I've compiled a list below (not comprehensive by any means) that helps one navigate this catalog of films. I've broken them down by general topic but one word of caution: videos are loaded and deleted from YouTube with depressing frequency, so the links I'm using are current as of today (July 13, 2019) but are subject to change. If the link doesn't work anymore, just check YouTube for the film title and most likely you will find another version of it.
The bulk of these films were produced by the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Force which was based at Fort Roach, California. Headed by Jack Warner of Warner Bros. Studios, the FMPU produced more than 400 training films during the war. Wikipedia has an article on the FMPU which can be accessed here and also has a list of films (also not comprehensive) and when they were released.
Recruiting Films:
“Flying Cadets of the
U.S.Army Air Corps” 40 minutes
Overview of training
program for flyers; recruitment film
Produced in 1940-1941
by the Material Division, U.S.Army Air Corps
“Wings of Steel” 20
minutes in Technicolor
Dramatized recruiting
film for flying cadets
Produced in early 1941
by Warner Bros. for the Army Air Corps
“Attention Young Men”
6 minutes
Brief recruiting film
aimed at general public
Produced in 1942 by the
Army Air Force
“Keep 'Em Flying”
30 minutes
Overview of enlisted
non-flying jobs in the air force (mechanics, radiomen, etc.)
Produced in 1943 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Winning Your Wings”
17 minutes, starring Jimmy Stewart
Dramatized recruiting
film for flying cadets
Produced in 1942 by
Warner Bros. for the Army Air Force
 |
| Flying Cadet Clarence 'Bing' Gerrick seated in the cockpit of a PT-19 trainer. |
Training Films:
“Aerial Bombs” 17
minutes
Methods of fusing and
loading bombs on aircraft
Produced in 1941 by the
Signal Corps, U.S. Army
“Aerial Gunner” 132
minutes
Detailed overview of
aerial gunnery training and techniques
Produced in 1943 by
Medallion Productions
“Flexible Aerial
Gunnery: Making a Gunner” 13 minutes
Introduction to
techniques of aerial gunnery
Produced in 1943 by the
Army Air Force
“Aircraft
Instruments” 12 minutes
Basic introduction of
aircraft instruments for flying cadets
Produced in 1941-42 by
U.S. Army Air Force
“Air Reconnaissance
and Observation” 13 minutes
Introduction to methods
of aerial reconnaissance
Produced in 1942 by the
Signal Corps, U.S. Army
“Acrobatics” 18
minutes
Basic introduction to
aerial acrobatics for flying cadets
Produced in 1942-43 by
the Signal Corps, U.S. Army
“Cadet
Classification” 18 minutes, starring Ronald Reagan
Description of method
used to divide cadets into pilots, bombardiers, and navigators
Produced in 1943 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Force
“Dead Reckoning
Procedure” 25 minutes
Introduction to aerial
navigation
Produced in 1942-43 by
the Army Air Force
“Fighter Combat
Formation” 13 minutes, starring Ronald Reagan
Overview of tactics and
formation for fighter pilots in training
Produced in 1943 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Food for Fighters”
9 minutes
Overview of army's
nurtional efforts
Produced in 1943 by the
Office of War Information
“Learn and Live” 33
minutes
Dramatized training
film that covers common pilot mistakes and how to avoid them
Produced in 1943 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“The Rear Gunner”
25 minutes, starring Ronald Reagan and Burgess Meredith
Dramatized training
film demonstrating techniques of aerial gunnery
Produced in 1943 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Reconnaissance Pilot”
28 minutes, starring William Holden
Dramatized training
film showing F-5 (P-38 Lightning) in action
Produced in 1943 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“The
Turbosupercharger: Master of the Skies” 22 minutes
Film giving instruction
on maintenance and in flight use of turbosupercharger; features B-17
Produced in 1942 by
General Electric for the Army Air Force
“Three Cadets” 23
minutes
Film to expose airmen
to the dangers of veneral disease
Produced in 1943 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Pick Up” 37
minutes
Film that discusses how
venereal disease is acquired and how quickly it spreads
Produced in 1945 by the
Signal Corps, War Dept.
