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#1

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In September Newsletter

You are invited to drop by Zeno’s Drive-In www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com and catch our latest World War II aviation features for FREE online video viewing. This month “At the Matinee,” we’re showing “Winged Artillery,” featuring 75mm canon firing B-25s, "Target for Tonight,"A classic film featuring an RAF Wellington bomber on a night mission to Germany, and “P-47 Combat Operations,” featuring Thunderbolts in action in a variety of roles.

And we just added a free download of a complete 50 page De Havilland Mosquito FB V1 pilot’s manual for Mossy fans everywhere.! (The downloads we added recently for Spitfire II and Me-262 pilot’s manuals are extremely
popular.)

Now showing online “At the Matinee”

  • “Winged Artillery” Nine 75mm canon firing B-25Gs of the 48th Bomb Squadron, 7AAF, based on Apamama in the Gilbert Islands, conduct a hair raising tree top level strike on the Japanese air base on Mille. Also features amazingly well preserved and very rare color footage of daily life of air crew and ground personnel stationed on Apamama and Tarawa. As a bonus, you’ll watch Sea Bees using heavy equipment to transform these hard won tropical atolls into fully functioning air bases and ground crews
    maintaining the Mitchell’s massive canons.
  • “Target for Tonight” RAF Bomber Command in a Night Action. This vintage film follows the crew “F for Freddie,” a Vicker’s Wellington medium bomber (Millerton Station, Group 33), through an entire low level night mission attacking a oil storage depot at a rail yard.Notice how the film highlights the participation of not only servicemen from all classes from around the British Isles, but also Canadians and a navigator that sounds a lot like a yank volunteer. The film exemplifies the understatement, dry humor, and “business as usual” approach typical of British information films of the period, along with a clear “get the job done” attitude.
  • “P-47 Combat Operations” This film was shown to fledgling Jug pilots before they shipped out to forward air bases around the world. This engrossing video features a half dozen real pilots flying real missions in a variety of roles in all theater of war, including very rare footage of Thunderbolt napalm attacks against Japanese pill boxes in the Pacific. You’ll hear the action described in their wn words, including a liberal sprinkling of vintage pilot slang. Another fine narration by Ronald Reagan

And if you haven’t stopped by Zeno’s Drive-In before, we also feature 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films 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, Stearman N2S and a different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet. And we just added a section on P-51 variant specs.

Finally, we’ve revised, expanded, and updated our “Control Tower” links page, which has the largest collection of World War II Aviation links on the 'net

So drop your flaps & drop in! That’s http//www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

#2

Some jolly good stuff there old chap, keep it up old bean (can you tell Ive watched the target for tonight vid?)

#3

Righto!

#4

Honestly though, good stuff. A really good site. Thaks for bringing it to my attention.

#5

Hi Zeno,
Already I posted those 2 manuals
http://www.ww2incolor.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=25710#25710

http://www.ww2incolor.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=965

Thanks mate!
Dani

#6

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In October Newsletter

You are invited to drop by Zeno’s Drive-In www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com and catch our latest World War II aviation features for free online video viewing. This month “At the Matinee,” we’re showing “P-38 Reconnaissance Pilot,” starring William Holden, “Target for Today,” a 90-minute, very detailed feature documentary showing all aspects of an 8th Air Force mission deep into Germany, and “FlAK,” a facinating film that explores the capabilities of AXIS AAA, how it was used and how to avoid it.

And we recently added free downloads of a complete pilot’s manuals for the De Havilland Mosquito FB V1, Spitfire II and Me-262.

Now showing online “At the Matinee”

  • “Reconnaissance Pilot” Stars William Holden (“Bridge on the River Kwai”) as Lt. “Packy” Cummings. Photo recon pilots (Photo Joes) had one of the riskiest, highest impact jobs in the war. Flying camera equipped, unarmed, and often unescorted aircraft – in this case the Lockheed F-5, a “stripped down” P-38 – pilots flew deep into enemy territory. “Reconnaissance Pilot” follows Packy Cummings. from basic training to the skies over New Guinea. He’s not particularly happy to be flying reconnaissance – his Dad was a renowned World War I ace recently killed by the Japanese and he wants revenge. The story of the film is how Packy comes to realize the absolutely essential nature of photo recon and how one Foto Joe can have more deadly impact than a whole squadron of combat '38s. Along the way, you’ll learn about photo recon and see some nice F-5 footage. The climax of the film, an action packed clash with a Japanese Zero, is based on a real incident where Alex Gary, the most decorated US recon pilot of the War, deep sixed his opponent without firing a shot.
  • “Target for Today” The 8th Air Force Strikes Germany This is the classic World War II documentary of a “maximum effort” US Eighth Air Force daylight bombing mission deep into Germany. There are no actors in “Target For Today”. This film was shot on location under combat conditions and features the officers and men of the 8th Air Force going about their deadly business. All aspects of an actual major raid in 1943, including a strike on the FW 190 plant at Marienburg, from early planning through final touch down and crew debriefings are covered in this very detailed account. There is probably no better account of the theory, strategy and tactics of an unescorted US Army Air Force bomber raid in early 1943. While the film doesn’t sugar coat the cost of these raids, there’s no doubt that it also over states the effectiveness and sustainability of the American bombing campaign at that time Losses were not sustainable. (The audible moan from air crew when the targets and bombing altitudes are announced are all too real.)
  • “FLAK” is a fascinating World War II training film for pilots on the theory and practice of evading antiaircraft fire. (“FLAK” is a German acronym for Fliegerabwehrkanone = “Flyer Defense Cannon.” ) The specifications, capabilities, and targeting methods of a variety of German and Japanese AAA pieces are discussed as well as both high and low altitude evasions tactics. Well illustrated with charts, animations, and combat film.

