Normandy, The Airborne Invasion of Fortress Europe (R1 of 6)

Summary

Reel 1 HEADQUARTERS, ATS COMMAND, WRIGHT FIELD, OHIO. CU Air Force general seated at desk-sign below same "Lt Gen William S. Knudsen." CU General Knudson delivering intrduction speech about film to be presented. THE AIRBORNE INVASION OF FORTRESS EUROPE. FROM THE ARMY AIR FORCES COMBAT FILM SERVICE PICTURE, D Z NORMANDY CU Field Order No. 1, 9th Troop Carrier Command CU page of Field Order No. 1. Par. 2-"9th Troop Carrier Command will transport and resupply parachute glider elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division and will be prepared to transport elements of the British 1st Airborne Division as directed CS man stamping Field Order, "Top secret" CS Capt. of the 82nd Airborne Division briefing men using mosaic showing terrain CS animation of location or principle cities in Europe: London, Berlin, Talais, Paris, LeHavre Animation of coastal defenses on European continent PS giant concrete coastal gun emplacement PS large German railroad coastal gun being moved up out of the concrete shelter, German gun troops preparing to fire same. Several quick scenes of various coastal gun defenses showing concrete structures, sandbag structures, and shots of a concrete base gun turret revolving CS huge coastal guns protruding from concrete gun emplacement PS huge steel and concrete tank barriers stretched across land PS large concrete and steel structure built along coast preventing assault craft from landing CS interior staff officer planning level, United Nations, representatives at table MS chiefs of staff of the United Nations conferring at large table. Marshall and Arnold sit near head of table Animation of invasion area near LeHavre PS from air of large airfield in Africa showing C-47 taking off towing glider. Large area covered with gliders and C-47s GS of C-47s taking off towing gliders from airfield in Africa for the invasion of Sicily. Troops being transported from British 1st Airborne and the American 82nd Airborne Division ADS dust raised as the aircraft takes off from desert airfield AS of other C-47s in flight towing gliders AS of C-47s towing gliders over water ADS of four C-47s towing gliders, low altitude over water Several CUs demolished gliders on airfields-gliders used in invasion of Sicily. Glider crack-up due to pilot inability to stop prior to crashing into obstacle or crashing into ditches. INFORMATION TAKEN FROM FILM: Much information learned on glider operations from this field. Development of air brake and better control on gliders for future operation CS of gliders crashed in open field along coast and on edge or water showing demolished conditions of same CS glider lying, mostly submerged, along coast; fuselage, fabric torn from same, wing section badly damaged PS of dead paratrooper lying on edge of water near demolished glider AS C-47s in formation above clouds CU interior of aircraft showing parachutist jumping out of same. Jump scene in New Guinea AS interior aircraft showing multi-parachute jump in New Guinea AS formation of C-47s flying through clouds LS parachute jump in New Guinea CS instructor and paratroopers receiving training in the United states CS two men attaching link nose chain to glided. Name on glider, "Griswald Nose" used to protect glider and reinforce same during landing CS parachute arrester attached to rear underside of glider; parachutist pulling same from holder MS showing parachute extended and held open by men, showing size of same CU interior glider in flight showing pilot talking over intercomm, pilot of glider talking to plane pulling glider in flight AS taken from flider showing C-47 and tow line extending from tail to nose of glider Nose camera shot taken from glider as it descends toward open field. Other gliders parked in area. Glider comes in for landing towards stake to which white flag is tied PS B-25 taking off towing CG-4a glider PS P-38 taking off towing same PS PBY-5A taking off towing glider PS B-17 taking off towing two gliders LS RV C-54 taking off towing 3 gliders LS head-on view, C-54 taking off towing three gliders, same passing directly overhead CS airborne aviation engineers loading equipment into door of C-47 CS of engineer backing tractor into glider CS cover of War Department Training Circular No. 113 Dolly shot down light line showing practice alert of fast loading paratroopers, men and equipment being moved rapidly across field, loading into glider, CG-4A CS men lifting rear section up for loading heavy equipment into ramp CS raising nose section of glider for loading vehicles into front end. Loading men and equipment into CG-4A Good coverage showing activity on the airfield, men and equipment in preparations for fast loading for mission CS jeep being backed into front end of loading ramp of glider CS loading trailer into glider CS loading small cannon and carriage into glider CS paratroops running out and boarding glider CU interior glider, men getting into position CS pilot walking into plane, taking over controls.