THE THUNDERBOLTS: RAMROD TO EMDEN

THE THUNDERBOLTS: RAMROD TO EMDEN - National Archives and Records Administration 1943-10-02 - ARC Identifier 3483 / Local Identifier 18-CS-757 - War Department. Army Air Forces. (06/20/1941 - 09/26/1947). Summary: Covers planning of fighter coverage of bombing raid on Emden, Germany, departure of P-47s and P-38s, rendevous of fighter escort with bomber formations, air-to-air combat between the bombers and attacking aircraft, and between fighter escorts and attacking aircraft, bomb drop on target, and return of fighter escorts to englis bases. Features role of 56th Fighter Group in this raid. REEL 1: 7' Presentation of awards to group pilots including DFC to Capt Gerald W. Johnson. 20' Officer at desk talking on telephone. 35' Officers marking bomber route and locations of AAA on wall map, Maj Gen William Kepner pointing to map. 56' Teletype operators sending and receiving message. 70' Personnel reading message, marking routes on wall map, setting up room for briefing, and making phone call. 129' Pilots relaxing, gathering around blackboard as orders of flight are assigned. 155' P-47 "Little Cookie" parked, ground crew mounting auxilliary fuel tank and loading Wing guns. 194' Officer unveiling mission map, rechecking route and message, and checking report with weather officer. 228' Personnel looking at map of Holland and marking route on map. 252' Personnel arriving by jeeps and bikes, entering briefing room, being briefed by group commander (probably Col Hubert Zemke) and others, synchronizing watches and leaving. 407' Pilots leaving building, stacking parachutes on hood of jeep, and proceeding through mud to parked P-47s. 426' Pilot leaving jeep, putting on parachute and helmet, and climbing into P-47 cockpit. 443' P-47s starting engines, including "Rat Racer" (P-47C). 460' P-47Ds taxiing to left, including P-47 "Lady Jane". 475' P-47s taxiing with crew chief on wing. 495' P-47Ds parked, ready to takeoff, includes "Lady Jane". 504' Officer firing Very pistol and flares falling to ground. 506' P-47s taking off to left in pairs. 532' P-47 formations passing over base. 561' total footage in reel. REEL 2: Ground crewman fueling auxilliary fuel tank on P-47. 2' P-47s taxiing to runway and taking off. 15' AMS formation of five P-47s in flight to left. 17' P-38 starting engines, P-38Hs taking off to right singly and in pairs. 41' AVs formations of P-47s rendezvousing with B-17 formation. 75' GSAP FW-190 kills, intercut with mixed B-17F/B-17G formations in flight to left and fighter aircraft diving through formations. 129' AVs formation of four P-38s in flight to left intercut with AVs of P-38 formation rendezvousing with B-17 formation. 152' GSAP ME-109 kill and FW-190 kills, intercut with AVs of B-17 formation, flak, B-17 waist gunners firing guns, and bombardier at bomb sight. 237' View from bomb bay as bombs drop to industrial complex intercut with AMSs of B-17Fs dropping bombs. 296' AVs of P-47s diving through B-17 formation intercut with GSAP of FW-190 kills, formation of B-17s with P-47s overhead, B-17 waist gunners firing guns, and GSAP of B-17 being hit by rocket. 343' AMS B-24 in flight to left. 345' ALS B-24 in flight trailing smoke from wing. 350' AELS B-17 falling in flames. 356' AELSs contrails. 375' AMS HA B-17 with portion of tail missing passing beneath another B-17. 386' AMS LA B-17 in flight--puffs of smoke from guns firing. 389' AVs B-17Fs in flight, flak, B-17 dropping out of formation intercut with views of engine and wing damage as seen from B-17 cockpit. 441' AVs coast of England, and B-17 landing gear being lowered. 444' Officers on balcony of operations building. 446' P-47s landing and crash landing. 465' P-38s landing. 475' P-47s in flight over base, and landing. 536' MSs P-47Ds taxiing to left. 558' Pilot walking from P-47D and getting into jeep. 563' Pilots taking seats and speaking during debriefing. 618' Total footage in reel.