And if you haven’t stopped by Zeno’s Drive-In before, we also feature 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films 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, Stearman N2S and a different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet. And we just added a section on P-51 variant specs.

Finally, we’ve revised, expanded, and updated our “Control Tower” links page, which has the largest collection of World War II Aviation links on the 'net

So drop your flaps & drop in! That’s http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

Zeno

#7

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In November Newsletter

You are invited to drop by Zeno’s Drive-In www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com and catch our latest World War II aviation features for free online video viewing. This month “At the Matinee,” we’re showing the action packed P-47 Squadron documentary. “Thunderbolt,” a rare look inside life on the Flight Deck of a World War to Carrier in “Landing and Respotting Aircraft,” and a fascinating documentary on US bomber action in Tunisa, “Bombers over North Africa.”

And we just adedd added a free download of a pilot’s handbook for the IL-2 "Sturmovik"joining manuals for the De Havilland Mosquito FB V1, Spitfire II and Me-262.

Now showing online “At the Matinee”

  • Thunderbolt" This exciting film chronicles the exploits of the P-47 Thunderbolt pilots of the “Fighting Gamecocks” of the 65th Fighter squadron, 57th Fighter Group. Based on the island of Corsica off the northwest coast of the Italian boot, they flew from behind the enemy’s flank. As part of “Operation Strangle,” they continuously attacked highways, bridges,ammo dumps, railroads and just about anything that moved to choke off the flow of supplies to the Axis front line. This film not only features one-of-a-kind P-47 combat footage, it also shows day-to-day life on a MTO forward air base, including vintage pilot slang. “This has to be finest combination of great photography, a hard bitten, realistic script, stirring music, powerful narration and full bore Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59W Double Wasp radial engine roar I have seen or heard in a World War II documentary. Truly memorable and highly recommended.”

    *“Landing & Respotting aircraft” (This film is the companion piece to “Catapulting from a Carrier,” which we showed a few months ago.) Major air battles in the Pacific in World WarII often turned on the ability of each side to quickly launch, land, rearm & refuel, and then relaunch their aircraft. This unique film is an unusual look (in color) at how US Navy carrier flight deck crews were trained to quickly land, park, fuel & re-arm incoming aircraft. As a bonus, you’ll see GM FM-1 “Wildcats” and Grumman TBF “Avengers” up close, handled expertly on the tiny deck of a CVE “jeep” escort carrier. Built on merchant men hulls, the 78 jeeps were pressed into service for a variety of rolls, including anti submarine war in the Atlantic and covering amphibious landings in the Pacific, Their greatest moment came on Oct. 35, 1944, in the battle of Samar in the Philippines, when the CVEs of Task Group 77.4 (Task units “Taffy 1, 2, 4”) launched a furious attack on Adm. Kurita’s overwhelming task force and caused it to retreat. The CVE St Lo was lost and several others were heavily damaged, but the landing at Leyte was successfully protected.

    *“Bombers Over North Africa” This is a rare look at early war US Air Operations in North Africa. B-25 and B-17 bombers of the 321st and 97th Bomb Group help cut off Rommel’s retreat from Tunisia. Part of the “North West African Strategic Air Force,” these groups were initially tasked with preventing men and material from reaching the Afrika Korps, and later with preventing them from escaping. The missions for the day of this film were to strike from bases in Algeria at the junction at Manouba, near Tunis, and the air field at Sidi Ahmed, near Bizerte, where a large number of extremely valuable JU 52 transports were based, a key element in German evacuation plans. (Ironically, the 321st would soon occupy Sidi Ahmed as their new base for the Sicilian campaign.) The film features an introduction by the theater commander, then 4 star General, Dwight Eisenhower and anafterword by Air Operations Commanding General “Jimmy” Doolittle.

