Combat America
Combat America is a short film from 1945 released on 16mm. It is held in the Prelinger Archives collection.
Follows the Flying Fortress crews of the 351st Bombardment Group from the end of their training at a Colorado training field to actual combat over Germany. It tells the story of the crews and the gunners, showing how they live, how they fight, and how they rest. Produced at the command of General Henry H. Arnold, Commanding General of the Army Air Forces, as an orientation film for gunners training to serve in the European theater of operations.
From Internet Archive reviews:
Reviewer: Christine Hennig - 4.00 out of 5 stars4.00 out of 5 stars4.00 out of 5 stars4.00 out of 5 stars - January 10, 2004 Subject: Clark Gable Goes to War!
After his wife, Carole Lombard, was killed in a plane crash, a grieving Clark Gable couldnt face Hollywood anymore, so he joined up with the Army Air Corps, requesting that he be sent into actual combat. So naturally the Army decided he should make a movie about his combat group, the 351st Bombardier Group. Gable narrates this complete portrait of his outfit and appears in several short scenes where he interviews his comrades-in-arms. The focus of the film, though, is the group itself, especially the gunners. The film starts just after training is complete and the group flies to England to begin flying actual missions. The film covers all aspects of the lives of the gunners, from actual combat to leisure time, and from goofy hijinks to the gritty reality of seeing your buddies get killed or seriously wounded in combat. The film is quite similar to The Memphis Belle, though perhaps not as engrossing as that film. Still, the film has quite a bit of historical value as a portrait of combat and army life, and in color to boot.| Combat America | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | U.S. Army Air Forces |
Production company | U.S. Army Air Forces |
| Distributed by | U.S. Army Air Forces |
Release date | 1945 |
Running time | 60:00 |
| Language | English |
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