“Interrogation of
Enemy Airmen” 29 minutes
Training film
explaining techniques of interrogating captured enemy flyers
Produced in 1943 by the
O.S.S. and 1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Resisting Enemy
Interrogation” 65 minutes
Training film showing
techniques used by Axis Powers to interrogate downed fliers
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Ditch and Live” 42
minutes
Introduction to
techniques for ditching aircraft; featuring the B-17
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Flak” 16 minutes
Description of
anti-aircraft techniques of Axis Powers for flying personnel
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Combat Bombing” 17
minutes
Introduction and
indoctrination film for bombardiers
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Norden Bombsight:
Principles” 20 minutes
Overview of the theory
behind the Norden bombsight
Produced in 1944 by the
Army Air Force
“Norden Bombsight:
Pre-Flight Inspection” 8 minutes
Overview of pre-flight
procedure for bombardiers utilizing the Norden bombsight
Produced in 1944 by the
Army Air Force
“Norden Bombsight:
Conduct of a Mission” 13 minutes
Overview of how to
operate the Norden bombsight during operational mission
Produced in 1944 by the
Army Air Force
“The Sperry S-1
Bombsight” 23 minutes
Overview of how to
operate the Sperry S-1 bombsight
Produced in 1944 by the
Army Air Force
“Parachutes” 10
minutes
Introduction of how to
operate a parachute
Produced in 1944 by the
War Dept.
“Position Firing”
14 minutes
Introduction to gunnery
techniques for aerial gunners
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Preflight Radio
Inspection” 14 minutes
Detailed overview of
how to release an aircraft for flight with forms, procedures, etc.
Produced in 1943 by the
Signal Corps, for the Army Air Forces
“Target for Today”
92 minutes
Overview of methods and
techniques of strategic air campaign in Europe
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
 |
| Cockpit of a B-24D four-engined bomber. (Photo courtesy of National Museum of the United States Air Force) |
Orientation Films:
“A
Welcome to England” 30 minutes, starring Burgess Meredith
Introduction
to life in England for arriving U.S. Army/Army Air Force Personnel
Produced
in 1943 by the Ministry of Information/U.S. War Dept.
"Know Your Ally: England" 42 minutes
Review of the past 20 years of British history, with a focus on wartime efforts
Produced in 1943 by the Special Service Division, Army Service Forces, U.S. War Dept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SOvr9fLHUM
“First Motion Picture Unit” 20 minutes
Review of the past 20 years of British history, with a focus on wartime efforts
Produced in 1943 by the Special Service Division, Army Service Forces, U.S. War Dept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SOvr9fLHUM
“First Motion Picture Unit” 20 minutes
Film
explaining mission of 1st
Motion Picture Unit of Army Air Force
Produced
in 1944 by 1st
Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“For
God and Country” 43 minutes, starring Ronald Reagan
Introduction
to work of the Army Chaplain Service
Produced
in 1943 by the Army Service Forces
“Air
Force Intelligence” 28 minutes
Introduction
to the role of air force intelligence in campaign planning
Produced
in 1943 by the 1st
Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Bombers
Over North Africa” 21 minutes
Introduction
to role of bombers in North African campaign
Produced
in 1943 by the 1st
Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
 |
| U.S. Army Air Forces Recruiting Poster from 1944- a beautiful work of art. |
Survival Training Films:
“How to Survive in
the Jungle” 60 minutes
Techniques and
practices of jungle survival
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Land and Live in the
Desert” 36 minutes
Techniques and
practices of desert survival
Produced in 1945 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Land and Live in the
Arctic” 59 minutes
Techniques and
practices of arctic survival
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
Aircraft-Specific
Training Films:
“How to Fly the B-17.
