Part of the airfield is now in the wild turkey strand preserve. Classes commenced in early 1943 at two more new schools located at kingman, arizona and laredo, texas. For the civilian airport use, see buckingham field buckingham army airfield is an inactive united states air force base, approximately 10 miles east of fort myers, florida. The king of hollywood swaps his crown for silver air gunner wings. On the first day, each soldier goes up with a plane to fire at an airborne target. Clark gable flew 5 missions as captain filming 50,000 ft of gunnery combat during 1943.
Made in the aftermath of the pearl harbor attack, it was one of the first of the patriotic films of the war, citation needed often. The plot is paper thin, but its worth watching for its historical value. Charles bronson enlisted in the us army air forces in 1943 and served as an aerial gunner. In 1945 he was based on guam as a b29 superfortress crewman and was awarded a purple heart for wounds received during his service. Unlike mitchum, lydon has a large dramatic role in this picture and since this was filmed during the same era as the aldrich movies, you could have given this film. He is seen here giving an interview from his waistgunner position aside a. Aerial gunner approved 1h 18min drama, war 20 march 1943 usa old rivals are pitted against each other in basic training and fight for the same woman.
Turning down a higher rank and enlisting as a private in the army air force, gable worked his way up to become a first lieutenant and now realizes his ambition to be an aerial gunner. Jul 7, 20 charles bronson in 1943, bronson enlisted in the united states army air forces and served as an aerial gunner in the 760th flexible gunnery training squadron, and in 1945 as a b29 superfortress crewman with the 39th bombardment group based on guam. Flexible gunnery training developed diverse skills for various aircraft and differing positions within bombers, e. See more ideas about movie stars, famous veterans and actor. Flaming frontiers 1938 the law of the wild 1934 the lone ranger 1938. Captain clark gable manning a browning machine gun, caliber. Aerial gunner manufactured on demand on movies unlimited. Aerial gunner is a 1943 american blackandwhite world war ii propaganda film produced by william c. On personal orders from the air forces chief, general hap arnold, gable was sent to the eighth air force in england and tasked with making a combat recruitment film for aerial gunners titled combat america. Play the free online arcade game air gunner at big fun town. History of the any air forces proving ground command, part 3, gunnery training, 19351944, 11819.
An experienced army air force fighter pilot, played with his usual verve by ronald reagan, is called back from the front to lead a fighter tactics class in flight school for rookie. On personal orders from the air forces chief, general hap arnold, gable was sent to the eighth air force in england, and tasked with making a combat recruitment film for aerial gunners, titled combat america. A wounded aerial gunner tells his story in this wartime propaganda film. Aerial gunner is a 1943 american world war ii film. The one i am enclosing is from my custom tailed uniform done in silver thread rather than the white official one. For a discussion of this matter see correspondence between chief, tad. Chester morris, richard arlen, jimmy lydon director. Sgt is top turret gunner on a b24 of the 8th air force in england. Please select your film, on the next screen you may select from available languages.
The several schools existed at domestic army airfields and gunnery ranges 3 schools opened in 1941. Old rivals are pitted against each other in basic training and fight for the same woman. In november 1943, he returned to the united states to edit the film, only to find that the personnel shortage of aerial gunners had already been rectified. It was active during world war ii as an army air forces training command airfield. I now use it to put my coffee cup on, so it wasnt a complete waste of money. The film stars chester morris, richard arlen, and jimmy lydon. Richard arlen, chester morris, jimmy lydon, amelita. Combat america is a 1945 documentary film produced in world war ii, narrated by clark gable. Display as images display as list make and model make and year year category importancerole date added new ones first episode appearance ep. He was sent instead to officer candidate school, which he completed in october 1942.
He was allowed to complete the film anyway, joining the 1st motion picture unit in hollywood. Maxwell shane screenplay old rivals are pitted against each other in basic training and fight for the same woman. Aerial gunner 1943 war, drama movie film on dvd ebay. At the time of the films production in 1943, gable was a 1st lieutenant in the eighth air force, part of the united states army air forces. May 04, 2019 the mission of 4 may 1943 was gables first combat mission. It is my understanding that the 6199 mos is for an aerial observergunner position. This was the first feature film directed by pine, who produced other films through his company, pinethomas productions. The critical reception was mixed, with kate cameron of the new york daily news describing the film as the most ambitious picture that paramount producers william pine and william thomas had turned out.
