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Wwii P-47 Gun Camera Footage Shot by Lt. Ralph Santasiero August (1944)

1944 · Short film · 7 min

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Synopsis

This silent gun camera footage was recently donated to Periscope Film by the estate of Lt. Ralph Santasiero. It shows missions flown into Occupied Europe starting in late August of 1944, about six weeks after D-Day. At the time Santasiero was flying a P-47 Thunderbolt with the 405th Fighter Group. The film shows various air-to-ground missions against German supply infrastructure including railroads, airfields, and roads. For example, at:21 Santasiero destroys a steam locomotive. At 5:03 he destroys a large target on an airfield. Ralph A.Santasiero (1921-2012) was born in Long Island City, New York. He enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in November, 1942. Trained in Class 43.H, he graduated and was commissioned at Marianna, Florida. His first assignment was the 9th Air Force flying P-47 Thunderbolts from Christ Church, England with the 405th Fighter Group, 51Oth Fighter Squadron.He participated in the first flights on the "D-Day Invasion" June 6, 1944 and was later stationed with the same group on Cherbourg at Ste. Mare Eglise and St. Dizier, France. He flew 77 missions including escort, dive bombing, close support, destruction of railroads, ammunition dumps, bridges, tanks, artillery, anti-aircraft and enemy airfields. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters.He was recalled to active duty in the Reserves May, 1951 and was assigned to the 5th Air Force in Korea with the 12th Fighter Squadron of the 18th Fighter Wing. As a Captain…

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Details

Running time
7 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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