First Motion Picture Unit, United States Army Air Forces

A downed American bomber crew quickly falls prey to the clever interrogation techniques of the Germans in this dramatic training film.

Lt. Scott Reynolds is co-pilot on a B-17 bomber. When his ship is forced to ditch at sea, only Reynolds survives. The nine other crew members died as a result of insufficient training in ditching procedure. Sent back to the States and promoted, Captain Reynolds takes command of a new B-17 and indoctrinates his crew carefully in the proper methods of preparation for ditching and for survival at sea thereafter.

In this documentary short film, a woman volunteer for the civilian aviation observer corps in World War II explains how the U.S. military depends on civilians watching the skies to warn of possible attacking or spying enemy aircraft. An army major explains to a group of civic leaders how volunteers are to be recruited and organized. Then the volunteers man posts day and night, always watching for unidentified aircraft that might be enemy forces.

This U.S. Army Air Forces documentary short film depicts training methods and instructions for pilots of the C-47 Skytrain troop carrier aircraft. Lieutenant Warren is shown being put through his training paces by his instructor, Captain Mathews, who shows Warren the correct procedures and checklists for preparation for takeoff, takeoff, automatic pilot functioning, feathering a malfunctioning engine, and landing on one engine. Upon landing, Lt. Warren is instructed in taxiing and shut-down of the aircraft.

Documentary on picking the right Cadet.

Documentary/training film depicting the duties of a pilot in the Pacific Theatre of the Second World War as he flies reconnaissance missions over enemy-held islands.

Documentary short film depicting the correct methods of surviving the crash landing of a military aircraft in the desert. Methods of conserving water, providing shelter, and signaling for help are depicted.

Documentary feature film depicting the training of young Lieutenant Jim Anthony as a pilot of the B-26 Marauder bomber. Dick, the captain charged with pilot instruction, leads Jim through every aspect of preparation to fly the bomber, going through a detailed checklist of pre-flight procedures, long before he allows Jim to turn an engine over. Once preparations are completed, Dick shows Jim the process of starting the engines, followed by take-off. In the air, further instruction helps Jim understand the various limits and capabilities of the aircraft. When one engine fails, Dick must simultaneously guide the limping plane back to a safe landing and explain to Jim each step of the procedure.

When naval Lieutenant Phil Bowen encounters his friend, Air Forces Captain Grover, he inquires as to what Grover's aerial reconnaissance team is doing to protect ships from attack by submarine. Grover introduces him to Captain Smith, an expert at photographic intelligence. The two men explain to Bowen just how aerial photographic reconnaissance works and how their work in the air and on the ground is helping win the war even at sea.

A group of sailors kid their shipmate Frank about his constant reading, when they would all rather play cards. But each of them has a dream for the future that they consider impossible. Harry wants a better world for his two kids, Shorty and Eddie want to start a trucking company, Joe wants to learn about engines, and another of the gang just wants to know how to write well. When Frank reveals that he's been studying to get his high school diploma and to have a career in the Navy, the others realize that the educational benefits offered by the Armed Forces Institute can help them achieve their dreams.

In this World War II military training film, a B-25 crew bails out over the jungle, and the pilot is separated from the rest of of his crew. The two groups of soldiers must survive until they can meet up and be rescued. The pilot does almost everything wrong, and the rest of his crew does almost everything right. We learn, by both bad and good example, how to survive in the jungle.

This government documentary short film depicts and explains proper procedures for functioning as a flight engineer on the B-29 bomber. Lieutenant Anderson is normally the co-pilot of this B-29, but as part of the readiness regimen for aircraft crews, he is being tested as the backup fight engineer. The actual flight engineer monitors his work, helping Anderson follow the checklists for flight preparation and takeoff. Throughout the 10-hour training flight, Lt. Anderson will be required to operate a multitude of engine controls and to monitor instruments on a variety of engine functions. Throughout the flight, his pilot and flight engineer watch over his work, correcting mistakes and reminding him of necessary actions.

Hapless B-17 waist gunner "Trigger Joe" learns how to adjust his aim, to take into account the relative motion of his aircraft, his bullets, and the attacking enemy fighter.

The story of the first bombing raid on Tokyo by B-29 Superfortress bombers of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Crews are followed from their training staging at Grand Island, Nebraska to their bombing embarkation point on the island of Saipan. From there, the B-29 attack on the Nakajima aircraft plant outside Tokyo is depicted.

Military training film detailing flight procedure, crew assignments, and armament of the B-29 bomber aircraft.

The story of Three Cadets and sexually transmitted diseases.

Tom, a young Army Air Forces pilot, begins instruction with his captain on flying the A-20 attack aircraft. The captain demonstrates to Tom the pre-flight routine and checklists, then pilots the plane with Tom as his passenger. The captain demonstrates the flight parameters of the plane, the synchronization of the engines, stall recovery, and emergency procedures. Finally, the instructor shows Tom how to fly the plane on one engine and how to land in such a circumstance.

This documentary short film was produced by the United States Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit as a training film for American pilots and other personnel during the Second World War. In it, the Air Corps' CG-4A glider is demonstrated in its cargo- and troop-carrying modes. Takeoffs, landings, and flight/towing characteristics are described. The principal function of the film is to familiarize the viewer with the shape of the glider, so that it can be recognized from any angle and not mistaken for enemy aircraft. The glider's long boxy shape, square-cut wings, rounded tail, and detachable wheels are explained with diagrams augmenting the photographic view of the aircraft from various viewpoints.

This government documentary short film depicts and explains the processes for retrieving a glider in the field. In combat situations in World War II, gliders were used to transport men and materiel to sites not suitable for landing powered aircraft, and the gliders were constructed so that they could be reused. The preparation of the grounded glider is explained, as well as the preparations and maneuvers aboard the C-47 aircraft which will pick up the glider.

Clark Gable stars in this propaganda short about the Officers Candidate School of the Army Air Forces.