Part I: Ground Operations” 34 minutes
Instructions on
preflight inspection and procedures for B-17s
Produced in 1942/43 by
Boeing Aircraft Co. for the Army Air Force
“How to Fly the B-17
Part II: Flight Operations” 27 minutes
Instruction on how to
fly the B-17
Produced in 1942/43 by
Boeing Aircraft Co. for the Army Air Force
“B-17 Emergency
Operations” 25 minutes
Overview of various
techniques used in typical aerial emergencies in B-17s
Produced in 1944 by
Boeing Aircraft Co. for the Army Air Force
“B-17 Engine
Build-Up” 22 minutes
Overview on how to
assemble a B-17 engine; focus on mechanics
Produced in 1942/43 by
Boeing Aircraft Co. for the Army Air Force
“Mission
Accomplished: The Story of the Flying Fortress” 11 minutes
Propaganda film
extolling B-17's combat record through 1943
Produced in 1943 by the
Office of War Information
“Flying the B-24”
58 minutes in Technicolor
Basic introduction to
the operation of the B-24
Produced in 1943 by the
Army Air Force
“24s Get Back” 16
minutes
Film about resilience
of B-24 crews and their planes
Produced in 1944 by the
Army Air Force
“B-24 50 hour
inspection” 12 minutes
Overview of items to
check during 50 hour inspection
Produced in 1943 by the
Signal Corps, War Dept.
“Story of Willow Run”
33 minutes
Overview of
construction and production ramp up of B-24s at Willow Run
Produced in 1945 by
Ford Motor Co.
“How to Fly the B-25”
Basic introduction to
the operation of the B-25
Produced in 1944 by the
Army Air Force
“B-29 Flight
Procedure and Combat Crew Functioning” 36 minutes
Introduction to how
crew works together to fly B-29
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“B-29 Flight
Engineer” 37 minutes, starring Ronald Reagan and John Payne
Introduction to role of
flight engineer with this new aircraft
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“P-38 Flight
Characteristics” 43 minutes in Technicolor
Basic introduction to
the operation of the P-38
Produced in 1944 by
Lockheed Aircraft Corp. for the Army Air Force
“Flying the P-39”
23 minutes
Basic introduction to
flying the P-39
Produced in 1943 by
Bell Aircraft Division for the Army Air Force
“How to Fly the P-47:
Pilot Familiarization” 68 minutes
Basic introduction to
the operation of the P-47
Produced in 1943 by
Republic Aviation Corp. for the Army Air Force
“Flight
Characteristics of the P-51 Airplane” 30 minutes
Basic introduction to
flying the P-51
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Flying the P-61
Series Airplane” 28 minutes
Basic introduction to
flying the P-61
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“How to Fly the B-26
Airplane” 43 minutes
Basic introduction to
the operation of the B-26
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
 |
| B-24s roar at smokestack height over the oil refineries of Ploesti. |
Unit/Mission-Specific Films:
“Air War in Europe”
10 minutes
Film giving overview of
European air operations through late 1943
Produced in 1943 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“The Earthquakers”
28 minutes in Technicolor
Story of the 12th
Bomb Group in the North African campaign
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit of the Air Forces
“First Air Division
Highlights” 22 minutes
Combat footage from 1st
AD B-17s in 1944 and 1945
Produced in 1945 by the
8th Air Force
“Liberators over
Europe” 21 minutes
Overview of efforts of
8th AF B-24s in strategic air campaign
Produced in 1945 by the
8th Air Force
“Hesitation (Upwind)”
14 minutes, narrated by Ronald Reagan
Briefing film for
mission against Nagoya, Japan in late 1944
Produced in 1944 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“Target Tokyo” 21
minutes, narrated by Ronald Reagan
Overview of initial
missions against Tokyo by B-29s flying out of Saipan
Produced in 1945 by the
1st Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Forces
“The Last Bomb” 33
minutes in Technicolor
Overview of
conventional bombing campaign against Japan
Produced in 1945 by the
War Dept.
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