Television, Videotape & DVD

Documentaries

Explanation of symbols
: Videotape : DVD or CDRom	: An on-line video, such as You-Tube : A link to an Internet Movie Data Base article about the video	: A link to a Wikipedia article about the film : Copy in the Carrier Project reference library.

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"The grueling, yet suddenly thrilling, life aboard the USS Independence. 'Montana,' 'Crash,' 'Rat' and 'Conan' - they're four of the 'top guns' aboard the USS Independence, a floating airport with 5,000 men and one mission: to provide a safe home base for American fighter planes during the Gulf War. By coincidence, NOVA cameras happened to be on board when the Independence was called to military action. What you'll see in this special film captures the intensity, anger and adrenaline of battle like no cameras have ever before.
'The Navy is a lot like prison, except you have a greater chance of drowning,' cites one lieutenant. Aboard ship, you'll get an exclusive view of life: the cramped quarters, round-the-clock tension and relentless training, plus an awesome look at the dangerous highspeed take-offs and landings of the Navy's top fighter pilots and their powerful jets during actual war missions."

NOVA television series, WGBH/Boston:1994, videotape courtesy San Antonio Public Library
Videotape available from WGBH

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"For nearly a decade, USS Enterprise held a pivotal place on the turbulent seas of war, engaging in some of the fiercest, multi-front battles ever witnessed in modern combat. With the sophistication of a 360-coordination between the carrier, the destroyers, the aircraft dominating the skies above and the submarines blanketing the deep, Battle 360 puts viewers into the action like never before using the latest technology and cutting-edge computer graphic animation. This series will follow the Enterprise and its men from the start of the war through to the last battle. As the war went on, the ship changed, the men changed, and the battles were never the same."

The History Channel:2008
Miniseries website

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Account of the Battle of Midway

La Mancha/Polygram Video:1994, videotape courtesy San Antonio Public Library

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"Explore the magnitude of war - 17,000 feet beneath the sea - with Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard.
One thousand miles from anywhere lies a lonely outpost of coral and sea called Midway. It was here in 1942 where the U.S. and Japan fought one of the greatest naval battles of World War II that changed the course of history. And it is here again where Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard now leads a team of experts and four World War II veterans on the voyage of their lives. They're on a race against time to do the impossible: find at least one of the five downed aircraft carriers, including U.S.S. Yorktown, more than three miles underwater. Hear the heart-wrenching stories of four remarkable men and how each survived the war despite incredible odds. And join them as they pay their final respects to their fallen comrades in The Battle For Midway." Narrated by Peter Coyote

National Geographic:1999, ISBN 0-7922-9611-7 Provided by a gift from Jim and Allison Garner
Video available from National Geographic on DVD & VHS

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"June 1942 - By any ordinary standard, the United States Navy was hopelessly outclassed. They had no battleships, the enemy eleven. They had eight cruisers, the enemy twenty-three. They had three carriers (one of them crippled); the enemy had eight... they knew little of war. On one of the carriers none of the Navy pilots had ever seen combat, nor had any of the Army fliers. Of the Marines, 17 of 21 new pilots were just out of flight school - some with less than four hours of flying time since then. They were plagued with equipment problems. Some of their dive bombers couldn't dive - the fabric came off the wings. Their torpedoes were slow and unreliable: the torpedo planes even worse. They were up against the finest lighting plane in the world: the Japanese Zero.. yet, they prevailed!
The Americans took crushing losses - 15 shot down out of 15 in one torpedo squadron... 21 out of 27 in a group of fighters. They had no hope or reason to win. Yet they did, and in doing so they changed the course at the war. Midway showed that every once in a while 'what must be' need not be at all. This is the story of strategy, pluck, individual skill and incredible luck, over might.
The Battle of Midway was the most important battle of the War in the Pacific during World War II. Not only was it a demoralizing disaster for the Japanese Navy and the War Commanders, but it deprived the Japanese of their important strategic resource that was essential in the naval battles of the Pacific War - aircraft carriers.
To set the stage for this unparalleled victory, and defeat, the story begins with the conditions in Japan, the U.S., and the world that led up to Pearl Harbor. Why was the U.S. so unprepared, and what were the events that compelled isolationist, imperialist Japan to pursue its aggressive course of Pacific dominance?
Through interviews with some of the men on both sides who fought at sea and in the air the viewer will learn about their contributions to the battle, and the effect it had on their lives. Japanese and American archival footage from the actual battle is featured. Fly with WWII era war planes during dog fights and bombing runs. As the story unfolds, computer graphics illustrate the placement and route that each combatant followed, and the decisive turn of events as ships were attacked and sunk.
The Americans knew the Japanese were coming, they broke the secret code by piecing together 10% or 15% of an occasional intercept. By scrupulously fitting together hundreds of tiny facts, supported by intuitive logic and good luck, they caught the overly confident enemy unaware. In the end it was the courage and aggressive altitude of the pilots, sailors and marines that won the day over a superior force of well trained, combat seasoned, and extremely brave Japanese fighters."

