Second issue of the Film Communique series. Includes two short segments:

A Day With the A-36's Follows through a day with the A-36 a lightweight attack bomber - adapted from the P-51 Mustang. Shows glimpses of the ground life of the men who service and fly the planes. Footage shot from plane-mounted cameras on a bombing mission against Nazi targets in Sicily.

Report From Berlin Excerpts of a captured German newsreel, showing Nazi rallies and government ceremonies. Reports on war industry exceeding production goals, with scenes from factories, shipyards and munitions production. Narrated commentary presents the film to U.S. war workers in order that they see the face and production capabilities of the enemy, spoken English translation follows German newsreel narration.

]]> 1943]]> Third issue of the Film Communique series. Composed of five short segments:

Hitting the Beach features the LST tank landing craft, shows the unloading of supplies on a captured beachhead. Concludes with footage of LST under attack by enemy bombers.

Dog Fight shows U.S. P-47 fighter planes accompanying bombing runs over Europe. Preparation and takeoff from British airfields, footage captured by wing-mounted cameras of dogfight with German aircraft.

Sunday Morning a religious service given on a tropical beach on Guadalcanal Island, without commentary.

Casey Jones Goes G.I. Depicts the destruction of Axis railroad trains, stations and road beds. Explains that occupying Allied forces must repair the railroads for their own use. Recognizes the role of Army railroad men, depicting the assembly of a steam locomotive that had been shipped to Europe in pieces.

Hitting The Silk Shows General MacArthur preparing for the invasion of Lei Island by paratroops. Details preparation of large invasion force, footage of parachuting over Japanese-held island. Narration concludes: "one of these days they'll be landing in a field just outside Tokyo."

]]> The Signal Corps : produced by ]]> Combat film units of Army Airforces, United States Navy]]> 1943]]> Addressed to "the men and women of American Industry," the Film Communique series reports on military accomplishments to an audience of domestic workers producing materials for war. Composed of five short segments:

Cape Gloucester Jan 18 1944 Title card reads "1st Marine Division. Photo by Lt. R.S. Carter 7th Marines - leaving front - 23 day & nites in same clothes - fighting Japs - U.S.M.C." candid footage of battle-weary marines presented without commentary.

R.A.F. and 8th Air Force Report From Britain An aerial photographer follows daring French pilots of the R.A.F., flying at low altitude to evade radar detection, attacking a Nazi target in American-built A-20 bombers.

A 5th Air Force Report From New Guinea shows the ingenuity of ground crew men in repairing battle-damaged planes at an air depot in New Guinea. A Few Quick Facts animated sequence shows the distance a rifle bullet must travel before it reaches the Pacific battle lines to be fired at an enemy soldier.

A Fifth Army Report From The Beachhead shows the surprise invasion at Anzio, Italy, commentary describes "one of the boldest and toughest combined operations fought by the Fifth Army on the blood-soaked Italian boot." [see standalone short: http://collections.libraries.iub.edu/IULMIA/items/show/93]

]]> War Department ]]> The Signal Corps : produced by ]]> Combat film units of Marines, Army Airforces, United States Navy]]> 1944]]> Addressed to "the men and women of American Industry," the Film Communique series reports on military accomplishments to an audience of domestic workers producing materials for war. Comprised of four short segments:
Has Anybody Seen Kelly? Reports on the return of decorated war hero Chuck Kelly to his home in Pittsburgh. Follows Chuck around his neighborhood, visiting with old acquaintances and giving his account of the war, narration concludes "two years of war changed Kelly, two years of war changed Pittsburgh."

Task Force 58 tells of the secret naval task force sent to attack Saipan. Combat footage of the naval fleet attacked by Japanese fighter planes states that 428 enemy planes were shot down in a single day.

Treasure Hunt depicts salvage operations going on behind front lines in Italy, showing the reclamation of any material that can be restored or reused, the repairing of uniforms and equipment.

Quiet Cities shows the bombed cities of Normandy, France, quiet after fighting has ended - then returning to combat footage of the battles at the same sites, using gun sight camera footage and images of captured and surrendering German soldiers.

]]> The Signal Corps : produced by ]]> Combat film units of Marines, Army Airforces, United States Navy]]> 1944]]> 1944]]> Addressed to "the men and women of American Industry," the Film Communique series reports on military accomplishments to an audience of domestic workers producing materials for war. Composed of three short segments:

Aerial Techniques details the U.S. bombing of Japanese targets in Hansa Bay, Wewak and Rabaul. Explains the parachute fragmentation or "ParaFrag" bombing techniques used. Footage of fighter-plane combat in the Pacific theater taken from gun sight aiming point cameras (titled GSAP cameras). Narration gives tallies of Japanese planes, ships and soldiers destroyed.