And if you haven’t stopped by Zeno’s Drive-In before, we also feature 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films 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, Stearman N2S and a different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet. And we just added a section on P-51 variant specs. Finally, we’ve revised, expanded, and updated our “Control Tower” links page, which has the largest collection of World War II Aviation links on the 'net

So drop your flaps & drop in! That’s http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

Zeno

#8

That’s some awesome stuff! Thanks Zeno. Everyone be sure to check out some of his films.

#9

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In December Newsletter

You are invited to take a break from the Holiday hustle and drop Zeno’s Drive-In www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com and watch this month’s World War II aviation features for free online video viewing. This month “At the Matinee,” we’re showing one of Zeno’s favorites, “A Day with the A-36s,” “Target Tokyo,” the dramatic story of the first long distance Boeing B-29 raid from Saipan, and the return of the classic World War II carrier documentary, “The Fighting Lady,” a fan favorite.

We recently added a free download of a pilot’s handbook for the IL-2 “Sturmovik” joining manuals for the De Havilland Mosquito FB V1, Spitfire II and the Me-262 jet fighter.

Now showing online “At the Matinee”

  • A Day with the A-36s" This unique documentary features very rare color combat footage of an A-36A “Invader,” (ground attack version of the P-51 Mustang) fighter/bomber squadron in action in Sicily. The A-36A was equipped with the Mustang’s original Allison engine, as opposed to the Rolls Royce Merlin adapted so successfully in the escort versions, which worked just fine for low level work. There are dive breaks on the wings too! You’ll also see ground crews doing their critical support work, including fueling, rearming and maintaining these sleek birds. This exciting film includes incredible cockpit views of actual ground attack runs as well as fascinating views of a captured air Italian base. One of the hidden gems in this film are up close views of captured or destroyed Axis aircraft, including an He 111, FW-190, Ju 88, and a rare view of an intact Italian Macchi 202 “Folgore” in full desert cammo.

    *“Target Tokyo” Follow the men of the 21st Bomber Command and their B-29 Super Fortresses from their training base in Grand Island, Nebraska, to the newly built air base at Saipan and then right into the first 3,000 mile raid on Tokyo. Great up close and personal footage of the lives of air & ground crews, along with rare B-29 combat film shot on that first big raid on the Nakajima aircraft plant. Features cameos of crew members of the famous B-17 “Memphis Belle,” who signed up for another tour of duty to fly B-29s against Japan. Narrated by Ronald Reagan. “This film is especially memorable for it’s dramatic use of photo-journalistic style black and white cinematography. It’s as if one of those great photo essays from a World War II issue of “Life” magazine was brought to life on the screen.” Zeno

    “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” 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 upclose 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.

And if you haven’t stopped by Zeno’s Drive-In before, we also feature free online viewing of 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy training films 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, Stearman N2S and different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet. And we just added a section on P-51variant specs. Finally, don’t miss our “Control Tower” links page, which has the largest collection of World War II Aviation links on the 'net

Happy Holidays to Warbird fans everywhere from everyone here at Zeno’s Drive-In !

Zeno

http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

#10

this a movie with a cast or just a bio on these ships?

#11

It is a documentary, not a “Hollywood movie.” The cast are the real participants, not actors. The story is fictionalized only to the extent that footage from several carriers has been edited togeter to create "the Fighting Lady.

You can see the film for yourself at

http://zenoswarbirdvideos.com/MATINEE.html

Regards,

Zeno

#12

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In January 2006 Newsletter

You are invited to take a break from the Holiday hustle and drop Zeno’s Drive-In www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com and watch this month’s World War II aviation features for free online video viewing. This month “At the Matinee,” we’re showing a P-47 fan favorite, “Ramrod to Emden,” “Recognition of the Japanese Zero,” including rare footage of a captured Zeke, and the return of the classic World War II US Bomber documentary, “Clark Gables’s ‘Combat America.’”

New Spit Alert! We just added a free download of a pilot’s handbook for the Spitfire Mk IX, XI & XVI, joining manuals for the IL-2 “Sturmovik” joining manuals for the De Havilland Mosquito FB V1, Spitfire II and the Me-262 jet fighter. The new Spit IX manual is one of the best yet.