The Discovery Channel:1999, produced by Thomas Horton Associates, DVD distributed by Delta Entertainment

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"Blue Angels: A Year in the Life follows the premiere flight demonstration team for an entire year, revealing the passion and commitment that make the Blue Angels the best in the world."

Henninger Productions/Discovery Military Channel:2005, DVD

Episode List

Disc 1 PART 1: BECOMING BLUE - "The season kisks off with winter training where the veterans teach new members how to fly the Blue Angel style." PART 2: THE DEMO - "The Blue Angels perform their high-octane demonstration in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators. The routine looks effortless, but it takes a heavy toll. The season is on the line just as the Blue Angels head out for a three-week road trip."

Disc 2 PART3: ON THE ROAD - "For 30 weeks of every year, the Blue Angels hit the road. Battling equipment failure and unforeseen complications, the Blue Angels' pilots and mechanics do whatever it takes to keep on rolling." PART 4: CHANGING OF THE GUARD - "Just when it looks like the Blue Angels can coast through the rest of the year. disaster strikes. The Blue Angels bring their season full circle, as the team bands together to rise above adversity."

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"For 48 years the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels have thrilled millions with their legendary precision and incomparable aerial artistry.
Now join film and TV star Leslie Nielsen for a cockpit's eye-view of the Blue Angels in breathtaking action as they pertorm some of their most phenomenal flying feats. You'll experience every spectacular climb, dive and roll through such superb 16 millimeter photography you'll wince at every near miss.
You'll also go behind the scenes and meet the professionals whose dedication and teamwork make the Blue Angels one of the world's top flying squadrons."

National Syndications:1995, videotape

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"From the Wright Brothers to the Right Stuff, this is the complete story of manned flight. Through rare images and lost interviews with the pioneers of aviation, learn what really happened at Kill Devil Hill as Orville and Wilbur raced against time and Professor Langley to become the first to fly. Take off with the gallant Knights of the Sky over the Western Front in 1918, or battle the elements in an open cockpit with the first airmail service. Beak records with Amelia Earhart, Wally [sic] Post and Jackie Cochrane or join Lucky Lindy on his flight into history.
In this breathtaking 4-DVD set, you will hear Jimmy Doolittle tell you in his own words what it was like to break air speed records and lead his B-24s [sic] in an impossible raid over Tokyo. You'll break the sound barrier with Yeager, walk on the moon with Armstrong, and honor those who paid the ultimate price for the quest of space.
This collection has it all for the aviation enthusiast and those who just enjoy a great adventure."

Creation Films/Madacy Home Video:2004, DVD

Episode List
Disc 1 Those Daring Young Men - "Take flight with the legendary pioneers in aviation, from the Wright Brothers to barnstormers to the breathtaking exploits of the record setters. Re-live the thrilling key events from the early days of aviation history." Introduction Kill Devil Hill Imitating the Birds Birds of Prey Knights of the Sky Hat in the Ring Zeppelins Over London The Big Push Postmen Barnstormers Record Setters Highway in the Sky Credits Bonus Feature - "The Fight for the Skies"	Disc 2 Hawks and Doves - "Climb aboard streaking fighter planes, thundering bombers and daring re-con [sic] flights - this disc explores the thrilling stor of wartime aviation. Flying precision air strikes, strafing, or dodging flak, brave wartime pilots gave real meaning to 'grace under fire'." Introduction The Army Aiforce Strikes The Turning of the Tide Hit 'Em Where it Hurts Nazi Bridges Falling Down Credits Bonus Feature - "History of Strategic Bombing"
Disc 3 The Space Race - "Discover the fascinating story of space exploration - the breathtaking quest to conquer the final frontier. From courageous test pilots 'pushing the envelope' to John Glenn's gallant mission to Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon - the heroic saga is all here." Introduction The First Steps Supersonic Let the Games Begin Project Mercury Project Gemini Project Apollo Beyond the Moon Credits Bonus Feature - "Helicopters"	Disc 4 Bonus Material - "Five extraordinary stories from the annals of aviation, specially selected for this bonus DVD. Includes a profile of the daring Chuck Yeager, the story of WWII bomber Memphis Belle, plus a moving tribute to the space shuttle Columbia - and more." The F-22: Safeguarding the Future Chuck Yeager: The Fastest Man Alive Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress Round the World by Airplane Sixteen Minutes From Home: Remembering the Heroes of the STS 107

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Overview of the development of naval aviation in the latter half of the Twentieth Century

BBC: 1997, videotape courtesy San Antonio Public Library

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"Take a comprehensive, insider's look at the aircraft carriers of today's United States Navy. Marvel as a mind-boggling array of workers, materials and technologies combine to create an aircraft carrier right before your eyes. Exclusive footage captures the building of the USS Reagan – from the moment the ship is conceived to its delivery to a jubilant Navy crew.
Witness the world's largest crane gently nudging massive modular units into place, technicians snaking miles of cables through the bowels of ships, weapons experts installing the latest firepower and much more. Then experience the challenge and excitement of living on one these floating behemoths as you sail aboard the Reagan's sister ship, the USS Truman."

The Discovery Channel:2006, DVD
Available from the Discovery Channel store

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1800 - 1916: A Thirst for Blood & Iron and Clash of the Dreadnoughts
"For centuries the wind and the elements were dominant factors in war at sea. When the industrial revolution ushered in the era of steam propulsion, the British naval establishment resisted change fearing it would make its massive fleet of wooden sailing ships obsolete overnight. But soon new, more accurate firepower was developed, resulting in a revolutionary transformation for the battleship. The late 19th century saw bold new fleets emerge — those of Italy, the United States, Russia and Japan. World War I was about to erupt. The outbreak of hostilities between Germany and Britain in 1914 saw the battleship at almost the peak of its superiority among fighting ships. On windswept waters of the North Sea the two greatest navies in the world put their fleets to test under fire. In the Battle of Jutland, the entire might of the British Grand Fleet came head-to-head with the German High Seas Fleet. It was the first, and the largest, naval battle fought. Both sides claimed victory, and both sides suffered enormous casualties and loss of capital ships. To this day, controversy still surrounds this epic naval battle. Despite losing more ships and more men than the Germans, Britain's Grand Fleet remained master of the North Sea. Never again did the High Seas Fleet throw down the gauntlet to their great rivals across the Channel."

1916 - Present: The Darkness of the Future and Terror From Above
"A new arms race begun, radical new battleships, larger and with more firepower, were planned. Fearing another global catastrophe, the United States called a conference to halt the madness. The Washington Treaty set limitations for the size and power of the world's navies. As political conditions deteriorated in Europe, it became clear that the battleship would play a key role in future armed conflicts between nations. WWII saw some of the most dramatic naval battles of all time. Britain's security was challenged when a German U-boat infiltrated the defences of its main naval base; then Britain's mighty Hood was sunk by Germany's powerful battleship Bismarck, herself destroyed soon after. Torpedo attacks by air on the Italian fleet confirmed ship vulnerability to plane attacks - a lesson later put to good use by the Japanese in their attack on Pearl Harbor. The great naval battles of the Pacific between the Japanese and the US, saw battleships playing a secondary role to the mighty aircraft carriers. The era of battleships nearly came to end after WWII if not for the USS Iowa Class battleships that played a vital role in the Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf Wars. Today not one battleship remains in commission in any of the world's navies. Their short but powerful reign as the most awesome, destructive weapon of war is over."

Delta Entertainment:2001, DVD

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St. Clair Entertainment Group:2008, DVD

Episode List
Disc 1 - History of the U. S. Navy Produced by the US Navy, this series of contemporary films highlights the critical moments of naval history and provides fascinating insights into its proud heritage. Explore naval history from its very beginnings through to the late 20th century through news reels, commentary, pictorial reviews, reenactments and interviews. Includes: The American Revolution through the Quasi War The War of Independence The Barbary Wars to the War of 1812 The War of 1812 Worldwide Naval Operations in Peace & War (1815-60) The Civil War, Parts I & II The End of the Civil War to World War II World War II at Sea The Cold War Navy From Vietnam to the Present Bonus Feature: Poster Gallery	Disc 2 - Naval Weapons Bringing together both early and contemporary footage, this collection of films zeroes in on nuclear submarines, aircraft carriera and more, exploring their role in US Navy operations. Includes: STORY OF NAVAL AVIATION - Produced by US Navy, this film documents aviation from its earliest days to its modern day role WINGS OF EAGLES, WINGS OF GOLD - Traces the history of naval aviatien and emphasizes the importance of preserving this heritage for future generations A WEAPON IS CONCEIVED - Taking a look at Naval aviation from its inception up to World War I A WEAPON IS DEVELOPED - Depicting the development of naval weaponry from 1918 to 1930 A WEAPON IS TESTED - Emphasizing problems and accomplishments making the growth and combat testing of Naval aviation in Worid War II AMERICAN NAVY IN ViETNAM - Development of the destroyer from the earliest types through to modern nuclear missile destroyers GREYHOUNDS OF THE SEA - A film which examines the aircraft carrier from the USS Langley to the USS John F. Kennedy POLARIS TO POSEIDON - A documentary about the Polaris missile submarine and the men who operated her Bonus Feature: "The Vengeance Of Torpedo Eight" Radio Episode	Disc 3 - Heroes of the Navy A historical perspective on the naval battles that changed the world, and the men whose courage and bravery made the difference. Includes: SEA POWER: FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK TO POLARIS - The history and growth of American Naval Sea power from Plymouth to Polaris SEA POWER ON THE MOVE - Explains the mobility, versatility, and flexibility of naval forces DESTINY UPON THE WATERS - A time span from the Phoenicians to the mid-l8th century is bridged to show the evolution of naval power AWAY BOARDERS - The USS Guadalcanal and the capture of the first German submarine in World War THE FLEET THAT CAME TO STAY - The invasion of Okinawa, from the U.S. Navy point of view FURY IN THE PACIFIC - Follows American troops in the Battles of Peleliu and Angaur SEA POWER IN THE PACIFIC - Traces the history and depicts the role of American sea power in the Pacific during World War II THIS IS KOREA - A overview of the Korean War, produced by the U.S. Navy. Bonus Feature: Navy Patch Gallery

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"Using never-before-seen footage, Japan's War In Colour tells a previously untold story. It recounts the history of the Second World War from a Japanese perspective, combining original colour film with letters and diaries written by Japanese people. It tells the story of a nation at war from the diverse perspectives of those who lived through it: the leaders and the ordinary people, the oppressors and the victims, the guilty and the innocent.
Until recently, it was believed that no colour film of Japan existed prior to 1945. But specialist research has now unearthed a remarkable colour record from as early as the 1930s. Examples of these extraordinary scenes include Imperial Japanese troops in Manchuria, the visit of Prince Chichibu - Emporer Hirohito's brother - to Britain and his meeting with Adolph Hitler, Japanese aggression in China, unique colour film of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and vibrant scenes of life on the Japanese home front.
For eight years the Japanese fought what they believed was a Holy War that became a fight to the death. Japan's War In Colour shows how militarism took hold of the Japanese people; describes why Japan felt compelled to attack the West; explains what drove the Japanese to resist the Allies for so long; and, finally, reveals how they dealt with the shame of defeat."

Trans World International/Carleton:2003, DVD

Special Features
The Last Bomb - a 35-minute U.S. government film, which includes reconstruction and original colour footage. Exclusive colour footage showing the Battle for Iwo Jima, the devastation caused to Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the dropping of the atomic bombs, and scenes from post-war Japan. Restoring Film - a segment illustrating the complex process to restore film to its original quality.	The Power of Sound - a piece on composer Chris Elliott with extracts revealing the importance of sound and a sample of five original Chris Elliot tracks. Interactive maps. The diary of a Japanese soldier. A Photo gallery.

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"In 1942, World War II raged around a previously obscure island in the southwest Pacific called Guadalcanal. Six months of savage fighting transformed the channel north of the island into a final resting place for some fifty Allied and Japanese warships. Fifty years later, Dr. Robert Ballard, the explorer who found the wrecks of the Titanic and Bismarck, leads a joint National Geographic Society/U.S. Navy expedition to explore this watery graveyard. Join in his discovery of ships unseen for half a century! Retrace the brutal events at Guadalcanal that changed the course of the war. Share the vivid, searing memories of those who fought and survived, and witness their touching reunions with their ships and former enemies. And experience the excitement and life-threatening dangers of undersea exploration. With a special introduction by former President George Bush, relive some incredible moments in the histories of war and exploration as you discover The Lost Fleet of Guadalcanal."

National Geographic Society:1993, videotape

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Operations aboard CVN-70 USS Carl Vinson

The Discovery Channel:1999, videotape, recorded from broadcast, December 1999

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Operations aboard modern aircraft carriers

The Learning Channel:2000, videotape, recorded from broadcast, 11 March 2000

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Documentary about the fire aboard CV-59 USS Forrestal, 29 July 1967, on Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam

"Discovery Sunday" series, The Discovery Channel:1999, videotape, recorded from broadcast, February or March 1999

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"The Indian legend lives, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, America's ambassadors in blue, flying the world's most maneuverable fighter, the F-16 Falcon, used by 24 nations, in spectacular color. Remarkable "in cockpit" camera shots, precision formations including the arrowhead, the diamond roll, the breathtaking cross over break, the Thunderbird famous "bomb burst" and much, much more.
Presenting the 1987 United States Navy Blue Angels precision jet team performing in the F-18 Hornet fighter. Tension builds from their diamond formation take off. The thrilling 36" wing tip to canopy diamond formation, the knife edge pass, the famous Blue Angel fleur de lis... One exciting maneuver after another."

American Sound & Video, videotape

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"This captivating DVD recounts the history of the Allies and Axis naval and land operations during WWII. Featuring the heroic men and the mighty war ships of the day, we will bring you Battleships, Destroyers, Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, Submarines, PT-Boats, Convoys and the relentless Army and Navy Air Power."

