WIX Archives
Tony's research tip of the day....... Long
Posted by Tony on Thu Dec 13, 2001 04:51:49 PM
In reply top B-24s on Biak Island posted by Ron Henry on Thu Dec 13, 2001 02:18:39 PM
www.nara.gov
and no, I never knew that P-47's flew off aircraft carriers!
Control Number NWDNM(m)-342-USAF-18026
Media Motion picture films
Descr. Level Item
Record Group 342
Series USAF
Item 18026
Title MARIANA THUNDERBOLTS
Production Date 1945
Format silent, Edited, black & white.
Creating Org. United States Air Force.
Shot List Summary: Reels 1-4: World War II coverage of activities of the 7th AAF in the Pacific area showing the first P-47s to be catapulted from naval carriers; the first combat tests of napalm fire bombs by P-47s; the missions and firing of the first rockets from P-47s during 1944-1945. This film was made possible through the cooperation of the 318th Fighter Group, 804th Engineer Aviation Battalion and the 45th Fighter Sq. (USAAF. By the Documentary Photo Section A-2. (Note: In order to bridge certain gaps in aerial strike sequences impossible to obtain at Saipan, a few fill in scenes were staged with the cooperation of the 45th Fighter Sqdn. 15th group on Oahu). THESE SCENES INCLUDE SOME P-47s FORMATlON SHOTS, DIVES, STRAFING AND THE FIRE BOMB RUNS. ALL O HER AERIAL STRIKE SEQUENCES HERE TAKEN WITH P-47 WING CAMERAS DURING ACTUAL COMBAT MISSIONS IN THE MARIANAS. CHIEF POINT IN THE LONG AIR-SEA ROUTE TO JAPAN IS SAIPAN ISLAND IN THE MARIANAS, 3200 MILES FROM HAWAII. TO CAPTURE THAT BASE AND OTHER ISLANDS IN THE MARIANAS, THE US ARMY, NAVY AND MARINE FORCES CARRIED OUT A CAMPAIGN UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS. FOR THE 7th AAF IT MARKED SEVERAL FIRSTS. FIRST TIME P-47s WERE CATAPULTED FROM CARRIERS. FIRST 7th AAF THUNDERBOLTS TO SEE COMBAT. FIRST 7th AAF PLANES TQ FIRE ROCKETS. FIRST COMBAT TESTS OF THE NEW NAPALM FIRE BOMB DROPPED BY P-47s. 1) MLS P-47 diving down over level terrain dropping Napalm bomb. Good shot as the plane drops the bomb -- Napalm Boab hitting small buildings and large burst of flame bellows up from the area. 2) Excellent shots of Napalm bomb explosion. FORWARD: THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THUNDERBOLTS IN THE MARIANAS CAMPAIGN WAS AIR DEFENSE. BUT SINCE NO ENEMY PLANES WERE ENCOUNTERED THE JOB RESOLVED ITSELF INTO FLYING DIRECT SUPPORT OF GROUND FORCES AND NEUTRALIZING ENEMY AIRFIELDS. STORY OF HOW 318th FIGHTER GROUP THUNDERBOLTS IN THE MARIANAS DID THEIR JOBS PEARL HARBOR -- 27 MAY 1944 -- 804th ENGINEERS AVIATION BATTALION LOADS AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT