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Camera-gun footage of strafing attacks on German rail and road transport in France and (possibly) Belgium carried out in August 1944 by P-47 and P-51 fighters manned by US Army Air Force pilots based in England.
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START 10:00:00 Title card 'VIII Fighter Command Operations 1944 - Combat Film Highlights - Part 31'.
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10:00:10 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13569 - Lt. P. J. McCully - 77 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 20 F.G.' [P-51] (1) Low-level strafing attack on two canal barges on a canal - the 0.5 rounds miss their targets and strike the water between the barges and the canal bank. (2) A steep beam strafing run on a railway goods train in open country - 0.5 rounds striking the ground beyond the train and one of the waggons in the middle; the steam locomotive has already been disabled by a previous attacker. (3) Steep strafing run on a small railway train in open countryside - a tight concentration of .50 rounds short of the target by 50 yards or so. (4 & 5) Two low-level strafing runs from opposite directions on a railway goods train whose waggons have already been hit and set on fire in previous attacks; in the second run, the pilot scores hits on one of the waggons at the centre of the train. (6) A low-level beam strafing run on a railway goods train - a concentration of 0.5 rounds in the field on the other side of the train 'walks' in reverse towards one of the waggons at the centre of the train and strikes it. (7) A low-level beam attack on a railway goods train in countryside where the crops have already been harvested - 0.5 tracer rounds head towards the centre of the train and strike one of the waggons and the ground on either side. (8) A beam strafing attack on a motor vehicle travelling along a tree-lined road - 0.5 rounds strike the target and the ground on either side. (9) Low-level strafing run on a German lorry on a tree-lined road.
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10:00:46 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13569 - Lt. Aal - 350 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 353 F.G.' [P-47 Thunderbolt] (1 & 2) Two low-level strafing runs from slightly different directions on a motor vehicle on a road between two copses; a concentration of 0.5 rounds on the ground either side of the vehicle and on the target itself; it is already on fire by the time Aal does his second run. (3) A steep strafing run on a very small target on a railway line near a level crossing - possibly a railway hand cart. (4) A steep beam attack on a steam locomotive with 0.5 rounds hitting the target. (5) A steep strafing run onto two fuel tanks - the one on the right is already on fire from a previous strafing attack so Aal concentrates his fire on the one on the left; as he pulls up over the target, the camera reveals a factory district and an intact road bridge over a river [good footage]. (See 10:01:36-10:01:53 for attacks by Lieutenant Asper on same target).
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10:01:16 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13581 - Lt. Asper - 350 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 353 F.G.' [P-47 Thunderbolt] (1) A strafing run onto a target on a tree-lined road, whispy smoke rising from a previous strafing run, the camera reveals a village ahead and a river on the right of the frame [good footage]. (2 & 3) Two steep strafing runs onto a village in which 0.5 rounds are directed onto a motor vehicle about to disappear under a tree-lined section of road; the target is already on fire by the time Asper does his second pass at a lower height [good footage]. (4) A beam strafing run on an unidentifiable vehicle on an open stretch of railway. (5 & 6) Two steep strafing runs on four fuel tanks next to a railway line on the outskirts of a town - 0.5 rounds hit the fuel tank second from the left; as he pulls up over the target, the camera reveals a factory district and an intact road bridge over a river. On the second pass, the fuel tank Asper attacked on the first pass is already on fire so he concentrates his fire on the third one from the left [good footage]. (See 10:01:10-10:01:16 for attacks by Lieutenant McCully on same target).
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10:01:53 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13601 - Maj. Lefebre - 351 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 353 F.G.' [P-47 Thunderbolt] (1, 2 & 3) Three steep strafing runs along the line of a railway at a railway siding - the majority of the 0.5 rounds fired during the first pass over one of the long goods trains in the siding narrowly miss their target. The second run sees 0.5 rounds strike the lead waggons and the steam locomotive so that on the third pass steam is escaping from its perforated boiler. This time, Lefebre concentrates his fire on the train's centre section and then allows it to 'walk' along its length, hitting the locomotive once again [good footage].
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10:02:22 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13607 - Lt. McGarry - 352 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 353 F.G.' [P-47 Thunderbolt] (1 & 2) Two strafing runs over a railway marshalling yard already subject to fighter-bomber attack and with fires clearly visible; the first strafing run takes McGarry very low over the target but his attack is only partly successful [good footage]. By the time the second pass takes place, the whole area is shrouded in low-lying smoke and the 0.5 rounds fired at the trains in the marshalling yard have no visible effect. (3) A very steep strafing run on a railway line running through dense woodland with smoke rising from it - 0.5 tracer rounds 'walk' along a railway track towards a goods train. As he pulls out of his dive, the camera reveals the countryside below.
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10:03:02 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13669 - Lt. McMahon - 62 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 56 F.G.' [P-47 Thunderbolt] (1) A very under-exposed strafing run on a railway target where a fire burns brightly. (2) An under-exposed strafing run showing 0.5 tracer rounds hitting a railway target. (3) An under-exposed strafing run against a railway target already burning brightly as 0.5 tracer rounds are aimed at an unidentified target [good footage]. (4) Under-exposed strafing run as 0.5 tracer rounds strike a steam locomotive, perforating its boiler and causing it to emit a cloud of escaping steam, which McMahon flies through.
