflage paint job. US Army 10th and 24th Corps of 6th Army descending rope ladder, getting into pontoon boats; rear view officer on boat, inspecting progress. Pontoons deploying, sailing; MS/CUs U.S. soldiers smoking cigarettes aboard pontoons. CU unblinking, intent-looking face of Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) soldier; IJA soldiers holding position, advancing, Type 95 tanks rolling over ridge; TLS/LSs pre-invasion artillery assault from naval ships, salvo being launched; MSs U.S. soldiers aboard pontoon nearing shore; LSs U.S. military beach landings and advancement. US tanks rolling through jungle, soldiers dug in. Japanese artillery units firing weapons.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Luzon Invasion, 1944. MS US GIs running from shore, taking hill, bayonets affixed to M1 rifles. US soldiers advancing through jungle. US soldier using flamethrower on Jap position in jungle, explosion ensuing. LSs explosions combat. LSs jungle island combat; MS/LSs US field artillery units firing on Jap mountain defenses; MS/CUs ground radio control radioing coordinates, bombers flying by. US bombers strafing, bombing Japanese mountain defenses.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Corregidor Invasion, 1945. Aerial shot of Corregidor Island; MS/CUs U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur (Douglas A. MacArthur) gazing upon "The Rock"; air to air shots B-25 Mitchell bomber planes of 13th USAAF in flight over Corregidor Island, dropping bombs, performing pre-invasion bombing mission; aerials of ground explosions. Air to air shots of C-47 troop transport planes in flight; air to air shot of several fighter planes in flight. Excellent MSs U.S. Army paratroopers riding aboard transport plane, standing up, getting airborne, jumping from planes, parachuting. Low angle and air to air shots of paratroopers deploying, parachuting to ground. LSs really rough landings, paratroopers hitting the rocky ground. Aerial shot of Corregidor Island, hillside littered with parachutes. US soldier resting atop hill, dead soldier in FG.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Corregidor Invasion, 1945. US Army General Douglas MacArthur (Douglas A. MacArthur) walking up steps from dock, stepping onto pier where several U.S. Army soldiers stand. LS General MacArthur and military officers standing at attention at ceremony honoring 503rd Paratroop and 34th Infantry. US soldiers standing at attention, presenting arms (M1 rifles). American flag (Stars and Stripes, Old Glory) being raised up flagpole, officers and soldiers saluting. US flag flying from flagpole, fluttering in vigorous wind.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Air to air shot of US P-38 Lightning fighter bomber in flight high over clouds. Low angle LS squadron of nine U.S. B-25 Mitchell bombers flying in tight formation.
USAF Story: Retreat and Advance, June 1944-March 1945
Closing credits.