UNITED NEWS [Series Title]

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  • Title: UNITED NEWS [Series Title]
  • Film Number: UNY 103
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Edition of US-produced wartime newsreel, featuring fighting on the Italian front, a trans-Continental flight across the United States by two P-51 Mustangs, a pledge of service by American nursing cadets at New York, the 81st Infantry Division preparing to sail overseas, the use of aerial crop spraying in Washington States, and fighting at Hollandia in New Guinea.
  • Description: Part 1: United News main titles. 'Allied drive on in Italy - planes smash foe in air!'; aerial footage of a large formation of B-24 Liberator bombers in flight. The aircraft have large identification sign on their tail surfaces; the letters are dark block letters against white circles, with 'H' nearest camera (possibly 446th Bombardment Group). Further views of the formation. Bombs falling and exploding on an airfield below. A formation of B-17 Flying Fortress bombers; one has 'A' in a square on its tail and and L below (possibly 94th Bomb Group). Clouds of smoke below. Looking down on large formation of B-17s. At sea; gun camera footage of a strafing attack on a German E-boat. Gun camera footage of Luftwaffe fighters (twin and single engine) being shot down. Map showing Rome with a swastika, the Anglo-American beachhead at Anzio, the Appian Way, Gustav Line, German position at Cassino and Allied armies south of Cassino; arrows appear on the map to indicate offensives. Close-ups General Harold Alexander, commander 8th Army, and General Mark Clark, commander 5th Army. A rapid sequence of cuts showing artillery of various types in action, and smoke and shellfire on hillsides. British anti-tank gunners and American infantry in action. US infantry go forward. An American soldier crouches as a phosphorous grenade explodes a short distance in front of his position. A Sherman tank with smoke behind. US troops advancing through a narrow street; an explosion sees them duck into doorways for cover. Shells landing amongst the ruins of a hillside town or village. Part 2: 'Planes span U.S. continent in record 6 1-2 hours'; a P-51 Mustang fighter (serial 44-13260) taking off, followed by a second. A simple map shows the United States, with a line tracing a route from Los Angeles to New York. 44-13260 landing. The pilot, Colonel Petersen, dismounting; his is greeted by his wife. The second pilot, Colonel Carter, climbs down and is greeted; the crowd includes a number of civilian pressmen and the pilot walks to meet the other. Close-up; the two shake hands. Part 3: 1,300 new cadet nurses pledge service to U.S.'; in New York City a march past of uniformed nurses. Women in US Navy uniform. Women in nurses' uniform. Applauding crowd. Close-ups; outside City Hall women raise their hands to make a pledge. Wider shot. Part 4: 'Army salutes new divisions ready to sail overseas'; a United States division parades with flags and standards flying in a stiff breeze. Colour party, seen from the front; a United States flag and a divisional standard are seen. The divisional insignia appears to be a black cat or similar, in a circle (probably the wildcat of 81st Infantry Division). A major-general (the divisional commander?) presents an Expert Infantryman Badge to men who have completed the Ranger Course. Close-up of the badge. March past. Part 5: 'Aerial smokescreen aids U.S. farmer kill pests'; standing by an aircraft, a group of pilots and others peer at a map. Loading aircraft with pesticide (one aircraft marked 'Central Aircraft Crop Dusting - Yakima'). Close-up pilot wearing a respirator. Aircraft take off with dust trailing from them (location is probably Washington State). Part 6: 'Allied forces take Hollandia in New Guinea!'; wide shot of a horizon at sea with a dramatic sky. Convoy at sea. Map of New Guinea showing Madang, Wewak, Aitape, and Hollandia, and also showing Rabaul, Admiralty Islands, Truk and Palau; an animated arrow points to Hollandia and Aitape. Naval bombardment. Landing craft heading ashore. A naval officer (?) in steel helmet looks through binoculars. Aerial footage; B-24 Liberator in flight (it has a skull and crossbones on its tail, possibly 400th Bombardment Squadron). Aerial footage showing bombers with escorting fighters. Pilots at controls. Bombs exploding on a coastal position. View from a landing craft. General MacArthur, commander South West Pacific Area, watching; he has cotton wool in his ears. Landing craft running in. Troops disembarking. Landing Ship Tank (LST) 468 beaching. A US Marine Corps Sherman tank named 'Bloody Bastard' drives off an LST. Troops advance through swampy jungle. General Macarthur (?) and others go ashore. He sees a dump of stores. Dead Japanese soldiers. Close-up of General Walter Krueger, commander Sixth Army. A column of troops amongst tall grass and bushes. Macarthur congratulates a soldier. Map; a dotted line shows the distance from Hollandia to the Philippines as 1,150 miles. Macarthur and party depart.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: UNY 103
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-05-19
  • Production Country: United States of America
  • Production Details: Office of War Information (Sponsor) United Newsreel Corporation (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: United States Army, 5th Army (regiment/service) United States Army Air Force, 446th Bombardment Group (H) (regiment/service) United States Army Air Force, 94th Bombardment Group (regiment/service) British Army, 8th Army (regiment/service) Alexander, Harold (1st Earl Alexander of Tunis) (person) Clark, Mark Wayne (person) United States Army, 81st Division (regiment/service) United States Marine Corps (regiment/service) MacArthur, Douglas (person) United States Army Air Force, 400th Bombardment Squadron (regiment/service) Krueger, Walter (person) United States Army, 6th Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: United States Army 1939-1945 (theme) United States Air Forces 1939-1945 (theme) Italy 1939-1945 (theme) Gustav Line Campaign 1944, Italy, Second World War (event) Hollandia 1944, New Guinea, Pacific War 1941-1945, Second World War (event) New York, New York, United States of America (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 837 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    UNY 103

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