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10:03:44 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13672 - Capt. G. Hall - 63 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 56 F.G.' [P-47 Thunderbolt] (1 & 2) Two steep strafing runs onto a railway marshalling yard in a large town, a column of black smoke rising from a Petrol, Oil and Lubricants (POL) train set ablaze in a previous attack - 0.5 tracer rounds are loosed off in each pass but Hall has opened fire at too great a range and altitude to score any definite hits [good footage]. (See 10:05:02 - 10:05:26 for footage of this target under attack by Lieutenant Lanham). (3) A high altitude pass over the marshalling yard, with a pall of black smoke rising skywards from the blazing POL train. (4) A brief steep turn over the marshalling yard.
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10:04:20 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13673 - Lt. E. M. Albright - 63 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 56 F.G.' [P-47] (1) A steep strafing run onto railway marshalling yards in a city or large town in which the target area is partly obscured by smoke from fires caused by previous attacks; a large mushroom cloud climbs high into the air - probably the result of an ammunition explosion [good footage]. (2) A low-level beam strafing run over a long railway goods train with 0.5 tracer rounds. (3 & 4) Two steep strafing runs over the large railway marshalling yard where a POL train has caught fire and is sending a big column of black smoke high into the air; during each pass, 0.5 tracer fire is aimed at several stationary trains in the yard. There are jump cuts during each attack [good footage]. (See 10:03:47 - 10:04:09 for footage of this target under attack by Captain Hall.)
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10:05:26 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13874 - 1st Lt. W. J. Lanham - 338 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 55 F.G.' [P-51 Mustang] (1) A shallow beam strafing run at a railway goods train at a halt in the countryside - 0.5 rounds 'walk' towards the target and strike a steam locomotive, piercing its boiler and causing steam to billow skywards [good footage] (2) A shallow strafing run over a railway goods train with 0.5 rounds 'walking' towards their target, a steam locomotive, and the waggons just behind it, sending a plume of black smoke into the air. (3, 4, 5 & 6) Four strafing runs with 0.5 tracer rounds from different directions over a steam locomotive pulling a long line of goods waggons along a stretch of railway with four separate tracks. During the first pass, the front end of the train is peppered with 0.5 rounds; Lanham flies through the steam escaping from the locomotive, whose boiler has already been perforated from earlier hits [good footage]. At the beginning of the second pass, two POL waggons are already on fire at the forward end of the train; Lanham now concentrates his fire towards the rear of the train and sets another POL waggon on fire before then 'walking' his tracer rounds towards the centre. During the third and fourth passes, Lanham concentrates his fire on the train's centre section [very good footage] (7) Flying low over a large industrial shed, Lanham delivers a low level beam attack on a railway train - 0.5 rounds strike the steam locomotive, sending black smoke shooting skywards; as he climbs out of his attack run, there is a view of the surrounding countryside [good footage]. (8) Under-exposed low-level strafing run over a railway goods train. (9) A distant view of a POL train on fire as Lanham begins a steep strafing run (film ends abruptly) [good footage].
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10:06:46 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13883 - 2nd Lt. W. J. Konantz - 338 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 55 F.G.' [P-51 Mustang] (1) A shallow dive beam attack on a line of railway boxcars on a stretch of railway part hidden by trees - 0.5 rounds 'walk' up to the boxcar third from the end and scores several hits. (2 & 3) Two strafing runs against two water tanks at a railway marshalling yard, with 0.5 rounds peppering their supporting structures and the water tanks themselves [good footage]. (4 & 5) Two strafing runs on trains in the marshalling yard, the first a pass along the line of the railway running through the yard, with 0.5 tracer rounds hitting the railway tracks and a steam locomotive at the head of a goods trains and a low-level beam strafing attack on railway box cars, with 0.5 rounds striking the target and the ground on either side close to nearby houses [good footage]. (6) A low-level beam attack on nine railway box cars on a railway embankment; 0.5 tracer rounds strike the waggon fourth from the end, creating a massive ball of flame as its cargo explodes [very good footage].
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10:07:41 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 13955 - Capt. J. T. Godfrey - 336 Sqdn - 13th August 1944 - 4 F.G.' [P-51 Mustang] (1, 2 & 3) Footage spoilt by fogging showing two low-level beam attacks on two German lorries and a strafing run along the line of a railway. (4 & 5) Two steep strafing runs on two German lorries on a country road; in the first pass, Godfrey concentrates his fire on the vehicle on the left and for his second attack run he ignores his first target, which is now on fire, and singles out the second lorry parked next to a tree and scores several hits with 0.5 rounds [good footage]. (6) A steep strafing run on a small motor vehicle on a country road resulting in a very accurate concentration of 0.5 rounds on the target (tear in original film) [good footage]. (7) A steep diving run onto a motor vehicle hiding by the side of the road - smoke from other burning vehicles obscures much of the scene. (8) A low-level strafing run on a vehicle that could either be a French civilian bus or a German command caravan motoring along a country road - several 0.5 rounds strike its engine and driver's cab. (9) A beam strafing run on a road lined by trees and bushes - 0.5 rounds strike the ground near the road but it is not possible to see the actual target. (10, 11 & 12) Three strafing runs on two railway goods trains in a railway siding in the countryside; in his first pass over the target, Godfrey concentrates on the centre section of one of the trains and for the second, he singles out a flak (?) waggon at its rear (film cuts suddenly) [good footage]. The third pass consists of a beam strafing run at the other train in the railway siding next to a line of trees.
