Recently Declassified P-47 Gun Camera Footage

[DiggerWW2]

Gang, Here's some "Recently Declassified" Color P-47 Gun Camera Footage. Some of these clips You've seen before, but most of it You probably haven't. I've been collecting Gun Camera footage for years & have never seen most of this.
Some of it appears in the film "Fighter Squadron". There's some awesome camera angles here, especially at the end...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 47951258&q

One wonders how much of this "Classified" WW2 material is still stashed away.... Digger

[Former Member]

One can never get tired of watching too much gun camera footage ...thanks for posting it!

John

[Jesse C.]

Great footage, thanks for the link.

Just wish it had sound!

[Chicoartist]

. . . I've been collecting Gun Camera footage for years & have never seen most of this . . . One wonders how much of this "Classified" WW2 material is still stashed away.

Tsk, tsk, tsk ... another one who's never heard of my line of DVDs.

I'd give you a direct link, but being the geek you are (like me! ), you're liable to have a heart attack.

Wade

[astixjr]

Very interesting film footage. There were a number of clips that I have never seen before. Thanks for posting.

What the *&%# was that secondary at 3:07? Do you have any history on what they were shooting at? I'll bet that explosion broke a few things beyond repair!

[DiggerWW2]

"Tsk, tsk, tsk ... another one who's never heard of my line of DVD's"

Betcha' can't find a 1955 Warner Brothers Color Film called "24 HOUR ALERT" Starring Jack Webb.
A detailed look at a USAF Fighter Base. Here's the Pressbook:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1955-24-HOUR-ALERT- ... dZViewItem

I've been searching for this one for years, with no luck... Digger

[Chicoartist]

. . . Betcha' can't find . . .

No ... what we usually get is, "Where did you FIND THAT?!"

Break ----------------------

Oh Jack ... BTW, $29 + shipping will make your life very sweet in less than two weeks. You'll be the first to know, as promised! Think 2.5 hours, my brother!

Wade

[Cripes]

Gang, Here's some "Recently Declassified" Color P-47 Gun Camera Footage. Some of these clips You've seen before, but most of it You probably haven't. I've been collecting Gun Camera footage for years & have never seen most of this.
Some of it appears in the film "Fighter Squadron". There's some awesome camera angles here, especially at the end...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 47951258&q

One wonders how much of this "Classified" WW2 material is still stashed away.... Digger

Very cool. I think most of that was in a recent documentary on the History Channel called "Conquest of Europe" or something like that. I sat there for an hour with my mouth hanging open.

[tom d. friedman]

excellent footage, but why recently declassified??? hardly top secret!!!! or was it found in some deceased vets personal effects or foot locker??? the early 1st few minutes footage is from the pacific, knocking down japanese oscar fighters.

[Rajay]

"Tsk, tsk, tsk ... another one who's never heard of my line of DVD's"

Betcha' can't find a 1955 Warner Brothers Color Film called "24 HOUR ALERT" Starring Jack Webb.
A detailed look at a USAF Fighter Base. Here's the Pressbook:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1955-24-HOUR-ALERT- ... dZViewItem

I've been searching for this one for years, with no luck... Digger

Well the eBay link is obviously ancient history...

I came across this old thread via a Google search for info about "24 Hour Alert" starring Jack Webb. It actually dropped into my lap the other day - and it's now on my Dish Network DVR.

There was a local evening news story last week about a USAF Security Airman at Seymour-Johnson AFB who lost part of one leg to an IED in Afghanistan. His german shepherd dog was also injured but both are recovering well and the Airman hopes to be able to re-deploy for another tour in Afghanistan. (Frankly I believe that he's earned the right NOT to go back again, but if that's what he wants....)

That news story inspired me to tell my wife about Douglas Bader, an RAF pilot in WW2 who lost both legs in a biplane crash in the 1930's but went on to fly Hurricanes in WW2 using prosthetic legs. He claimed that he was less susceptible to blacking out under high G maneuvers because his blood couldn't "drain" all the way down his legs. He was eventually shot down over occupied France and taken prisoner by the Germans - and made two unsuccessful escape attempts before they took away his artificial legs to limit his mobility!

Here's to your spirit, Doug!

The very next day, I came across the movie "Reach for the Sky" (1956) on Turner Classic Movies - a bio flick about Douglas Bader. Freaky coincidence! Unfortunately, it appeared to be almost over by the time I tuned in - and in fact, it had ended and the rest of its time slot was taken up by the short film "24 Hour Alert" starring Jack Webb. I hit the record button and captured it to savor later.

While the story line was obviously contrived Cold War propaganda, it was great to be able to see color film footage of so many different front-line USAF jet aircraft when they were new and cutting-edge - in 1955! Even the Aero Commander belonging to (I'm guessing - the fictitious) Tweed Lumber Co. had to have been brand new. It wasn't a model 520 because it had a swept tail but it also had the exposed augmentor tube exhausts on the outside of the engine nacelles; it had to be a model 560 which was approved in May 1954. The extended length model 560A was approved in July 1955 and the more powerful supercharged model 680 was not approved until October 1955, so neither of them are really likely to have been used in a film that was released in 1955.

If only I had already upgraded my Dish Network service to a HD DVR with LAN connectivity - I could copy it over to my computer and save it longer.

[Django]

FWIW, there is some cool videos at that site (from the link)

[Chris Brame]

I recorded 24 Hour Alert as well - had to stop and mention the scene where the F-86 helps the B-25 get its gear down. Like any good anorak I ran the Mitchell's serial 43-28204 through Baugher. Guess what - it's Pacific Princess!

I'll see how good a copy I can make of it by hooking my DVD recorder up to the DVR box. I copied a few things before that way to make frame grabs; worked good although the sound didn't come through... we'll see.

And yes, some of the dialogue is ripe for the MST3K treatment, but when you're drooling over the aircraft, who cares?

[airnutz]

The very next day, I came across the movie "Reach for the Sky" (1956) on Turner Classic Movies - a bio flick about Douglas Bader. Freaky coincidence! Unfortunately, it appeared to be almost over by the time I tuned in - and in fact, it had ended and the rest of its time slot was taken up by the short film "24 Hour Alert" starring Jack Webb. I hit the record button and captured it to savor later.

While the story line was obviously contrived Cold War propaganda, it was great to be able to see color film footage of so many different front-line USAF jet aircraft when they were new and cutting-edge - in 1955!

Yeah, I managed to catch that broadcast as well. Not just any old Cold War propaganda film, but a "shame the NIMBY's back into the fold flick". After a rescue of the town mayor NIMBY in the Aero Commander the town was eventually treated to an open house airshow with an F-100 low pass with sonic boom, Various goodies on display...Douglas X-3, zero-launch F-84, some Navy piston stuff off in background, etc.....and eventually everyone didn't mind the noisy airbase so much in the end.

[Ztex]

The BOOM at 3:10 certainly is impressive!

The Bunker attack @ 4:31 is amazing!

I can't imagine doing this stuff... Thanks to them!