With richard arlen, chester morris, amelita ward, jimmy lydon. He was awarded a purple heart for wounds received during his service. Aerial gunner nemico, il how to operate behind enemy lines briefing for the north atlantic hitlers children the last will and testament of tom smith son of dracula. Aerial gunner 1943 gunneryschool rivals chester morris, richard arlen woo the same girl lita ward, then join a bomber squadron in the south pacific. There he discovers that his sergeant is one of his foes, and that both of them are fighting for the affection of the lovely sister of a fellow recruit who becomes terrified. The rest were with the 351st bg in different aircraft. Plot policeman jon davis richard arlen informs foxy pattis chester morris at his shooting gallery, that his criminal father has died. The crew, consisting of captain irish quincannon, copilot bill williams, bombardier tommy mcmartin, navigator monk hauser, crew chief robbie white, assistant crew chief corporal weinberg and radio operator peterson, are joined by two new. Im glad a print of this film exists, because its great for younger people to help understand the history of wwii. Gables recruiting film was completed several months later. Youre the tail gunner aboard a military aircraft that must protect a bomber from incoming enemy fighters. Aerial gunner 1943 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Aerial gunner, dvd, manufactured on demand, warworld war ii, 644827342624.
Gable spent two years as an aerial cameraman and bomber gunner in britain during world war ii. During 1943, to obtain the combat footage needed for his recruitment film, he flew five combat missions as a b17 gunner, including a bombing raid into germany. The gunnery school there was activated 12 august 1942, and the first aerial gunnery class started 30 november of the same rear and was graduated the first week of january 1943. He begins with his recruitment and basic training before the war. While he was stationed in england, gable flew five combat missions from may 4september 23. Find link is a tool written by edward betts searching for aerial gunner 73 found 96 total alternate case. Aerial gunner is a 1943 american world war ii film directed by william h. In the picture showing all 5 wings, the upper left is a very common gi issue wing, upper right is an uncommon english made wing, lower left is a common aircrew wing, lower right is a beautiful sterling issue wing made by bell trading co. World war 2 fighter tactics, aerial gunnery, gun camera. The film was named combat america and was released to help increase recruitment in the army. Waist gunners with ammo feed german gunner from the crew of a heinkel he 177 bomber.
The mission of 4 may 1943 was gables first combat mission. Made in the aftermath of the pearl harbor attack, it was one of the first of the patriotic films of the war, citation needed. It was interesting to see what the area looked like in 1943, and to see a few. Publication date 1943 usage public domain topics wwii, drama publisher pinethomas productions. Id prefer the hh60 but being on the s wouldnt be bad either. Don was an aerial gunner in vpb 119 and 109 flying on pb4y2 privateers. Americas aerial gunners in world war ii were believed to. Pine and starring chester morris, richard arlen and jimmy lydon. Id love to be aircrew, at least for a few years then i. At a san francisco air force base, the crew of a b17 flying fortress, nicknamed the mary ann, prepares for a routine flight to hawaii.
However, i have also heard that these responsibilities more often fall to the crew chief. The several schools existed at domestic army airfields and gunnery ranges 3 schools opened in 1941 20 flexible gunnery training developed diverse skills for various aircraft and differing positions within bombers, e. I plan on going in to enlist right after christmas. I completed the course at yellow water nas in jacksonville fl in 1944. Jul 20, 2012 marine corps aerial observergunner mos. Yuma army air field was at first an advanced pilot training school, but was officially changed to a radio flexible gunnery school on 11 november 1943. Dec 23, 2010 in the picture showing all 5 wings, the upper left is a very common gi issue wing, upper right is an uncommon english made wing, lower left is a common aircrew wing, lower right is a beautiful sterling issue wing made by bell trading co. The adventures of smilin jack 1943 the fighting marines 1935 western. Charles bronson in 1943, bronson enlisted in the united. Americas aerial gunners in world war ii were believed to be. This was a pretty good film and interesting for telling the story of how wwii bomber machine gunners were trained. Air force film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.
Policeman jon davis richard arlen informs foxy pattis. You have machine guns, miniguns, and rockets at your disposal. His presence in the missions was for propaganda and pr purposes, but the dangers he ran were all too real. Aerial gunner nemico, il how to operate behind enemy lines. Army air forces gunnery schools were world war ii organizations for training personnel in the skill of aerial gunnery. John successfully shoots at his target, but when sandys turn comes up, he becomes paralyzed by fear and insists that the plane be returned to the ground. The plot is paper thin, but its worth watching for it. In this film, two rivals join the air corps during wwii. Aerial gunner is a 1943 american blackandwhite world war ii propaganda film produced by. Learn about great opportunities for enlisted airmen, officers and health care professionals. Nothing but a bfare, but at least its the best arlen has done in a few. He was sent instead to ocs, which he completed in october 1942 and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant.
This item has been produced by ourselves and will be neatly presented on a high quality brand dvd with printed artwork on the disc as shown in a slimline plastic. Aerial gunner had its world premiere at harlingen air force base, where much of the film is set. The last school to open yuma, arizona began training in late 1943. There he discovers that his sergeant is one of his foes.
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