Marathon Music & Video:2000, DVD, ISBN 0-7411-0458-X

Episode List
The Battle of the Atlantic Opening Salvoes Atlantic Convoy Commerce Raiders Wolfpacks	The War in the Pacific Pearl Harbor Midway Guadalcanal New Guinea The Bismarck Archipelago Conquest of Micronesia Wall of Fire Hunters and the Hunted The Divine Wind	Extra Features USS Missouri Landing Craft Liberty & Victory ships

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Naval aircraft and operations

The Discovery Channel:1999, videotape, recorded from broadcast, 1999

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"Seventeen stories tall and three football fields long, the magnificent U.S.S. Intrepid was one of the fiercest warships ever to steam out of a navy shipyard. From the epic WWII battle for the Leyte Gulf and the deadly struggle in Vietnam to the peacetime recovery of American space capsules, the "Fighting I" and her crew could always be found at the center of the action.
Trace the complete story of this mighty carrier and the men who fought and died on her decks. See never-before-seen footage of the Intrepid in action, and hear firsthand accounts from aviators, astronauts, gunners and officers, including General Colin Powell and U.S. Senator John McCain. And meet millionaire Zachary Fisher, the man who single-handedly saved this great vessel from the scrap heap by turning her into the world's largest naval museum." Narrated by Michael Ironside

The History Channel, videotape, recorded from broadcast

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Originally broadcast by NBC as 26 half-hour episodes in 1952-53, this is considered one of the most complete documentary series dealing with naval operations during World War II. The score by Richard Rogers and Robert Russell Bennett has attained it's own measure of success, being released many times on LP, cassette and CD.

Mill Creek Entertainment:2005, DVD
See also: Victory at Sea Online

Episode List
Disc 1 Design for War The Pacific Boils Over Sealing the Breach Midway is East Mediterannean Mosaic Guadalcanal Rings Around Rabaul Marenstrum Sea and Sand	Disc 2 Beneath the Southern Cross The Magnetic North Conquest of Micronesia Melanesian Nightmare Roman Resistance D-Day Killers and the Kill The Turkey Shoot Two if by Sea	Disc 3 The Battle for Leyte Gulf Return of the Allies Full Fathom Five The Fate of Europe Target Suribachi The Road to Mandalay Suicide for Glory Design for Peace

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"From the skies of Pearl Harbor to the sands of Iwo Jima, relive the drama and intensity of history's greatest conflict in World War II: The War In the Pacific. This extraordinary collection is the most complete account of World War II's Pacific Theater ever created.
Combining graphic combat footage and expert commentary, it's a commanding view of the battles and strategy, the men and machines, and the horror and heroism that marked this epic conflict." Produced by Lou Reda Productions for the History Channel, hosted by Patrick O'Neal

The History Channel:1993, DVD, ISBN 0-7670-3599-2
Video available from the History Channel

Episode List

Disc 1 Island Hopping: The Road Back - "The epic story of the Allies' island-by-island Pacific campaign, using massive amphibious assaults." Jungle Warfare: New Guinea to Burma - "In the steamy jungles of the Pacific, soldiers battled not only the japanese, but malaria, heat exhaustion, and swarms of parasites." Air War in the Pacific - "From the war's first days, to the suicidal Kamikaze attacks and the bombing missions that brought the war to the Japanese homeland." The Bloody Ridges of Pelelieu - "From the opening Naval bombardment, to the hand-to-hand combat and vicious guerilla warfare, this is the complete story of this brutal and historic battle."

Disc 2 The Return to the Philippines - "From MacArthur's strategy to the heroics of the ground, naval and air troops, it's a stunning story of unstoppable determination." Okinawa... The Last Battle - "Witness the desperate, suicidal resistance of the Japanese in the final battle of the Pacific campaign." Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey: Naval Warrior - "Sail into battle with one of the most celebrated naval commanders in American history." Narrated by Jack Perkins.

Companion Volume:

"From the Beaches of Normandy to the sands of North Africa, relive the drama and intensity of history's greatest conflict in World War II: The War in Europe. This extraordinary collection is the most complete account of the European Theater of World War II ever created.
Combining graphic combat footage and expert commentary, it's a commanding view of the battles and strategy, the men and machines, and the horror and heroism that marked this epic conflict." Produced by Lou Reda Productions for the History Channel, hosted by Patrick O'Neal

The History Channel:1993, DVD, ISBN 0-7670-3272-1
Video available from the History Channel

Episode List

Disc 1 The Greatest Conflict - "From the German blitzkrieg to the Allies' bloody battle for Berlin." North Africa... The Desert War - "The British 1st Army and untested American troops face the full force of Germany's Afrika Corps." The Beachhead at Anzio - "The Allies' daring invasion of Italy." D-Day... The Normandy Invasion - "150,000 Allied soldiers storm ashore to wage WWII's most critical battle."

