Report from the Aleutians | 1943 Authentic Colour Film World War II | Colour Films 2013-07-01 | Report from the Aleutians, directed by John Huston, follows the daily life of American soldiers serving in the Aleutian Islands, which extend in sequence off the shores of Alaska. Despite being cold, barren, and generally disagreeable, the Aleutians held military bases of immense strategic value in the Pacific theater of World War II. The film describes the geographic importance of the islands, and provides a portrait of daily wartime operations, such as attack planning and bombing raids, that take place at the bases. Huston pays particular attention to life on the island of Adak in the wake of the Battle of Dutch Harbor, culminating in a first-person perspective of an actual American bombing run against the Japanese. Director John Huston, while a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1943, creates an Academy Award winning documentary, which he narrates with assistance from his actor father Walter, treating of the Armed Forces' successful effort to prevent the fall of the Aleutian Islands to advancing Japanese troops who had captured several islets. Although no claim can be reasonably made that this location was of major strategic importance during the War, it presented enormous tactical and logistic difficulty for those assigned there, and Huston's color film demonstrates the determined ensemble work upon the outpost of Adak by a wide range of military specialists who combat loneliness and boredom along with notably severe weather conditions. The work was made over a six month period, and is climaxed by the preparations for, followed by an actual filming of, a bombing run over Japanese-occupied Kiska, wherein Huston nearly lost his life, and which is significant for its combat footage and for the atmosphere of suspense present in the viewer who wonders if all will return safely.
FLASH BURN AND SHADOW DETAIL No.1 | Hiroshima A-Bomb, March 1946 World War II | Colour Films 2014-08-27 | Listed in the National Archives as "USAF-11076 FLASH BURN AND SHADOW DETAIL 03/21/1946 - 04/08/1946"
Pathfinders | D-Day in Colour World War II | Colour Films 2014-02-19 | (c) Pathfinders Training FilmAirborne and pathfinder forces did not see combat again until June 6, 1944, at the commencement of the D-Day landings of Operation Overlord. Pathfinders taking part in the Allied parachute assault on Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944 were trained by the Pathfinder School at RAF North Witham of which the USAAF designation was Army Air Force Station 479.At 21.30 hours on 5 June, about 200 pathfinders began to take off from North Witham, for the Cotentin Peninsula, in 20 C-47 aircraft of 9th Troop Carrier Command Pathfinder Group. They began to drop at 00.15 on June 6, to prepare the drop zones for the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. They were the first US troops on the ground on D-Day. However, their aircraft were scattered by low clouds and anti-aircraft fire. Many never found their assigned landing zones. Some of the landing zones were too heavily defended. Some were flooded.The low clouds and extremely intense anti-aircraft fire caused the pathfinder sticks to be dropped off course, with only one stick landing in the correct place (Ambrose, p. 196). Their radar beacons did work somewhat effectively; even though the pathfinders set up their equipment off course, many of the sticks of follow up paratroopers landed clustered near these beacons.However, the lights proved ineffective, as most were not set up due to the clouds and misdrops of the pathfinders.While the bad weather and heavy anti-aircraft curtailed the effectiveness of the pathfinder teams on D-Day, the overall airborne drop was a success. This was true because the misplacement and scattering of the airborne forces deceived the German High Command, convincing them that there were far more American parachutists present than there actually were in France.
D-Day in Colour | Full HQ World War II | Colour Films 2014-02-05 | (c) D-Day in Colour (2004), narrated by John HurtD-Day, 6th June 1944: the launch of Operation Overlord. The battle that began the liberation of Europe. The last moment the German Army might have rescued the fate of Adolf Hitler. The beginning of the end of the Second World War. D-Day is a date permanently etched in our nation's memory.From the makers of 'Britain At War In Colour', this documentary takes an in-depth look at the events and experiences of the greatest sea-borne invasion in history, focusing on the personal stories of those involved including not only the men in combat but also the family and friends anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.Narrated by John Hurt, 'D-Day In Colour' relives the events of those decisive yet perilous days and reflects on the private triumphs and personal tragedies that proved crucial to the outcome of the Second World War. It provides an intimate first-hand account of the arduous months and crucial hours that shaped the future peace of the civilised world. The vivid colour film and personal witness material combine with original sound archive to illustrate the reality of battle, the complexity of human emotions and the sacrifices that were made in the fateful summer of 1944.
The Last Bomb | 1945 Authentic Colour Documentary World War II | Colour Films 2014-02-03 | Academy Award-nominated documentary, which shows the 21st Bombing Command and its role in the B-29 bombing of Japan and the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO).
Japans War in Colour | 2004 Documentary with never seen before films World War II | Colour Films 2014-01-30 | (c) Japan's War in Colour (2004), narrated by Brian Cox. Japan's role in World War II gets a whole new perspective in this consisting entirely of full color footage, including color films from Japan that were recently discovered. As the visuals of the world war take on a new vivid immediateness, the story of the rise of the militarists in Japan is told through the personal writings of the Japanese themselves. From the first overconfident tastes of victory, to the devastating losses that led to an unthinkable defeat amidst the ruins, the Pacific Theater of World War II is told through the Japanese's eyes. It was assumed no color films existed in Japan until the victorious U.S. forces arrived in 1945. Now you can discover the story of a nation at war from its rare color films, plus letters and diaries from those who lived through it. Almost all the material in this color documentary has been recently discovered and allows the viewer to expereince Japanese culture and events from an entirely new perspective. Subject matter includes Imperial Japanese troops in 1931 Manchuria, remarkable domestic scenes of 1930s Japan, preparation for war in 1939, and images of occupation in 1940s Shanghai.