Now showing online “At the Matinee”

  • Ramrod to Emden" The 56th Fighter Group (made up of the 61, 62 & 63 squadrons) was one of the most storied Air Corps units of World War II. Home to aces like David Schilling (22 kills), Frances “Gabby” Gabreski (28), Robert S. Johnson (27), Fred Christensen (21.5), Walker Mahurin (21), and CO Hubert “Hub” Zemke (18), the 56th blazed an early trail across the skies of the ETO in their massive, but deadly P-47 Thunderbolts. “Ramrod to Emden” is the story of the Dec 11, 1943 bomber escort mission (aka “a ramrod”) to Emden, Germany. As you’ll see in the film, the 56th encountered heavy, determined opposition from Germans, but it proved to be an exceptionally productive day. With Lt. Col. Schilling leading 50 planes of the group, they claimed 17-0-5, with two aircraft lost in a midair collision and no aircraft lost to enemy action. Allied bomber losses were minimal

    *“Recognition of the Japanese Zero Fighter with Ronald Reagan”
    Lieutenant “Jimmy Saunders” (Ronald Reagan) learns how to tell a P-40 from Japanese A6M Zero, the hard way. (That’s a very angry Craig Stevens aka “Peter Gunn” on the receiving end.) Contains plenty of interesting info about what US pilots were told about Japan’s most produced and feared fighter and how to spot it. Includes seldom seen footage of a captured Zero doing spectacular aerobatics. Even though this is “only” a 20-minute training film “the Gipper” gives a very convincing performance as the cocky yet apprehensive new P-40 pilot, Jimmy Saunders. This earnest commitment to give his very best, regardless of the size or scope of the job, was a hallmark of his long and distinguished career

    “Combat America” (Color) This warm hearted documentary was produced, written, directed, and narrated by movie star Clark Gable while he was on assignment with the 8th Air Force, developing a gunnery training film. Though it contains plenty of combat footage and doesn’t flinch in showing the high cost of war in the air, in many ways, it’s more of a warm home movie than a hard bitten, wartime “information” film. Gable chronicles the experiences of the men of the 351 Bombardment Group from the cool early morning mists of Colorado to the frigid skies over Germany. His affection and admiration for these men comes through loud and clear. This film is like a Kodachrome album out of the past, giving us snapshots of life on a front line air base in 1943. Though he doesn’t mention it in the film (and generally keeps himself in the background) Gable flew combat missions with the Group until he was ordered to stop by “the brass” He was 42 at the time and of course, a Hollywood Star. But, he felt he couldn’t accurately portray the air war unless he shared the experiences of the men who fought it. He did. It shows.

Regards,

Zeno

http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com
Vids: Thunderbolts, Zeros, Gables B-17s+Spit9 manual

#13

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In Februarry 2006 Newsletter

You are invited to drop by Zeno’s Drive-In at www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com and watch this month’s quadruple (!) feature of World War II aviation films for free online video viewing.

Now showing online “At the Matinee”

  • “Fight For the Sky.” In February of 1944, General Jimmy Doolittle “turned loose” his fighters to go after the Luftwaffe where they lived. This marked a radical change in strategy from the disastrous tactics of 1943 that kept escorting fighters chained to bombers. Now, US fighters, including the P-51, probed deep into Germany, catching the opposition on the ground, inflicting mortal damage. This feature combines thrilling combat footage filmed by 8th Air Force combat cameramen with some of the most action packed, down and dirty World War II gun camera film you’ll ever see. This is the original, uncut 40-minute version of “The Fight for the Sky” featuring twice the rock 'em sock 'em action of the heavily edited postwar release previously shown at the Drive-In.

    *“Mission Accomplished” On August 17, 1942 eighteen B-17Es from the 97th Heavy Bombardment Group, Eighth Bomber Command (later Eighth Air Force) from Grafton Underwood, performed the first daylight raid over Northern Europe by US heavy bombers. Escorted by RAF Spit Vs & IXs, 6 bombers ran a diversion along the French coast, while 12 more Fortresses attacked the primary target, the important rail yards at Sotteville, France, near Rouen. This mission was a crucial first step in establishing the efficay of American daylight precision bombing doctrine. Though small in scale, the raid was a success, with precision hits on important rail assets, with only two Fortresses sustaining minor damage. Lucky for us, combat cameramen recorded this historic action from briefing through "bombs away.

    *“Flight Deck: Crew Landing & Respotting Aircraft” (COLOR) Major air battles in the Pacific in World War II often turned on the ability of each side to quickly launch, land, rearm & refuel, and then relaunch their aircraft. This unique film is an unusual look (in color) at how US Navy carrier flight deck crews were trained to quickly land, park, fuel & re-arm incoming aircraft. As a bonus, you’ll see GM FM-1 “Wildcats” and Grumman TBF “Avengers” up close, handled expertly on the tiny deck of a CVE “jeep” escort carrier.