Disc 2 Pursuit to the Rhine - "The daring offensive by the U.S. 1st Army to break through German lines." The Bomber Offensive: Air War in Europe - "The Allies launch historic penetration raids on German munitions factories." The Battle of the Bulge - "The last major engagement of the Eiuropean campaign and the scene of some of the war's fiercest fighting." The Battle of Germany - "The final campaign of the European theater and Eisenhower's final drive to Berlin."

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"While the world was plunged into a second world war, a prestigious film project documenting the Allied war effort was made by Frank Capra. Now, these films have been digitally remastered and assembled into a collectible set, 'World War II - Why We Fight Collector's Set.' Contributors to the documentary were MGM, Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Robert Flaherty, Alfred Newman and even Walt Disney. In 1944 the series was presented by [sic] the New York Film Critics Award as the 'Best Documentary Series.'"

Vintage Home Entertainment:2006, DVD

Episode List

Disc 1 War Comes to America (1945) - "The opinion in the US sides with the Allies against the Axis after the attack on Pearl Harbor." Prelude to War (1943) - "This US Army training film compares the 'free' and 'slave' worlds and the development of dictatorships in Italy, Germany and Japan." The Nazis Strike (1943) - "'The Nazis Strike' displays Germany's acts of diplomatic and military aggression. We learn of the Nazi's violation of peace negotiations and the invasion of Poland." Divide and Conquer (1943) - "A combination of innovative Nazi tactics and the acts of traitors allowed the conquest of most of Europe."

Disc 2 The Battle of Britain (1943) - "'The Battle of Britain' is an account of Great Britain's last stand against Nazi germany, and the hard-fought but successful battle to maintain both air superiority and morale." The Battle of Russia (1943) - "'The Battle of Russia' covers Rissia's resistance to invasion, how those qualities were called upon in the war, and their determination to win against the seemingly invincible forces of Nazi Germany." The Battle of China (1944) - "'The Battle of China' discusses China's history, and its people who use all their resources to oppose Japan's aggression, as well as why the Japanese want to conquer it."

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"Wings Over Water tells the fascinating story of naval aviation's critical role in making the U. S. a world power. Film highlights include archival footage of some of the most terrifying and intense airspace battles fought and the intriguing interviews of the veterans who took part in them. This is the story of naval aviation from its conception to the important role it played in battles fought, won, and lost, all the while examining American foreign policy, foreign relations, and long-simmering international conflict. An evocative, powerful, and informing documentary, Wings Over Water is the story behind the story: how and why America developed maritime aviation technology, what it meant to our past, and what it means to our future."

The Hoffman Collection, DVD

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Goodtimes Home Video Corp.:2001, DVD, ISBN 0-7662-0567-3

Set Includes:
The Fighting Lady "Oscar winner William Wyler ('Mrs. Miniver', 'The Best Years of Our Lives') directed this 1944 'newsdrama,' narrated by Lieut. Robert Taylor, USNR ('Bataan'), and photographed in zones of combat by the U. S. Navy. The film follows one of the many new aircraft carriers built since Pearl Harbor, known as The Fighting Lady in honor of all American carriers, as it goes into action against the Japanese in the Pacific Ocean in 1943. See the ship and it's pilots undergo their baptism of fire, attacking the Japanese base on Marcus Island, and gain in experience with each new battle - Kwajalein, Truk, and 'The Marianas Turkey Shoot'." Goodtimes Home Video Corp.:2001, DVD, ISBN 0-7662-0569-X	Report from the Aleutians/Hook Down, Wheels Down "Father and son Academy Award winners Walter and John Huston, named Best Supporting Actor and Best Director for 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre', narrate this Oscar nominated 1943 documentary. U.S. Army and Navy airmen repulsed the Japanese fleet that invaded Dutch Harbor in June 1942 as part of an all-out attempt to secure domination of the Pacific. also included is a short 'war film,' Angel in Overalls." (webmaster's note: The assault on Dutch Harbor was a diversion from the Japanese attack on Midway Island.) "Told through a combination of modern-day interviews and authentic contemporary combat footage, Hook Down, Wheels Down is the story of the United States Navy's 'ungainly floating airfields,' the aircraft carriers. These are the men who made history from the decks of carriers, and have always been inseparable from the flying machines they love, as dramatized by Clark Gable and Wallace Beery in scenes from Hell Divers." Goodtimes Home Video Corp.:2001, DVD, ISBN 0-7662-0568-1
Thunderbolt "Academy Award winner William Wyler ('Ben-Hur') and nominee John Sturges ('Bad Day at Black Rock') co-directed this documentary about the U.S. Army Air Force's P-47 Thunderbolt fighter bomber. Oscar winner James Stewart ('The Philadelphia Story') introduces this dramatic account of the vital role played by the P-47 during the Italian Campaign, narrated by Commanding General Carl Spatz. Through genuine combat footage, taken from plane-mounted cameras, you'll fly with these P-47 pilots in 'Operation Strangle' to bomb bridges, strafe enemy supply trains, and blast munitions storehouses." Goodtimes Home Video Corp.:2001, DVD, ISBN 0-7662-0571-1	Combat America "Oscar winner Clark Gable ('It Happened One Night') escorts you on a tour of the 351st Bombardment Group (H) AAF at its air base in England, home to a group of mighty Flying Fortresses. Gable takes you for a close-up look at every detail of their operation, from the tactical briefing room to the tireless ground crews who work for ninety hours straight repairing the planes that rattled Hitler. Then you'll join the 351st on an actual bombing raid on Germany, with live color combat footage, as those B-17s drop tons of bombs and fight off attacking Messerschmitts in a spectacular aerial combat." Goodtimes Home Video Corp.:2001, DVD, ISBN 0-7662-0570-3

