THE 78TH FIGHTER GROUP, USAAF, AT DUXFORD AIRFIELD, 1943 [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: THE 78TH FIGHTER GROUP, USAAF, AT DUXFORD AIRFIELD, 1943 [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 6545
  • Other titles: AMATEUR FILM BY MAJOR ROBERT EBY AND COMBAT FILM [Alternative Title]
  • Summary: Amateur film shot by Major Robert Eby of the USAAF 78th Fighter Group while stationed at Station 357, Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire during the Second World War, together with camera gun film of aerial combat sequences individually credited..
  • Description: Reel 1: Airmen walk past camera. Airmen emerge from the 78th Fighter Group Headquarters [now the main public entrance to Hangar Four, home to the Battle of Britain exhibition]. Airmen chatting in briefing room, some casting furtive glances at the camera. External shots. A formation of Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft pass overhead. Aircraft break from formation. Scenes at Sawston Hall, home to the men of the 66th Fighter Wing. Men relaxing in luxurious surroundings, playing golf and shooting. Magnificent topiary in the grounds at Sawston Hall. A visiting Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber (serial number appears to be 41-23500 but is only briefly glimpsed) taxis past the camera at Duxford. Views of radome fitted underneath aircraft nose. Airmen emerge from Station Headquarters [now home to senior Imperial War Museum personnel]. Sign by entrance reads "H.Q. D.E.T.A. 333rd Ser. Gp". Men playing with ball on grassy strip near hangars. Airman cycles towards camera grinning at the cameraman. Views of the exterior of the Officers' Club (known by the Royal Air Force as the Officers' Mess) and the main gate. Sign reads "No Private Vehicle To Pass This Gate Without Special Permit". Airman salutes the camera. Shot of the flag of the United States, often referred to as the 'Stars and Stripes', flying at full mast. Men sat around and on bonnet of jeep truck. Airman emerges from the 78th Fighter Group Headquarters and speaks to the camera as he passes by. Water tower visible in background. Another airman waves to the camera as he walks past. Close up shots of airman in a deck chair relaxing in the sunshine. A formation of Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft pass over the airfield (presumably visiting Duxford as the pilots of the 78th Fighter Group had re-equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts by this time). View of the Control Tower. Airman standing in front of large map pinned to wall. Airmen playing a game of quoits by the Control Tower. A pilot emerges from the 78th Fighter Group Headquarters. Airmen standing in front of a small transport aircraft. Interior shots of aircraft in flight. Views of Duxford from the air. Mass formation of P-47 Thunderbolts. Reel 2: Reel 2: Men in uniform and civilian clothing alight from Martin A-30 Baltimore IIIA in USAAF markings (serial number 41-27862). Various scenes at medal presentation ceremony on the parade ground at Duxford. Back on the airfield a number of men including Foreign Office Secretary, Anthony Eden, disembark from a Douglas C-47 Skytrain in USAAF markings. The visitors inspect a P-47. Assorted views of the Control Tower and surrounding buildings. A ceremony of some description is seen taking place on the parade ground. Another shot of the 78th Fighter Group Headquarters. A close up view of Major Robert Eby's P-47, 'Vee Gaile', serial number 41-6249, squadron code MX-H (82nd Fighter Squadron) on the airfield. Pilot, presumably Eby, climbs into aircraft. Ground crew perform checks on aircraft. Aircraft is armed ready for next mission. Reel 3:Combat film US No.119, Lt. Beeson, 334 Squadron 4 FTR G, 26-6-43 1730 Hrs, attacking ME.109 Combat film US No.122, Lt. Johnson, 61 Squadron 56 FTR, 6-6-43 1910 Hrs, attacking Fw 190 Combat film US No.176, Capt. R.M. Evans, 335 Squadron, 4 F.G, 28/7/43. Combat film US No.181, Lt. Care, 334 Sqdn 4 F.G, 28/7/43 1115 Hrs, attacking Fw 190 Combat film US No.183, Lt. Beeson, 334 Sqdn 4 F.G, 28/7/43 11:55, attacking Fw 190 and ME.109 Combat film US No.225, Capt. Schreiber, 61 Sqdn 56 F.G, 30/7/43 10:20, attacking 2 Me.109's Combat film US No.242, Lt. C.V. Padgett, 335 Sqdn 4 F.G, 16/8/43, attacking Me.109G Combat film US No.253, Lt. Mills, 334 Sqdn 4 F.G, 16/8/43 AM, attacking Fw 190 Combat film US No.255, F/O C.B. Smith, 334 Sqdn 4 F.G, 16/8/43 AM, attacking Fw 190 Combat film US No.267, Lt. J. Happel, 335 Sqdn 4 F.G, 16/8/43 AM, attacking Fw 190 Combat film US No.275, Lt. F.E. McCauley, 61 Sqdn 56 F.G, 17/8/43 16:45, attacking Me.110 and Fw 190 Combat film US No.276, Lt. G.W. Johnson, 61 Sqdn 56 F.G, 17/8/43 10:25 attacking Me.109 Combat film US No.292, Lt. G.D. Schlit, 63 Sqdn 56 F.G, 17/8/43 16:00, attacking Fw 190 and Me.210 Combat film US No.310, Maj. L.G. McCollom, 350 Sqdn 353 F.G, 17/8/43 10:30, attacking Me.109G Combat film US No.347, Lt. Jones, 62 Sqdn 56 F.G, 24/8/43 18:15, attacking Fw 190 Combat film US No.371, Maj F.S. Gabreski, 61 Sqdn 56 F.G, 3/9/43, attacking Fw 190 Combat film US No.402, Capt. Hoey, 353 Sqdn 353 F.G, 22/9/43, attacking Me.109 Combat film US No.412, Capt. Duncan, 352 Sqdn 353 F.G, 23/9/43, attacking Fw 190 Combat film US No.435, Lt. Durant, 350 Sqdn 353 F.G, 27/9/43, attacking surface vessels Reel 4: 'June 1943, 78th Fighter Group, Somewhere in England': Men emerge from Station Headquarters. 