Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In Big November 2008 Newsletter
Hello World War 2 plane fans —
You’re invited to drop by Zeno’s Drive-In www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com for this month’s full house of five World War 2 combat aircraft documentary films playing over the Internet, including three premiers and a brand new new eye popping color print of “The Fighting Lady.”
Just like the day we opened on July 15, 1997, all the World War II aircraft videos playing on our site are showing for free, for your viewing pleasure
Now showing “At the Matinée”
“B-58 Hustler: Bendix Trophy Race 1962” Premier! A pilot once said of the Convair B-58, “She looked like she was breaking the sound barrier just sitting on the tarmac.” At Mach 2 +, the B-58 wasn’t just one of the fastest bombers of her day, she was one of the fastest military planes period. On March 5th, 1962, Capt Robert G Sauer & his crew in “Tall Man 55” took off from Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, Texas to break three transcontinental speed records in one day, over 4,500 miles – “Operation Heat Rise.” The starting gate was Los Angeles, where the Hustler topped up her fuel. Along the way, she slowed briefly again for quick refuels, shown in detail, and reached New York City in just 2 hours & 56 seconds. Then, back to the West Coast, nonstop in 2hrs 15 minutes. The round trip was a total of 4 hours 41 minutes, including refueling, and all three times were transcontinental speed records.
“354th Fighter Group Color Scrapbook” Exclusive Production Rare color film of the legendary 354th Fighter Group, with over 700 Kills, the highest scoring American unit in Europe. You’ll see great aces like G.T. Eagleston and B.W. Carr at work and at play in their newly captured base in Germany in Spring, 1945, only a few months before war’s end. Nice scenes with the group’s well known P-51Ds too, including “Margie Maru” and “Angel’s Playmate.” This was the first group to fly P-51s in the ETO. They were known as the “Mustang Pioneers.” Amazing color gun camera film!
“Automatic Weapons: American vs. German” Premier! This film was produced by the War Department to familiarize American troops with the actual sound and performance of various German automatic weapons including the Schmeisser MP-40 machine pistol and the MG-40 and MG-42 machine guns. The higher rate of fire of the German weapons was cause for concern. The film uses a pair of memorable “shoot outs” to compare the relative strengths of the US weapons with their captured German counterparts. A Thompson and an M-3 “Grease Gun” face off against the German MP-40, and then the light and heavy versions of the American Browning .30 caliber face off against the German MG-34 and MG-42. The results are fascinating, although perhaps a tad miss-leading. (Was rate of fire fully factored in?) In any case, this is a one of a kind look at key World War II firearms.
“B-24 Liberators Over Europe” Premier! A remarkable film produced by the Eighth Air Force from combat camera footage showing B-24s in action over Europe. From Ploesti to Berlin, you’ll discover memorable Liberator scenes not found anywhere else, including pulse pounding air attacks. You’ll see B-24 crews up close too, along with their ships. Not to be missed for B-24 fans
“The Fighting Lady” A new color print from the National Archives really brings this film to life! “The Fighting Lady” follows the fictional career of an Essex Class aircraft carrier from the Marcus Islands campaign, through Tinian, Truk, the “Mariana’s Turkey Shoot” and much more. But don’t let the term “fictionalized” miss lead you. All of the footage shown in this fascinating composite documentary is real – shot by combat cameramen on board ship and in the air, showing actual Navy and Marine pilots and crewmen up close and personal. ("The Fighting Lady was actually the nickname given to the Yorktowns, CV-5 & CV-10.) You’ll see dramatic action showing Hellcats, Hell Divers, Corsairs on deck and in the air, including exciting dive bombing, anti-aircraft, and gun camera footage and some amazing walkaway crash landings. And there’s a fascinating tour below decks too. But most memorably, you’ll see the faces of the officers and enlisted men of the “Fighting Lady” at work and at rest, making it all possible. Powerfully narrated by Hollywood legend Lt. Robert Taylor and directed by Academy Award winner William Wyler.
If you haven’t stopped by Zeno’s Drive-In before, we also feature 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films and pilot’s manuals on how to fly the F4U, F6F, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-61, TBF/TBM, AT-6/SNJ, B-17, B-24, B-25, A-20, A-26, B-26, B-29, and Stearman N2S . Alert! – Alert! There’s been an F-86 jet sighted over Zeno’s Drive-In!
That’s over 16 hours of rockin’ World War II props for free viewing over the Internet!
Check Six!!
Zeno
Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In /World War II Aviation Videos. Celebrating 11 years on the Internet 1997-2008 http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com
PS, If you have any concerns about using the RealNetworks RealPlayer to watch our videos, I recommend using the “RealAlternative” media player instead. (It’s what I use.) It will play RealVideo files just fine, is independently produced, a small download, and has none of the purported vices of RealNetwork’s RealPlayer. You can download the RealAlternative player here:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/real_Alternative.htm
Online Videos: B-58 Hustlers, P-51 Aces, MG Shootout, Euro B-24s & more