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"Throughout WWII and the years following, a large number of documentaries and propaganda films were produced on virtually every aspect of the Second World War. This 10 DVD collector's set contains 30 documentary features ranging from Academy Award winning films directed by Hollywood legends Frank Capra and John Huston to films containing actual war-time footage depicting images and experiences no production company could replicate. With over 26 hours of content and with narration provided by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Paul Newman, Burgess Meredith and Clark Gable, WWII: The Ultimate Collection examines how the public memory of war in the twentieth century has often been created more by a manufactured past than a remembered one."

Brentwood Home Video:2004, DVD

Disc Index
Disc 1
Side A The True Glory (1945) - "Academy Award winning documentary assembled from actual footage of the WWII allied invasion of Europe, captured by thousands of different camera operators. Starting with D-Day, the documentary covers the major battles all the way to the fall of Berlin, with narration provided by General Dwight D. Eisenhower."	Side B Know Your Enemy: Japan (1944) - "Director Frank Capra (It's a Wonderful Life) created this film for the U.S. government during World War II. Narrated by George Marshall, viewers are introduced to the Japanese, one of America's enemies during the war." Target for Tonight (1941) - "First-rate wartime documentary drama from the prolific writer-director Harry Wyatt that details the experiences of a single Royal Air Force Bomber and its courageous crew."
Disc 2
Side A December 7th (1944) - "Documentary about the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 directed by the legendary John Ford. This Academy Award winning docudrama depicts the recovering of the ships, the improving of defense in Hawaii and the U.S. efforts to beat back the Japanese enforcements [sic]." Campaign in Europe (a.k.a. Felzug in Polen) (1939 - "This film presents the German account of the Polish Campaign of 1939, from the fierce fighting in Danzig, to the struggles along the Vistula, Warta and Bug rivers, to the Siege of Warsaw. Viewers can get an instructive understanding of how devastating the German advance was on the Polish forces."	Side B Dropzone: Normandy (1945) - "A detailed account of combined glider operations on D-Day (June 6th, 1944) from preparations to final outcome. This Army Air Force film consists of actual invasion footage, with a brief analysis of the failures and successes of this operation." D-Day (1944) - "This documentary examines the preparation for the Normandy invasion. Narrated by Paul Newman, this film takes an in-depth look at the 84th Infantry Division fighting in Belgium."
Disc 3
Side A Prelude to War (1942) - "As brilliantly assembled as any of director Frank Capra's Hollywood films, this WWII propaganda film demonstrates how the diplomatic and political blunders made in the wake of WWI led inexorably to WWII. Throughout the film, the lies of fascism and totalitarianism are contrasted with the ideals of Democracy."	Side B Adolph Hitler (1948) - "A feature length documentary that chronicles the life of Adolph Hitler from youth through his rise to power. Filled with historical newsreels and an assembly of footage, this is one of the most thorough biographies of Hitler's life."
Disc 4
Side A Battle of Midway (1943) - "John Ford directed this Academy Award winning documentary featuring footage of the Japanese's attack on Midway Island in the North Pacific, edited together with narration by Hollywood actors." The Fighting Lady (1945) - This Academy Award winning documentary from director William Wyler follows the exploits of an aircraft carrier, its crew, and the planes transported on its deck."	Side B Desert Victory (1943) - "This Academy Award winning British documentary traces the struggle between the opposing forces of generals Rommel and Montgomery, from the defeat at El Alemein to the ultimate British victory at Tripoli."
Disc 5
Side A Nuremberg (1946) - "This Russian documentary was assembled the same year that the Nurmeberg War Crimes trials began. While many of the issues raised and fates of the defendants were unresolved at the time of production, filmmaker C. Svilov presents propaganda on behalf of the victorious Soviet forces."	Side B The Great Generals: General Bradley (1948) - "General Omar N. Bradley considered himself to be a failure during WWI when he was kept stateside, but during WWII he commanded a division, a corps, an army, and finally a group of armies!" General Patton (1947) - "This film profiles the egotistical, bullish and always controversial General George S. Patton, a true icon of WWII, hero of the Battle of the Bulge and commander of the allied advance into Germany." General Eisenhower (1953) - "This film chronicles the achievements of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the man with amny titles including soldier, statesman, president, beloved hero of D-Day, the invasion of Normandy and the defeater of germany at the Battle of the Bulge."
Disc 6
