The Air Force Story Chapter 24 Air War Against Japan B-29 Bombing Raids (1944)

Synopsis

Chapter XXIV: Air War Against Japan, Oct. 1944-Aug. 1945” (SFP 263-24) of The Air Force Story gives viewers a look at the Air Force’s operations against Japan in the final eleven months of WWII. This “chapter” opens with B-29 Superfortresses flying over the Pacific Ocean ( 01:49 ) then landing at Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. “Joltin’ Josie” makes its landing on the island and is greeted by U.S. troops. An aerial shot shows a half-dozen B-29s parked on the airfield ( 03:31 ). General Curtis E. LeMay meets with his officers to discuss air strategy ( 04:07 ). B-29s fire up their engines and taxi onto the runway ( 04:42 ) as part of the 21st Bomber Command’s mission to attack Japan. The B-29s take off from the Saipan base. Footage shows B-29s flying in formation as well as the inside of one of the Superfortresses, filming the pilot, the gunner, and the navigator ( 06:14 ). B-29 gunners prepare to fire heavy caliber machine guns ( 07:14 ). A B-29 fires on a Japanese plane ( 07:56 ). The film shows an aerial view of Mt. Fuji as the bomber squadron approaches Tokyo. Viewers see Tokyo from the perspective of the B-29s ( 08:40 ); B-29s drop bombs on various Tokyo targets. Footage shows the burning aftermath of Tokyo from the U.S.’ nighttime low-altitude fire raids ( 09:24 ). Aerial footage shows several Japanese cities on fire or reduced to rubble ( 10:20 ). The Enola Gay flies toward Hiroshima ( 11:15 ) to drop the first atomic bomb, “Little Boy,” on the city. An aerial view…

Uploader's description on archive.org

Details

Running time

14 minutes

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage