In the dark early days of WWII, Nazi Germany's military stunned the world with it blitzkrieg, quickly overtaking Europe. A very large part of their success was the German air force, the Luftwaffe. Their aircraft, superior in number and design to the Allies, controlled the skies, raining death and destruction from Poland to Great Britain. The Royal Air Force had to take to the skies and do battle with the Luftwaffe, until America entered the war, and were badly overmatched by the Nazi's Luftwaffe.
In 1941, when Germany declared war on the United States, they awakened a sleeping giant. All across America factories turned to the production of war material, from tanks and troop ships to warplanes. The U.S. Army Air Force moved quickly to train as many pilots, bombardiers and navigators as possible, and in a surprisingly short time, the US and its Allies were taking the fight to the Nazis in the skies over Europe.
This two DVD collection of documentaries from WWII takes you inside the air war in Europe. From the first B-17 missions over Germany to the final achievement of Allied air superiority over the Luftwaffe, these gripping films tell the story of the men and the machines that made victory in the sky possible.
Disc 1
Target For Today
This in-depth film takes you through the planning and execution of a bombing mission over Nazi held Europe. All elements of a successful mission are examined, from weather, communications, and maintenance to briefing, formation and bomb dropping. Real aviators who plan and carry out these dangerous missions let you tag along so you can witness what it took to get the bombers to their targets in the flack-filled skies over Germany.
The Fight For The Sky
In the early months of the air war over Europe, the B-17s were getting badly beat up by Nazi fighters. If they were to carry on, something would have to change. This is where the fighters come to the rescue; first the P-47, the the P-38, followed by the P-51. They pounced on the German fighters, driving them off the big bombers and sweeping them from the sky.
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Disc 2
The Exploits Of The 351st
Clark Gable takes you on a behind the scenes look at one of the more famous B-17 bomber groups of the war in this rare color film. Watch as the crews of the 351st fly over to England to begin their tour of duty. See the pilots, navigators, gunners and bombardiers fly mission after mission against key industrial targets.
Mission Accomplished
This film is a record of the first all-American B-17 raid over Europe. Having served in the Pacific, the B-17s were now going to be put to use in the fight against Nazi Germany and nobody knew how they would fare against the full power and might of the German Luftwaffe. Ride along with the crew as they prove the worth of the rugged Flying Fortress and get the mission accomplished.
A Day With The A-36s
The A-36 was a variation of the P-51 Mustang modified with wing racks for dive bombing missions. Watch as these fearless pilots scream toward the ground knocking out key German strong points in Sicily.
Wings For This Man
This film takes a brief look at the great Tuskagee Airmen, the African-American fighter pilots who broke through stereotypes and prejudice to become heroes in the skies over Europe.
The Bombing Of Germany
Two pilots, one German, One American, relive the years of harrowing battles in the skies over Europe. Watch as the B-17s get ripped apart on their first missions and how the tide of the battle slowly sifts with the introduction of fighter escorts. See hoe the American fighters smash the German Luftwaffe allowing the devastating bombing campaign to finally bring the nazi war machine to a screeching halt.
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