401st Bomb Group (H) Association
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General Posts #426

PostedMessage
Cody Dailey


11/29/2006 4:57:16 PM
Just curious if anyone knows if there is any film footage on the 401st on file anywhere. I have seen a number of B-17 films produced by the War Department and I am always straining to see that familiar Triangle S, but have yet to see one.

Cody Dailey

Son of S/Sgt. JB Dailey

Tail Gunner on board Tail-End Charlie/Morning Star, aircraft number: 42-31730, piloted by George Sombart (August 1944-January 1945)

615th Squadron, 401st BG
Paul Bellamy


1/26/2008 9:13:31 AM
Hi Cody,

It's taken a while, but I've finally found some footage!

"1st Air Division Bombing Highlights November 44 - April 45"

I'm viewing it now, there's 22-odd minutes of silent footage, and the 3rd mission shown is Berlin, 5th December 1944 (401BG Mission 177). The first good image certainly shows a 94CBW aircraft from the diagonal fin marking.
43-38646 IW-T of the 614BS can also be glimpsed during the 1st Jan '45 mission footage, although she apparently didn't fly that day according to the Group's records. (EDIT: That's because the date on the film is wrong, the Krefeld mission was Dec 31st 44 when IW-T DID fly.)



During the film the following 401BG Missions are shown:
164: Merseburg 2 Nov 44
177: Berlin 5 Dec 44 (inc. 94BCBW footage)
186(?): Bingen 29 Dec 44. Titled as 30th Dec 44 on film
188: Krefeld 31 Dec 44 (inc. 94CBW, 401BG footage) Titled as 1 Jan 45 on the film
189(?): Kassel 1 Jan 45. Titled as 2 Jan 45 on the film
203: Berlin 3 Feb 45
207: Dresden 14 Feb 45
231: Berlin 18 Mar 45
239: Bremen 30 Mar 45 (inc. 94CBW footage)
242: Ingolstat 5 Apr 45 (inc. 94CBW footage)
250: Regensburg 16 Apr 45

After 22 minutes the video switches to 8 minutes of Luftwaffe training films of various attacks on B-17s and B-24s, before going back to the beginning again with slightly different clarity in parts.
Sadly, I can't embed the video player here, but it can be viewed by clicking HERE.

TTFN,
Paul

Paul Bellamy

EDanaII


1/26/2008 1:00:30 PM
Good find, Paul. Definitely gotta show this to dad. 🙂



swinny


1/26/2008 3:57:40 PM
Wauw great.

I just downloaded it and cut out the piece of Merseburg.
This is mission 164 in which " my " crew flew.

I think I am going to use that for my website.

Thanks again
Andy

_________

My adoption graves http://www.remember-our-heroes.nl/us_401stBG.htm
EDanaII


1/28/2008 9:31:18 AM
BTW, I think you're wrong Paul. That's not IW-T. That's IW-J, and I'm not just saying that because IW-J was my father's plane. No. Don't argue with me! It WAS IW-J! I'm not listening! La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La! (holds hands over ears)

(Evil Grin)

Ed.



Phoenix


1/28/2008 3:00:53 PM
Gotta side with Paul I'm afraid Ed looks like a T to me, unless American English is different to English English (even bigger grin).

Dale

improvise, adapt, overcome
EDanaII


1/29/2008 9:35:10 AM
I said "I'm NOT LISTENING!" La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La!

😉

Ed.