Channel: The Best Film Archives

Category: Education

Tags: pilot trainingmoviereccemilitary trainingworld war 2aviationamericanaerialfighterswarplanesreconmilitaryuslightningtraining filmphotographicplanesair forcehistoryfilmww2 trainingvintagewwiirecon planephotographyus air forceaaftechniquetrainingairvideousaaflockheedp-38ww2surveillancecameracockpitpilotscoutingaircraftphotoairplanesphotographclassicusaftraining videoairplanerecon aircraftfighterhdscoutreconnaissance

Description: ● Please SUPPORT my work on Patreon: bit.ly/2LT6opZ ● Visit my 2ND CHANNEL: bit.ly/2ILbyX8 ►Facebook: bit.ly/2INA7yt ►Twitter: bit.ly/2Lz57nY ►Google+: bit.ly/2IPz7dl ✚ Watch my "Military Training Films" PLAYLIST: bit.ly/2G6XIrN This dramatized military training film – originally titled as "Reconnaissance Pilot" – was produced by the US Army Air Forces in 1943. The film stars American actor William Holden ("Bridge on the River Kwai") as a pilot in the Pacific theater of World War 2 who flies reconnaissance missions over Japanese-held islands using an F-5 variant of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft. Photo recon pilots ('Photo Joes') had one of the riskiest jobs in the war. Flying camera equipped, unarmed, and often unescorted aircraft, recon pilots flew deep into enemy territory. Plot: The film begins showing Lt. 'Packy' Cummings (William Holden) returning home from the war. Then the picture digresses, showing him in flight school. During this time, he learns that his father – a renowned World War I ace – was recently killed in action and this gives him a strong incentive to be the best in his class. He is upset when he learns that he was too good in his class. Instead of being assigned to a fighter squadron, he's being assigned to fly a "stripped down" P-38 fighter... on photo reconnaissance missions. This means he'll be flying high, flying fast and WITHOUT guns! The film shows how Packy comes to realize the absolutely essential nature of photo recon and how one Photo Joe can have more impact on events than a whole squadron of combat '38s. The climax of the movie, an action-packed clash with a Japanese Zero, is based on a real incident where Alex Gary, the most decorated US recon pilot of the Second World War, deep sixed his opponent without firing a shot. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND / CONTEXT Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. This role can fulfill a variety of requirements, including the collection of imagery intelligence, observation of enemy maneuvers and artillery spotting. During the Second World War (1939-45), aerial reconnaissance was one of the key methods of obtaining intelligence about the enemy and their activities. Photographs provided concrete evidence fast. Within hours of a reconnaissance sortie, the film could be developed, printed and interpreted. Allied reconnaissance, for the most part, was classified under two main headings: mapping and damage assessment. Enemy activity was recorded and new installations were located, so that accurate maps, to be used by the ground forces, could be made. From damage assessment photographs, the exact moment when a target that had been previously hit should be re-attacked could be calculated, and the effectiveness of the enemy's rebuilding program could be assessed. Photographic reconnaissance and intelligence work played a tremendous role in helping the Allies to victory in World War 2. Significantly, in 1938 General Werner Von Fritsch of the German High Command prophetically observed: “The military organization with the best aerial reconnaissance will win the next war.” Aircrafts: The British RAF initially used Spitfires for Aerial reconnaissance missions. The Spitfire PR variants had a maximum speed of 396 mph at 30,000 feet with their armaments removed. The aircraft were fitted with five cameras which were heated to ensure good results (while the cockpit was not). Spitfires proved to be extremely successful in their reconnaissance role. Other fighters were also adapted for photo-reconnaissance, including the British Mosquito and the American P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang. They were stripped of weaponry, painted in camouflage colors to make them difficult to spot in the air, and often had engines modified for higher performance at very high altitudes (well over 40,000 feet). The American F-4, a factory modification of the P-38 Lightning, replaced the four guns and cannon with four high-quality K-17 cameras. In the last half of 1942, Lockheed would produce 96 F-5As, based on the P-38G. The Lightning in its reconnaissance role was so well liked by military strategists that hundreds of gun-equipped P-38s were field modified into camera-toting F-5 variants. Later in the war, the Mustang F-6 arrived, eventually becoming the dominant reconnaissance model flown by the US in Europe. WW2 Reconnaissance Pilot | US Army Air Forces Training Film | 1943 TBFA_0169 NOTE: THE VIDEO REPRESENTS HISTORICAL EVENTS. SINCE IT WAS PRODUCED DECADES AGO, IT HAS HISTORICAL VALUES AND CAN BE CONSIDERED AS A VALUABLE HISTORICAL DOCUMENT. THE VIDEO HAS BEEN UPLOADED WITH EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. ITS TOPIC IS REPRESENTED WITHIN HISTORICAL CONTEXT. THE VIDEO DOES NOT CONTAIN SENSITIVE SCENES AT ALL!