    *“Uncrating and Field Assembly of the P-47 Thunderbolt” This truly remarkable step-by-step training film shows how a ground support crew of fifty men could assemble a P-47 in a field using nothing more than muscle, unpowered hand tools, and pieces of the shipping crate it came in. We’re talking nothing more than hammers, wrenches and bicycle pumps!You’ll also get a unique look at the inner workings of the big Jug as it is literally bolted together buy field personnel. A must see for P-47 fans and shade tree mechanics alike!“One of my personal favorites!” Zeno

    New Spit Alert! We’ve added a free download of a pilot’s handbook for the Spitfire Mk IX, XI & XVI, joining manuals for the IL-2 “Sturmovik” joining manuals for the De Havilland Mosquito FB V1, Spitfire II and the Me-262 jet fighter.

If you haven’t stopped by Zeno’s Drive-In before, we also feature “live on line” video for twenty four 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films 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, Stearman N2S and a different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.”

That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ World War II props for free viewing over the internet.

Zeno
Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos playing live online – 24/7
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

WW2 Videos Online: Furious Fighters, B-17s & Carrier Action

#14

Great videos, certainly interesting viewing!

#15

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In March 2006 Newsletter

You are invited to drop by Zeno’s Drive-In - www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com - and watch this month’s World War II aviation features for free online video viewing. “At the Matinee,” we’re showing nonstop A-36 dive bomber action in “Air Attacks Against Italy,” “The Last Bomb,” with rare color footage of a long range P-51 escorted B-29 raid on Tokyo, “Angel in Overalls” featuring the versatile P-38 Lightning in a variety of combat roles, and “B-24s Get Back,” with amazing footage of B-24 Liberators making it home.

And we’ve just added color excerpts from an A-20 Havoc/Boston pilots manual to our “More Neat Stuff” archive, joining free downloads of manuals for the Spitfire Mk IX, XI & XVI, the IL-2 “Sturmovik,” the De Havilland Mosquito FB V1, Spitfire II and the Me-262 jet fighter and more.

“Air Attacks Against Italy” More exciting “from the cockpit” views of A-36 Invader (aka “Apache”) dive bombing & strafing attacks. (The A-36, ground attack version of the P-51 Mustang, is also featured in our popular “A Day with the A-36s.”) This is a short film, but it’s nonstop action! Some of the best footage of US dive bombing attacks you will find anywhere. Watching these high speed, precision attacks definitely benefits from a broadband internet connection if you have access to one.

“The Last Bomb” vividly documents one of the almost forgotten chapters of World War II: the extreme long range B-29 bombing raids on Japan. Launched from hard won Pacific islands, these missions were over 3,000 miles round trip and could take 12 hours or more to complete. You’ll also see the huge B-29 bases that were carved out on Guam, Tinian and Saipan. This rare late war color film, shot by combat camera men, documents all aspects of a XXI Bomber Command long distance daylight strike carried out at just 12,000’ (!) on Tokyo in 1945. The mission is covered from initial planning stage by General Curtis LeMay and his staff, through fighter action and “bombs away” over target, to final touch down. As an added bonus, there’s plenty of spectacular gun camera footage taken by escorting P-51 Mustangs ranging over southern Japan seeking targets of opportunity in the air and on the deck. These Mustang sorties were some of the longest and riskiest missions undertaken by any fighter units during World War II. Just imagine – flying thousands of miles over trackless ocean in a single engine ship to take on the enemy over their own territory!

“Angel in Overalls” This film was developed to show US Lockheed P-38 production line workers the Lightning at war in a wide variety of combat roles. The dramatic framing for the piece involves a straggling B-24 that is saved from certain destruction by the arrival of “Angels in Overalls” – P-38s.You’ll see all aspects of Lightnings in action, including air-to-air gun camera, bombing, rocketing and photo recon. There’s a cameo by Air Corps P-38 ace of aces Dick Bong too. The dramatic ending of this film brings home a sobering reminder that the life of the fighter pilot was risky and dangerous. Many young pilots made the ultimate sacrifice.

“B-24s Get Back!” This remarkable film shows how B-24s overcame incredible battle damage to bring their crews home. See numerous examples of seemingly fatally damaged B-24s naking incredible landings. This is a fascinating training film too with specific techniques to bring your badly crippled Liberator down safely. Some great B-24 combat footage too.

If you haven’t stopped by Zeno’s Drive-In before, we also feature 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films 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, Stearman N2S and different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet.

Regards,

Zeno
Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

#16

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In June 2006 Newsletter

You are invited to drop by Zeno’s Drive-In - www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com - and watch this month’s World War II aviation features for free online video viewing. “At the Matinee,” we’re showing nonstop action in “A Day with the A-36s,” “Black Cat PBY,” with exciting Navy PBY night action in the Pacific, and a Drive-In favorite, “Target for Today” showing all aspects of an 8th Air Force bombing raid on Germany in 1943.

