Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In January 2009 Newsletter
Hello World War 2 plane fans —
You’re invited to drop by Zeno’s Drive-In www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com for this month’s flight of five exciting World War II combat documentary films playing over Internet.
Just like the day we opened on July 15, 1997, all the World War II aircraft videos playing on our site are showing for free, for your viewing pleasure.
Now showing “At the Matinée”
“X-15 - 1959” – Premier! (Color)This documentary was produced by North American Aviation to show the development of the X-15 rocket plane. The legendary test pilot, Scott Crossfield, is at the controls. The test site is Edwards Air Force Base. There is beautiful color footage of X-15 flights here as well as scenes from support, development and construction. The film also gives background for the X-Plane program, going to the Bell X-1. The purpose built X-15 experimental aircraft broke speed and altitude records almost every time it flew. If ever there was an aircraft where form followed function, the X-15 was it! Fans of the “Right Stuff” will remember that the X-15 arguably entered Space before the astronauts of the Apollo missile program. (“Spam in a can!”)
“Sky Blitz: The German Airborne Invasion of Holland.” Premier - In German with English translation and commentary. The US Army turned this German documentary into a training tool. That’s because it’s a text book case of the effective use of airborne troops and was influential on future Allied air operations. This dramatic, action filled film is composed of actual combat footage that focuses on the capture and securing of a strategic lynch pin in the defense of fortress Holland, the massive Moerdijk rail and highway bridges. You’ll see crack “Fallschirmjeager” troops seize the bridge intact before it can be blown by the Dutch. Useful maps portray tactical operations. Lumbering JU-52 transports hedgehopping over the Dutch countryside has to be seen to be believed.
“The Back Door Gang P-38s: 430th FS Color Scrapbook” – Exclusive Production! Newly discovered color film of the 430th FS, 474th FG, 9th Air Force. From the get go, the 474th was configured as a ground attack unit, but they also provided bomber escort and level bombing, led by Norden equipped “Droop Snoops.” One of three P-38 squadrons in the 474th, the 430th’s call sign was “Back Door,” and its planes and pilots are featured in the film in the Spring of 1945 at their base in Florennes, Belgium, a former Luftwaffe Night Fighter base. You’ll see intense (and rare) color gun camera film showing strafing attacks inside Germany, as well as color footage of B-26s and a P-61 Black Widow. Perhaps most memorable are the all too brief, silent portraits of the men who flew those dangerous missions. It’s amazing how color film brings 60+ year old images to life.
“Flight Deck Crew: Landing & Re-spotting Carrier Aircraft” (Color) Major air battles in the Pacific in World War II often turned on the ability of each side to quickly launch, land, rearm & refuel, and then re-launch their aircraft. This unique film is an unusual look (in color) at how US Navy carrier flight deck crews were trained to quickly land, park, fuel & re-arm incoming aircraft. As a bonus, you’ll see GM FM-1 “Wildcats” and Grumman TBF “Avengers” up close, handled expertly on the tiny deck of a CVE “jeep” escort carrier. An unscripted, unplanned highlight during the filming was when a TBF came in too hot and crashed on the flight deck! Fortunately, no one was hurt.
“A Day with the A-36s” – (Color) This unique documentary features very rare color combat footage of an A-36A “Invader,” (ground attack version of the P-51 Mustang) fighter/bomber squadron in action in Sicily. The A-36A was equipped with the Mustang’s original Allison engine, as opposed to the Rolls Royce Merlin adapted so successfully in the escort versions, which worked just fine for low level work. There are dive breaks on the wings too! You’ll also see ground crews doing their critical support work, including fueling, rearming and maintaining these sleek birds. This exciting film includes incredible cockpit views of actual ground attack runs as well as fascinating views of a captured air Italian base. One of the hidden gems in this film are up close views of captured or destroyed Axis aircraft, including an He 111, FW-190, Ju 88, and a rare view of an intact Italian Macchi 202 “Folgore” in full desert cammo.
If you haven’t stopped by Zeno’s Drive-In before, we also feature 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films and pilot’s manuals on how to fly the F4U, F6F, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-61, TBF/TBM, AT-6/SNJ, B-17, B-24, B-25, A-20, A-26, B-26, B-29, and Stearman N2S . Alert! – Alert! There’s been an F-86 jet sighted over Zeno’s Drive-In!
That’s over 16 hours of rockin’ World War II props for free viewing over the Internet!
Check Six!!
Zeno
Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In /World War II Aviation Videos. Celebrating 11 years on the Internet 1997-2008 http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com
PS, If you have any concerns about using the RealNetworks RealPlayer to watch our videos, I recommend using the “RealAlternative” media player instead. (It’s what I use.) It will play RealVideo files just fine, is independently produced, a small download, and has none of the purported vices of RealNetwork’s RealPlayer. You can download the RealAlternative player here:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/real_Alternative.htm
Online Vids: X-15 Rocket Planes, Fallschirmjeagers, Roaring P-38s, CVs, more