Streaming Videos: XB-70 Valkyrie, P-51 Aces, A-26 Invaders Attack, Rabaul & more

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In Very Big December 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 showing of five exciting aviation documentary films playing over the Internet. This month we have two Premiers plus I’ve picked three of my all time personal favorites for your holiday viewing enjoyment.

As always, all of the videos showing on our web site are for your free viewing pleasure. The movies playing at the Matinee are now viewable in both RealVideo and Windows Media streaming video formats.

Now showing “At the Matinee” at Zeno’s Drive-In

“XB-70A Valkyrie: Phase One Flight Testing” New - Premier! The critical first four flight tests of the revolutionary and indisputably beautiful XB-70A over 34 days at Edwards AFB are shown in detail, culminating in its first supersonic flight - with an B-58 Hustler chase plane! Some very dramatic moments, including an in flight engine flame out and one of the landing gear bursting into flames during touch down. You’ll see unflappable chief Test Pilot Col. Al White and copilot Col. Joe Cotton work the sleek Valkyrie through a series of critical tests, including landing gear, flaps, flight controls, advanced hydraulic systems, first deployment of the folding wing tips and more. A highlight of the film is a press conference/debriefing by the XB-70 test flight team.

“A-26 Invaders Attack! The 416th Bomb Group in Color” Exclusive color corrected production from Military Arts Pictures. Legendary SFP 186 combat cameramen rode along with 416th Bomb Group A-26 Invaders during March and April, 1945 with color film in their cameras. The results are some of the most beautiful and dramatic footage to come out of the World War II. You’ll see fleets of silver A-26 fast attack bombers soaring through towering cumulus clouds before unloading torrents of destruction deep inside the Third Reich. An added bonus is a cache of remarkable still pictures showing 416th Group A-26s on location and their crews.

“354th Fighter Group Color Scrapbook” Rare color film of the legendary 354 Fighter Group, with over 700 Kills, the highest scoring American unit in Europe. You’ll see great aces like G.T. Eagleston and B.W. Carr at work and at play in their newly captured base in Germany in Spring, 1945, only a few months before war’s end. Nice scenes with the group’s well known P-51Ds too, including “Margie Maru” and “Angel’s Playmate.” This was the first group to fly P-51s in the ETO. They were known as the “Mustang Pioneers.” Amazing color gun camera film!

Mission to Rabaul New! - Digital Audio & Video restoration from new archival copy (Old timers may remember seeing this film at the Drive-In years ago. We pulled it because of its inferior image quality. We are proud to release this much improved edition.) The first step in the strategic isolation and neutralization of the massive Japanese Pacific island fortress of Rabaul was the seizure of a string of Japanese bases along the Northeast coast of New Guinea. The film focuses on the decisive and revolutionary impact of the air component in the strategy, including high & low level attacks, parachute drops, and re-supply You’re literally sitting in the cockpit or in the tail gunners seat in 5th Air Force B-25G & Marine PBJG-1s making amazing tree top runs. Plus, you’ll see P-38s, A-20s and B-24s cooperating with US, Australian and New Zealand Forces securing forward air bases to strike Rabaul and invade New Britain.

“Target for Today” New – Improved web streaming image quality. This is the classic World War II feature length documentary detailing a “maximum effort” daylight bombing mission deep into Germany. There are no actors in “Target for Today.” This film was shot under combat conditions and features the officers and men of the 8th Air Force going about their deadly business. All aspects of an actual major raid in 1943, from early planning through final touch down and crew debriefings, are covered in this very thorough account. Anklam. Danzig and the FW-190 plant at Marienburg are the targets hit. Although inflating the strategic bombing campaign’s effectiveness through 1943, this is no sugar coated propaganda film. Heavy losses and the bomber crew’s justifiable trepidation about making unescorted daylight deep penetration raids on heavily defended targets in Germany are graphically portrayed. Over 1 and 1/2 hours of engrossing World War II footage.

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! - don’t miss the F-86 & B-58!

That’s over 14 hours of rockin’ World War II props & jets for free viewing over the Internet!

Have a Merry Christmas!

Zeno

Zeno’s Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com

Streaming Videos: XB-70 Valkyrie, P-51 Aces, A-26 Invaders Attack, Rabaul & more