Side A Appointment in Tokyo (1945) - "This inspiring documentary covers the entire American Pacific campaign from the Bataan retreat to the surrender of Japan. Many of the film's more unforgettable scenes have been culled from captured Japanese newsreels. The 'star' of the proceedings is General Douglas MacArthur, who after three years of relentless fighting makes good his promise 'I shall return.'"	Side B The Memphis Belle (1944) - "Filmed in color. The Memphis Belle has long been held up as a 'model' wartime documentary. The film assembles footage from several allied bombing missions into one single representative flight of the famed Flying Fortress known as the Memphis Belle. The danger facing these Flying Fortresses is underlined, but never overemphasized, by brief glimpses of those doomed ships that didn't make it back."
Disc 7
Side A Nazi Concentration Camps (1945) - "Produced and presented as evidence at the Nuremberg war crimes trial of Hermann Goring and twenty other Nazi leaders. View the Nazi concentration camps as the Allied forces saw them during liberation as captured on this graphic and shocking video."	Side B Smashing the Reich (1961) - "This interseting World War II documentary by Perry Wolf feartures archival footage that focuses on the air war over Europe in addition to major European wartime scenes like the meeting of Russian and American troops at the Elbe River and the liberation of the prisoners in the concentration camps. A concise narration provides the necessary information on the unforling scenes of the war and, together with the images, makes for an educational documentary."
Disc 8
Side A Tunisian Victory (1944) - "Produced by the British Film Unit and the U.S. Army Signal Corps, the film covers the length and breadth of the allied North Africa campaign, from first landings to final triumph. This acclaimed documentary is narrated by Bernard Miles and Burgess Meredith under the direction of the legendary Frank Capra."	Side B Thunderbolt (1945) - "Thunderbolt was the last of Major William Wyler's wartime directorial efforts on behalf of the US Army Air Corps. This documentary follows the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft and its use in missions over Europe and the Pacific Theatre in the Second World War." Recognition of the Japanese Zero (1942) - "United States Air Force training film on the characteristics, capabilities, weaknesses and recognition of the World War II Japanese fighter aircraft known as the Zero."
Disc 9
Side A Combat America (1944) - "Clark Gable narrates this documentary recounting the experiences of the 351st Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces, based in England during the Second World War. Personal accounts of pilots and infantrymen, along with commentary by military historians and journalists, give the viewer an insight into America's first real look at the combat missions in Europe and the South Pacific." War Comes to America (1945) - "This installment of Frank Capra's WWII documentaries focuses on the good qualities of war and puts emphasis on the things worth fighting for. With that established, we learn of the history of the United States' population shifting opinion towards siding with the Allies against the Axis until the attack on Pearl Harbor which brought America into full scale involvement in the war."	Side B Warsaw Ghetto (1969) - "This documentary uses historic film footage made by the Nazis to show the creation of the ghetto, early Nazi propaganda, daily life and the uprising. It also reconstructs the 10-day resistance of half a million Jews cut off in a half mile city area by Nazi forces." Let There be Light (1946) - "At the request of the Signal Corps, John Huston made a wartime documentary of the emotionally disturbed war veterans being treated at Mason General Hospital. For three months, Huston immersed himself in the project, observing the various methods used to pull these shattered-in-spirit men out of their mental anguish, ranging from shock treatment to hypnosis."
Disc 10
Side A Kamikaze (1945) - "Kamikaze is a wartime tribute to the famous Japanese suicide pilots. Lensed in the final year of the war, the film has an air of desperate bravado. What was intended as inspiring at the time now seems very sad, and not a little pathetic. Still, the film serves as an invaluable record of a long-defunct Japanese cultural mindset."	Side B Battle of San Pietro (1945) - "The film, largely comprised of on-the-spot combat footage, concentrates on a grueling battle in the Italian stronghold of San Pietro. The Germans, making full use of the town's natural fortifications, dug in and began defending their position by slaughtering hundreds of Allied troops." Report from the Aleutians (1943) - "In detailing the day-to-day activities of protecting Alaska's Aleutian Islands from Japanese attack, director John Huston concentrates on the personal element, stressing the courage under stress of the regular Joes assigned to this bleak part of the world. Huston himself narrates the film with the enphatic compassion that he would later bring to his acting work."

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