“A Day with the A-36s” This unique documentary features very rare color combat footage of an A-36A “Invader,” (ground attack version of the P-51 Mustang) fighter/bomber squadron in action in Sicily. The A-36A was equipped with the Mustang’s original Allison engine, as opposed to the Rolls Royce Merlin adapted so successfully in the escort versions, which worked just fine for low level work. There are dive breaks on the wings too! You’ll also see ground crews doing their critical support work, including fueling, rearming and maintaining these sleek birds. This exciting film includes incredible cockpit views of actual ground attack runs as well as fascinating views of a captured air Italian base. One of the hidden gems in this film are up close views of captured or destroyed Axis aircraft, including an He 111, FW-190, Ju 88, and a rare view of an intact Italian Macchi 202 “Folgore” in full desert cammo.

“Black Cat PBY” What was that mysterious plane swooping down out of the night sky on unsuspecting Japanese ships and bases, hundreds of miles from any known American airstrip? The answer was, as you’ll see in this good humored, affectionate film, the slow, ungainly, but deadly “Black Cat” PBY. Though designed primarily as a reconnaissance and antisubmarine amphibious patrol plane, the big twin-engined Catalina’s super long range, all weather capability, capacity to lug both bombs and radar, ability to loiter for hours hunting convoys, and operate from anywhere in the watery PTO, made it an ideal naval night attack bomber. One of the least known stories of the war in the Pacific, these black painted PBY “VPB” ('Patrol Bombing") squadrons spread destruction far out of proportion to their small numbers. A favorite tactic was to cut their engines and float in silently on their prey. As this film shows, night ops were very risky, but the rewards could be huge, including the sinking of a 6,000 ton Katori class light cruiser by Lt. William B Sumpler, of VPB-33, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross.

“Target for Today” The 8th Air Force Strikes Germany This is the classic World War II documentary of a “maximum effort” US Eighth Air Force daylight bombing mission deep into Germany. There are no actors. This film was shot on location under combat conditions and features the officers and men of the 8th Air Force going about their deadly business. All aspects of an actual major raid in 1943, including a strike on the FW 190 plant at Marienburg, from early planning through final touch down and crew debriefings are covered in this very detailed account. There is probably no better record of the theory, strategy and tactics of an unescorted US Army Air Force bomber raid in early 1943. While the film doesn’t sugar coat the cost of these raids, there’s no doubt that it also over states the effectiveness and viability of the American strategic daylight bombing campaign at that time. Heavy attrition was not sustainable. (The audible moan heard from aircrew when the targets and bombing altitudes are announced are all too real.) It took the introduction in early 1944 of the new Merlin engined, long range version of the P-51 Mustang fighter to turn the tide in favor of the Americans over Germany.

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. And there are different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet.

Zeno
Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com
Vids: A-36 dive bombing, Black Cat PBY, Target for Today @Zeno’s

#17

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In July 2006 Newsletter

You are invited to drop by Zeno’s Drive-In - www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com - and watch this month’s World War II aviation features for free online video viewing. “At the Matinee,” we’re showing s cool collection of World War II air action guaranteed to beat the summer heat: “P-38 Reconnaissance Pilot," " Target Tokyo," and a Drive-In favorite, “Combat America.”

“P-38 Reconnaissance Pilot” Starring William Holden (“Bridge on the River Kwai”) as Lt. “Packy” Cummings. Photo recon pilots (Photo Joes) had one of the riskiest, highest impact jobs in the war. Flying camera equipped, unarmed, often unescorted aircraft – in this case the Lockheed F-5, a “stripped down” P-38 – pilots flew deep into enemy territory. “Reconnaissance Pilot” follows Packy Cummings. from basic training to the skies over New Guinea. He’s not particularly happy to be flying reconnaissance – his Dad was a renowned World War I ace recently killed by the Japanese and he wants revenge. The story of the film is how Packy comes to realize the absolutely essential nature of photo recon and how one Foto Joe can have more deadly impact than a whole squadron of combat '38s. Along the way, you’ll learn about photo recon and see some nice F-5 footage, The climax of the film, an action packed clash with a Japanese Zero, is based on a real incident where Alex Gary, the most decorated US recon pilot of the War, deep sixed his opponent without firing a shot.

