Combat America (1943)
Directed by ?

Plot Summary: A documentary recounting the experiences of the 351st Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces, based in England during the Second World War. The group's air and ground crews are followed through a number of bombing missions over Hitler's Germany.

Produced and narrated by Clark Gable, this rarely seen 8th Air Force documentary chronicles the formation of the 351st Bomb Group in Colorado, its assignment to a former RAF base in England, and the missions flown against heavy enemy opposition in 1943. It's a vivid and unflinching look at what B-17 missions were really like during those dark days when crews flew without fighter protection. Edited and scored at MGM Studios, the quality is outstanding.

In some ways more engrossing than director William Wyler's documentary The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress made only a year later. Where as Wyler's documentary covers mostly what went on above the clouds, Combat America shows what went on in the air & the ground crews anxiously awaiting the return of their aircraft. The ones that do return are badly damaged and have wounded crew aboard.

Look out for the scene with a captured Junkers Ju 88 & Heinkel He 111 in Royal Air Force markings. Also the scene where American Airmen are being introduced to British currency & the rate of exchange is being explained. Back in 1943 when this film was made £1 = $4. In 2008 £1 = $1.47 things have changed just a little.

Also look out for early razor back versions of the P-47 Thunder Bolt in flight. The one's with the more familiar bubble canopy came later. But there is no need for me to go on. Judge this film for yourself. It can be either downloaded for free, unless you are on a high speed connection forget it as the whole film is one hour long, or more sensibly you can download it using an FTP client or view it by streaming at http://www.archive.org/movies/. The film is broken up into four parts all of which are on the link just given. Shot in colour the film brings the past to life. Now excuse me while I go put on my flak jacket & steel helmet.

Back

If you came to this page from a search engine click below to access the rest of the film section of this site
Home