'Brig. Gen. Monk O.D. Hunter Commanding General 8th Fighter Command': General Hunter climbs out of a P-47. Medal presentation ceremony on parade ground. Airmen awarded medals. 'Col. Arman Peterson, C.O. 78th Fighter Group with Anthony Eden and Lt. Gen. Jacob L Denvers': Senior USAAF personnel and representatives of the British government visit Duxford. 'The Boys Who Keep 'Em Flying': A P-47 of the 84th Fighter Squadron, (serial number 43-25313, squadron code WZ-N) undergoing maintenance. 'Col. M.C. Woodbury, C.O. of 66th Fighter Wing Decorate Pilots of the 78th Fighter Group': Medal presentation ceremony on parade ground. Assorted cameramen and film crew recording the event. 'General H.H. Arnold Commanding General U.S.A.A.F. arrives to inspect the group': Airmen lined up on airfield awaiting General Arnold's visit. Line of P-47 aircraft parked on airfield. Close up shots of newspaper article reporting the General's visit, and photographs of the event. 'Maj. Gen. W.E. Kepner, 8th Fighter Group presents D.F.C. and Air Medals to 78th Fighter Group pilots': Medal presentation ceremony on parade ground. Medals are awarded and airmen shake hands with General Kepner. Close up shot of letter from Foreign Office minister, Anthony Eden, expressing his sorrow at the loss of Station Commander Colonel Arman Petersen, who was reported as missing in action just days after Mr Eden's visit to Duxford. Airmen and women in uniform on airfield taking photographs of aircraft and crew (pilot appears to be Lt. Colonel Eugene P. Roberts, the first 8th Air Force pilot to achieve three 'victories' on a mission). Air crew enjoy food and drink from a mobile canteen. Reel 5: 'Lt. Col. James J. Stone Jnr, 78th F.G. C.O': Lt. Col. Stone walks towards the camera. Views inside briefing room. 'Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the R.A.F. speaks to the pilots': Lord Trenchard, often regarded as the "father of the Royal Air Force" gives a lively presentation to the men of the 78th Fighter Group. 'Artemus Gates Asst. Sect. Of Navy For Naval Aviation with Lt. Gen. Ira C. Eaker': Artemus Gates and Lt. Gen. Eaker inspect a line of P-47 aircraft at Duxford. 'Lt. Gen. Ira C. Eaker 8th Air Force, Maj. Gen. W.E. Kepner 8th Fighter Group, Col. M.C. Woodbury 66th F.W.': Senior USAAF personnel visit Duxford. Close up shot of newspaper report featuring General Kepner. A visiting Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress taxis along the airfield (footage also appears in reel one). Airmen entering 78th Fighter Group Headquarters. Scenes in briefing room. Planning of mission route. Men in flying jackets. Sign for "82nd Pilots Room". Views of airfield with hangars in background. Thunderbolts of 84th Fighter Squadron lined up on the airfield, WZ squadron codes clearly visible. '80 P-47's take off in 7 min. to join 1340 other planes': Pilots of the 78th Fighter Group depart from Duxford on another mission. Combat film US No.549, 1st Lt. Silsby, 84 Sqdn, 78 F.G, 10/10/43, attacking Me.110 and Me.210 Combat film US No.550, Maj. Roberts, 82 Sqdn 78 F.G, 10/10/43, attacking Me.110 and Me.210 Combat film US No.424, Capt. H.E. Stump, 84 Sqdn 78 F.G, 27/9/43, attacking Me.109 Combat film US No.421, F/O Pompetti, 84 Sqdn 78 F.G, 27/9/43, attacking Me.109 and Me.210 Combat film US No.419, Lt. Doughtery, 84 Sqdn 78 F.G, 27/9/43, attacking Me.109 Combat film US No.636, Lt. Col. Roberts, 84 Sqdn 78 F.G, 24/10/43, attacking Me.109 P-47 Thunderbolts in formation, then breaking and landing. One pilot lands with his undercarriage raised, presumably damaged in combat. Pilot evidently unhurt in landing. Views of damaged aircraft. 'Ramrod to Paris and Bordeaux-Rochelle area, 31 Dec. 1943. VIII Fighter Command Claims 7 destroyed, 2 probable, 1 damaged': Pilots of the 78th Fighter Group take part in Operation Ramrod. 'Ramrod to Kiel and Munster 4th Jan. 1944. VIII Fighter Command claims: 8 destroyed, 1 probable, 6 damaged': 78th Fighter Group pilots join other VIII Fighter Command pilots on a mission to Germany and back. Post-mission briefing. Close up shot of newspaper report on the impact of the raids. Airman emerges from the main entrance to the Officers' Club.
  • Alternative Title: AMATEUR FILM BY MAJOR ROBERT EBY AND COMBAT FILM [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: MGH 6545
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: NON-IWM
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1943
  • Production Country: United States of America
  • Production Details: Eby, Robert (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: English Title language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 5 Footage: 1600 ft (ca); Running time: 55 mins (16 fps)
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    MGH 6545

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