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10:08:10 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 14044 - Capt. Price - 350 Sqdn - 13th August 1944 - 353 F.G.' [P-47 Thunderbolt] (1-4) Four under-exposed strafing runs on railway targets. (4, 5 & 6) A steep strafing run onto a road running through a forest, with 0.5 rounds striking an unidentifiable target; as he pulls out of his first dive, Price flies low over the trees [good footage] He makes a second pass over the target but it is not possible to identify the target. For his final pass, he flies along the line of the road. (7) A steep beam strafing run on a truck travelling along a road through fields where the harvest has been gathered in - no hits are registered on the target with the burst of 0.5 rounds aimed at the truck as Price has miscalculated the amount of deflection required to hit it [good footage] (8) Under-exposed steep diving attack on an unidentifiable target in a field; Price pulls up, revealing a lot of smoke over the target. (9) A low-level strafing run over arable fields and a wood - 0.5 rounds are concentrated in a tight pattern on an unidentifiable target in a field [good footage]. (10) A shallow beam attack on three steam locomotives - 0.5 rounds strike the locomotive on the left.
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10:09:06 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 14107 - Lt. R. C. Draftz - 487 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 352 F.G.' [P-51 Mustang] (1) Brief, under-exposed beam attack on a railway train part concealed by trees, with a concentration of 0.5 rounds on one particular boxcar. (2) A beam attack on a railway train in open country at the edge of a wood - 0.5 rounds strike the rearmost boxcar. (3) Under-exposed low-level strafing run on an unidentifiable target. (4) A steep strafing run on an unidentifiable target in dense woodland. (5) A strafing run along a railway line, with 0.5 rounds striking a steam locomotive near a level crossing. (6) A low-level strafing run on two railway box cars parked on a section of railway near a modern road bridge; 0.5 rounds strike the rearmost boxcar, which then explodes violently (film cuts) [very good footage]. (7) A strafing run along the line of a railway with smoke rising from previous attacks on a railway goods train; 0.5 rounds burst on the rearmost section of the train. (8) A beam attack on two railway boxcars, with 0.5 rounds striking the one on the right. (9) A low-level strafing run almost along the line of a railway over a modern road bridge; 0.5 rounds strike the railway tracks and 'walk' onto the train. (10) A low-level strafing run on a train hit and set on fire by previous attacks, with 0.5 rounds striking the boxcar in the centre of the frame. (11) A beam strafing run on a German lorry in a wood, with 0.5 rounds hitting it.
(12 - 16) Five strafing attacks on the same stretch of railway. During the first low-level beam attack, the shadow of another P-51 Mustang ahead of Draftz's own aircraft is clearly visible. Four boxcars, one of which is on fire, can be seen. During the next low-level strafing run against a railway train, 0.5 rounds strike the target. Two low-level beam strafing run onto four boxcars parked at intervals along a railway line. In the first pass, Draftz concentrates his burst of 0.5 rounds on the boxcar in the middle whilst the P-51 visible to his left shoots up the boxcar next to it. In the second pass, the boxcar on the left explodes when its cargo of munitions is hit (film cuts) (see 10:10:41 - 10:10:45 for an attack by Lieutenant Donahue on the same target) [good footage]. The final strafing run takes place along the line of the railway with a line of boxcars as the target; 0.5 rounds burst on the one in the lead.
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10:09:50 Intertitle 'VIII Fighter Command Combat Film No 14114 - Lt. D. T. Donahue - 487 Sqdn - 12th August 1944 - 352 F.G.' [P-51 Mustang] (1) A beam attack on a railway goods train already on fire from previous strafing runs by US fighters, with 0.5 rounds hitting a steam locomotive which is trying to make a getaway; a nearby hamlet becomes visible as Donahue pulls out of his dive [good footage]. (2) A steep diving attack onto a railway train already set on fire by previous strafing attacks; 0.5 rounds are seen striking their target, sending up spurts of smoke and dust [good footage]. (3) A low-level beam attack on seven railboxcars on the outskirts of a town, with 0.5 tracer fire being aimed at the fourth boxcar from the end [see 10:10:45 - 10:10:55 for the second pass]. (2) A steep strafing run along the line of two track railway line as 0.5 rounds strike the centre section of a goods train. (3) A strafing run against four boxcars parked in intervals along a stretch of railway [also seen being strafed by Lt. Drantz at 10:09:43 - 10:09:46], a modern road bridge and a town visible in the background. (4) A second low-level strafing run on the railway train seen at 10:10:26 - 10:10:34 in which 0.5 tracer rounds strike one of the boxcars in the middle.
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END 10:10:58
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35mm