Roll of Honor praises the work of an African-American unit, the "men of Munda," using heavy machinery to repair an airfield at Point Munda in the Solomon Islands.

Fifth Army shows General Mark Clark leading the Fifth Army advance from Salerno, Italy, across the Volturno River, toward Rome.

]]> The Signal Corps : produced by ]]> Combat film units of Marines, Army Airforces, United States Navy]]> 1943]]> Addressed to "the men and women of American Industry," the Film Communique series reports on military accomplishments to an audience of domestic workers producing materials for war. Composed of three short segments:

15th Air Force Report the return of a famous B-24 Liberator bomber called "The Blue Streak," having flown 110 combat missions with its engines replaced 19 times. The resourceful work to salvage parts and repair Air Force planes is shown.

Private Snafu: Fighting Tools animated short, the Private and a German soldier sing a musical narrative duet warning against poor care and maintenance of weapons and equipment.

Battle of the Hills combat footage showing Gen. Joseph W. Stillwell's American and Chinese troops battling their way back into China through Burma. Transport of supplies via the Ledo Road, air drops of supplies to remote outposts fighting Japanese occupiers in Burma.

]]> Army Pictorial Service : produced by ]]> Combat film units of Signal Corps, Marines, Army Airforces, United States Navy]]> 1944]]> Addressed to "the men and women of American Industry," the Film Communique series reports on military accomplishments to an audience of domestic workers producing materials for war. Composed of three short segments:

Burma Outpost Shows the air dropping of supplies for the 10th Air Force Division at outposts in the hills of Burma's border.

Private Snafu: The Home Front Cartoon intended for servicemen is here presented for civilian audiences. Private Snafu imagines his loved ones loafing and enjoying life, oblivious of his hardships. A fairy appears to show him the diligent war work going on back in his home town.

What Makes A Battle Shows the strategy and battles involved in the first land penetration of Japanese-held Marshall Islands, part of the campaign for the 32 Marshall Island atolls.

]]> 1944]]> Addressed to "the men and women of American Industry," the Film Communique series reports on military accomplishments to an audience of domestic workers producing materials for war. Comprised of six short segments:

This Isn't War It's Murder! Reports on the is land conquering campaigns in the Pacific theater, using combat footage to illustrate the contributions of "the silent partners in this combined operation" - those of the industrial workforce at home.

General Mud gives an account of the struggle against severely muddy conditions in Italy shows the necessity to construct new roads before armies can advance.

Grasshopper profiles the super-lightweight reconnaissance airplanes used to direct artillery fire to enemy targets. The narrator states "they're the controlling might that gives precision for our war weapons equal to the precision with which our workers forge them at home, they're the grasshoppers that make the American eagle free."

Yankee Rope Trick profiles the resourcefulness of American soldiers in the successful rescue of a grounded transport ship.

Pipes Of War shows the construction of oil pipelines across Italy to bring fuel from tanker ships to the front lines quickly and efficiently. Documents the vast consumption of fuel to keep the invasion of Europe advancing.

Stella tells the story of an American bomber that lost 3 of its 4 engines on its mission but still managed to limp back to England. After the bomber has undergone complete repair, commentary states "every month 500 other battle damaged planes like Stella climb back into the air."

]]> The Signal Corps : produced by ]]> Combat film units of Marines, Army Airforces, United States Navy]]> 1944]]> Addressed to "the men and women of American Industry," the Film Communique series reports on military accomplishments to an audience of domestic workers producing materials for war. Comprised of four short segments: Bingo depicts the coordination of several artillery units using radio communication to simultaneously fire on a German target.

Forty Five Minutes For Lunch shows U.S. B-26 bombers from English airfields flying daytime raids over France.

A Few Quick Facts short, informative animations about the battleship Iowa and the superiority of the American soldier.

Battle of Hill 700 reports on the fight against Japanese Army's 6th Division for control of Bougainville Island in the Spring of 1944. Provides background on the 6th division's role in Japan's 1938 invasion of China. Extensive combat footage of the prolonged battle, the defeat of the Japanese, and the soldier's impromptu Christian worship service in the jungle battlefield.[Contains scenes of graphic violence and mutilated bodies]

]]> Army Pictorial Services Signal Corps]]> 1944]]>