“Target Tokyo” Follow the men of the 21st Bomber Command and their B-29 Superfortresses from their training base in Grand Island, Nebraska, to the newly built air base at Saipan and right into the first 3,000 mile raid on Tokyo. Great up close and personal footage of the lives of air & ground crews, along with rare B-29 combat film shot on that first big raid on the Nakajima aircraft plant. Features cameos of crewmembers of the famous B-17 “Memphis Belle,” who signed up for another tour of duty to fly B-29s against Japan. Narrated by Ronald Reagan.
“This film is especially memorable for it’s dramatic use of photo-journalistic style black and white cinematography. It’s as if one of those great photo essays from a World War II issues of “Life” magazine was put right on the screen.” Zeno

“Combat America”
This warm hearted documentary was produced, written, directed, and narrated by movie star Clark Gable while he was on assignment with the 8th Air Force, developing a gunnery training film. Though it contains plenty of combat footage and doesn’t flinch in showing the high cost of war in the air, in many ways, it’s more of a warm home movie than a hard-bitten, wartime “information” film. Gable chronicles the experiences of the men of the 351 Bombardment Group from the cool early morning mists of Colorado to the frigid skies over Germany. His affection and admiration for these men comes through loud and clear. This film is like a Kodachrome album out of the past, giving us snapshots of life on a front line air base in 1943.

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. And there are different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet.

Zeno
Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

#18

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In August 2006 Newsletter

Hello World War 2 Airplane Fans –

Zeno’s Drive-In - www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com – is celebrating our Ninth Anniversary streaming free World War 2 aviation videos over the internet to more than two million visitors.

This month At the Matinee, we’re showing four memorable films: “Raids on Ploesti," “Ramrod to Emden,” and a Drive-In favorite, “The Fighting Lady.”

Raids on Ploesti: August 1 marks the 63rd anniversary of the epic low level B-24 raid on the Romanian oil fields.

“Medal of Honor: Ploesti.” On August 1, 1943 specially trained elements of the 8th and 9th Air Forces flying B-24 Liberators based in Benghazi Libya launched a daring low level attack on Ploesti, over 1,200 miles away. They struck hard, but the cost was high. Unescorted by fighters and coming in literally at tree top level to surprise the enemy, 54 out of 162 of the attacking bombers were lost, along with 540 American air crew. Every member of the attacking force was awarded a medal, including 5 Medals of Honor, the highest decoration awarded by the U.S. military. Of the Medal of Honor recipients, only Col. Leon Johnson, 44th Bomb Group, and Col. Jon “Killer” Kane, 98th Bomb Group, survived the mission.

“Air Siege Ploesti”. The capture of the Foggia airfield in on the Adriatic in Italy in 1944 provided the 15th Air Force with a new base to launch a new series of Air attacks on Ploesti. This time, B-17s and B-24s attacked with fighter escort at high altitude. Losses were again heavy, with over 1,800 air crew lost to FLAK and enemy fighters. Accuracy suffered when defenders used smoke pots to obscure the target, so P-38s were used as dive bombers to penetrate the defenses. Soon P-51s helped to achieve total air superiority over the target. By the end of the Ploesti air campaign in the fall of 1944, 90% of Romania’s oil production was knocked at a cost of 270 bombers and 49 fighters and their crews. Narrated by Ronald Reagan.

“Ramrod to Emden” See the P-47 Thunderbolts of the renowned 56th Fighter Group take on the Luftwaffe in an action packed escort mission over Germany. The 56th Fighter Group (made up of the 61, 62 & 63 squadrons) was one of the most storied Air Corps units of World War II. Home to aces like David Schilling (22 kills), Frances “Gabby” Gabreski (28), Robert S. Johnson (27), Fred Christensen (21.5), Walker Mahurin (21), and CO Hubert “Hub” Zemke (18), the 56th blazed an early trail across the skies of the ETO in their massive, but deadly P-47 Thunderbolts. “Ramrod to Emden” is the story of the Dec 11, 1943 bomber escort mission (aka “a ramrod”) to Emden, Germany. As you’ll see in the film, the 56th encountered heavy, determined opposition from Germans, but it proved to be an exceptionally productive day. With Lt. Col. Schilling leading 50 planes of the group, they claimed 17-0-5, with two aircraft lost in a midair collision and no aircraft lost to enemy action. Allied bomber losses were minimal.

“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” 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 walk away 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. And there are different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet.

Zeno
Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In celebrating our Ninth Anniversary
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

#19

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In September 2006 Newsletter

It’s time for another action packed showing of World War 2 plane video hits playing for free at Zeno’s Drive-In - www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com . “At the Matinee," we’re showing s triple feature: the fighter fan favorite, “The Fight For the Sky, RAF Bomber Command in a night action in the atmospheric classic, “Target for Tonight,” and the irrepressible “Gipper,” Ronald Reagan, takes on the storied Nipponese fighter in “Recognition of the Japanese Zero.”

