Hello All --
You are invited to drop by Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In
- This month "At the Matinee," we're showing "The Fight for the Sky," an action packed Drive-In Classic showing allied fighters winning air superiority over Europe; "Mission Accomplished," a Drive-In debut documenting the historic first strike by 8th AF B-17s on the rail yards at Rouen, France on August 17, 1942; and another Drive-in Classic, "Target for Tonight," a detailed account of an RAF Wellington bomber on a night strike
"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.
"Mission Accomplished" The Story of the First US 8th Air Force Daylight B-17 Strike. 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 efficacy of American daylight precision bombing doctrine. Success of the raid was vital so that VIII Bomber Command CO Gen Ira C. Eaker went along for the ride in B-17E "Yankee Doodle. 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!"
"Target for Tonight" was the British forerunner and inspiration for "Target for Today," which was produced by the US Army Air Corps a couple of years later. The films are very similar in format. They both a bombing raid from early planning through briefing and execution. Both films also both show real air and ground personnel performing their actual roles, including exciting combat footage. But when you compare the two films you will find the contrast between the tactics and atmosphere of an RAF Bomber Command night mission and a US 8th Air Force massed bomber day raid was, well, like "night and day." Best of all, you'll get to meet the diverse crew of the RAF's Vickers Wellington medium bomber "F for Freddy" in this detailed and engrossing British documentary.
If you haven't stopped by Zeno's Drive-In before, we also feature 1942-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy pilot training films on how to fly the F4U, SB2A, F6F, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-61, TBF/TBM, AT-6, B-17, B-24, B-25, A-20, A-26, B-26, B-29, and more. That's over 13 hours of rockin' props for free viewing over the internet. See detailed charts, diagrams, and interior photos from original WWII pilot's manuals too. Finally, our "Control Tower" page has the largest collection of World War II Aviation links on the 'net
So drop your flaps & drop in! That's