Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In February 2008 Newsletter

Hello World War 2 plane fans ---

You’re invited to drop your flaps & drop by Zeno's Drive-In
www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com to view this month’s unique selection of
four WW2 air combat documentary films playing online.

As always, all of the flicks showing on our web site are free, for the
viewing pleasure of our audience.

Now showing “At the Matinee”

“Saipan Superforts” (Color) A new, exclusive presentation from
Military Arts Pictures that's already a favorite of B-29 vets and
their families. This recently discovered footage shows the 73rd Bomb
Wing, based on the island of Saipan in the Marianas, operating against
Japan in early 1945. You'll see B-29 pilots & crews on R&R and on
mission in their magnificent silver Boeing Superfortresses. The fates
of many of the B-29s seen in this picture are documented during the
film. You'll see a gallery of memorable 73rd Bomb Wing nose art too --
all in living color. "The "maximum effort" take-off scene is an awe
inspiring combination of 18 cylinder engine roar and a musical score
that's guaranteed to raise goose bumps. This film is very evocative of
Pacific B-29 operations in the Spring of 1945.
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. This
dramatic film is a must see for all P-38 fans! 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.

Clark Gable's “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.

“Target for Tonight” Last month, we saw a massive US 8th Air Force
bombing mission into Germany in "Target for Today." This month we'll
see how the Brits did it. "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 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.

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!Coming soon: A new film that will fire up the engines of P-47
Thunderbolt fans everywhere -- including a shoot down of an Me 262!

That's over 16 hours of rockin' World War II props for free viewing
over the Internet!

Coming soon: A new film that will fire up the engines of P-47
Thunderbolt fans everywhere -- including a shoot down of an Me 262!

Tally-ho!

Zeno

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In /World War II Aviation Videos.
Celebrating 10 years on the Internet 1997-2007 http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com