D-Day in Colour (FULL) World War II | Colour Films 2013-07-24 | (c) D-Day in Colour (2004), narrated by John HurtNew 480p version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhsYY7SY55QD-Day, 6th June 1944: the launch of Operation Overlord. The battle that began the liberation of Europe. The last moment the German Army might have rescued the fate of Adolf Hitler. The beginning of the end of the Second World War. D-Day is a date permanently etched in our nation's memory.From the makers of 'Britain At War In Colour', this DVD takes an in-depth look at the events and experiences of the greatest sea-borne invasion in history, focusing on the personal stories of those involved including not only the men in combat but also the family and friends anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.Narrated by John Hurt, 'D-Day In Colour' relives the events of those decisive yet perilous days and reflects on the private triumphs and personal tragedies that proved crucial to the outcome of the Second World War. It provides an intimate first-hand account of the arduous months and crucial hours that shaped the future peace of the civilised world. The vivid colour film and personal witness material combine with original sound archive to illustrate the reality of battle, the complexity of human emotions and the sacrifices that were made in the fateful summer of 1944.
The Last Bomb | 2008 Documentary with original colour film World War II | Colour Films 2013-07-18 | History in HD: The Last Bomb (c) Smithsonian Channel (2008)"History in HD: The Last Bomb" offers a unique look inside the tactical planning of one of the fist long-distance air raids launched by U.S air forces. The title of this World War II-era Technicolor film may seem to be misleading at first-it does not cover the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan, but the bombing raids carried out during the spring and summer of 1945. During that time, huge fleets of B-29 bombers, escorted by P-51 Mustang fighters, executed an intensive firebombing campaign of Japanese cities. Launched from hard-won south pacific island's, these 3,000 mile missions were considered one of the most dangerous of World War II. Thousands of miles of open ocean navigation, enemy aircraft, and engine failure were just a few of the threats the men faced as they flew into enemy territory.The raids were under command of General Curtis LeMay from bases on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam, the 21st Bomber Command became, in the words of this film, "a well-oiled machine of destruction," carrying out "the LeMay treatment." The film is compelling in its details: the way flights were tracked using colored strands of yarn stretched across maps; the strafing runs the P-51 fighters carried out after each bombing mission was complete, and the victory rolls they did on their return-one roll for each Japanese plane downed. Damaged bombers barely make it back to their landing fields after 3,000 mile runs; some are forced to ditch in the ocean and others crash, killing all on board.
The Fighting Lady (USS Yorktown) | 1944 Authentic Colour Film World War II | Colour Films 2013-07-01 | This film is a military documentary (Techicolor) told from the point of view of the crew of the aircraft carrier the Fighting Lady -- a pseudonym for the Yorktown. Scenes highlight the functions and duties of The Fighting Lady and crew activities, and maps illustrate the movement of the Pacific fleet and its engagement with the Japanese in 1943 and 1944. Footage shows the following: A-24 Dauntlesses, TBF Avengers, Hellcats and other aircrafts as they flew out to the carrier, and the August 30, 1943, strafing and bombing mission over Japanese - held Marcus Island -- from preparation on the carrier to debriefing. Later scenes cover 1944, when the U.S. forces took Kwajalein Island, the Marshall Islands, Truk Islands, and Caroline Islands through air assaults and troop landings. Mitsubishi Zero-Sens (Zekes) engaged the U.S. Navy assault force and the ship squadron returned to the Marshall Islands for repairs, munitions, and rest and recreation. En route to the battle area, the Fighting Lady encountered and downed a Japanese reconnaissance plane. On the eve of battle, sailors attended church services. Prior to the U.S. assault, the Japanese attacked the U.S. squadron and U.S. planes took off for the Marianas and the Guam Islands where they successfully fought at the Tinian and Mariana Islands. The Japanese and U.S. task forces then fought in the Philippine Sea, where planes engaged in dogfights while ships performed evasive maneuvers. Final scenes show U.S. casualties buried at sea.
The 6th Marine Division on Okinawa | 1945 Authentic Colour Film World War II | Colour Films 2013-07-01 | The 6th Marine Division on Okinawa is a 1945 Kodachrome color documentary film produced about the action of its 6th Division during the Battle of Okinawa. The film was released shortly after the event. During the campaign for Okinawa (Operation Iceberg) the Sixth Marine Division was assigned to the III Amphibious Corps. This Academy Award nominated Kodachrome color documentary film tells the story of the 82 days fighting on the Island of Okinawa.
To the Shores of Iwo Jima | 1945 Authentic Colour Film World War II | Colour Films 2013-06-15 | To the Shores of Iwo Jima is a 1945 Kodachrome color short war film produced by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. It documents the Battle of Iwo Jima, and was the first time that American audiences saw in color the footage of the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima. An Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary, this 20 minute Technicolor production unfolds with graphic energy the nearly month long battle for Iwo Jima, a volcanic island lying 700 miles southeast of Japan, in which 20000 Japanese and nearly 7000 American fighting men were killed, a struggle eternalized by Joe Rosenthal's photograph of five Marines and a Navy corpsman raising a giant U.S. flag atop 550 foot high Mt. Suribachi, cinematically captured here in this well-edited (by Warner Bros.) effort.
The Battle of Midway | 1942 Authentic 16mm Colour Film World War II | Colour Films 2013-06-15 | The Battle of Midway, directed by John Ford, provides a relatively brief account of the Japanese attack of American ships at Midway atoll. The film is comprised mostly of authentic footage from the battle, with dramatic narration by Henry Fonda. "Behind every cloud, there may be an enemy," he intones as American fighter pilots search the sky. The rest of the film mocks Emporer Tojo of Japan and portrays him as ruthless, bombing hospitals and churches as he tries to conquer the Pacific.