“The Fight For the Sky, " In February of 1944, General Jimmy Doolittle “turned loose” his fighters to go after the Luftwaffe where they lived. This marked a radical change in strategy from the disastrous tactics of 1943 that kept escorting fighters chained to bombers. Now, US fighters, including the P-51, probed deep into Germany, catching the opposition on the ground, inflicting mortal damage. This feature combines thrilling combat footage filmed by 8th Air Force combat cameramen with some of the most action packed, down and dirty World War II gun camera film you’ll ever see. This is the original, uncut 40-minute version of “The Fight for the Sky” featuring twice the rock 'em sock 'em action of the heavily edited postwar release previously shown at the Drive-In.

““Target for Tonight” follows the crew "F for Freddie, " a Vicker’s Wellington medium bomber (Millerton Station, Group 33), through an entire low level night mission attacking an oil storage depot at a rail yard. Notice how the film highlights the participation of not only servicemen from all classes from around the British Isles, but also Canadians and a navigator that sounds a lot like a Yank volunteer. The film exemplifies the understatement, dry humor, and “business as usual” approach typical of British information films of the period, along with a clear “get the job done” attitude.

“Recognition of the Japanese Zero” Lieutenant “Jimmy Saunders” (Ronald Reagan) learns how to tell a P-40 from Japanese A6M Zero the hard way. (That’s a very angry Craig Stevens AKA “Peter Gunn” on the receiving end.) Contains plenty of interesting info about what US pilots were told about Japan’s most produced and feared fighter and how to spot it. Includes seldom seen footage of a captured Zero doing spectacular aerobatics. Even though this is “only” a 20-minute training film “the Gipper” gives a very convincing performance as the cocky yet apprehensive new P-40 pilot, Jimmy Saunders. This earnest commitment to give his very best, regardless of the size or scope of the role, was a hallmark of his long and distinguished career

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. And there are different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet.

Zeno
Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

#20

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In October 2006 Newsletter

Hello –

We’ve got some great World War II plane features playing at Zeno’s Drive-In www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com this month – including two premiers.

Our First Jet Warbird! (Just for comparison purposes of course.) :wink:
We’re pleased to announce a new addition to our online stable of aircraft: the US Navy’s North American FJ-2 Fury. The FJ-2 is a very close relative of the USAF F-86 Sabre – in most respects they are identical, The F-86 was adapted for carrier use as a quick fix for the USN’s need for a high performance swept wing fighter during the Korean war, “Flight Capabilities of the FJ-2 Airplane” shows the FJ2 in color and to good advantage. We’ve also added a number of new downloads from an F-86F Sabre pilot’s manual

At the Matinee, we’re showing a quad feature “Winged Artillery,” “No Sweat” – another premier, "Angel in Overalls,’ and “Mission to Rabaul.”

  • “Winged Artillery” (Color) Nine 75mm canon firing B-25Gs of the 48th Bomb Squadron, 7AAF, based on Apamama in the Gilbert Islands, conduct a hair raising tree top level strike on the Japanese air base on Mille. Also features amazingly well preserved and very rare color footage of daily life of aircrew and ground personnel stationed on the islands
  • “No Sweat” (Premier!) This film was produced by USAFE, (United States Air Force, Europe, filmed on location) to cut down on costly air accidents resulting from pilot error. Seemingly trivial mistakes sometimes led to SNAFUs – or worse. You’ll follow a pilot through what should have been a routine hop, but turns into anything but. The real star of the show is the featured aircraft, an F-86D – the all weather version of the Sabre jet-- which is shown in considerable detail. Notice the radar scope mounted on the instrument panel. I especially like the pre-CGI aerial shots of a real Sabre slipping through the cumulus. A beautiful sight!

“Angel in Overalls” This film was developed to show US Lockheed P-38 production line workers the Lightning at war in a wide variety of combat roles. You’ll see all aspects of Lightnings in action, including air-to-air gun camera, bombing, rocketing and photo recon. There’s a cameo by Air Corps P-38 ace of aces Dick Bong too The dramatic ending of this film brings home a sobering reminder that the life of the fighter pilot was risky and often dangerous. Many young pilots made the ultimate sacrifice

  • “Mission to Rabaul” The island of Rabaul, located in the southwest Pacific, northeast of the large island of New Guinea, was one of two strategic lynchpins for the Japanese. They poured tens of thousands of troops, hundreds of airplanes, and thousands of tons of supplies and material on to Rabaul to make it a mighty fortress. Douglas MacArthur’s brilliant solution to the Rabaul conundrum was to isolate it, slowly starve it, and bypass it – rather than assault it. One of the key steps in this strategy was to seize airfields in northern New Guinea to base Army P-38 fighters that could escort bombers on long range missions against the heavily defended Japanese stronghold. You’ll see amazing on the deck footage from attacking A-20s and B-25s.

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. And there are different WWII documentaries every month “At the Matinee.” That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ props for free viewing over the internet.

Keep ‘em flyin’!

Zeno
Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com