Combat America
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''Combat America'' is a 1945
documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in te ...
produced in
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, narrated by
Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...
. At the time of the film's production in 1943, Gable was a 1st Lieutenant in the Eighth Air Force, part of the
United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
. While he was stationed in England, Gable flew five combat missions from May 4–September 23, 1943, and during one of them, his boot was struck by an anti-aircraft shell, and he was nearly hit by other flak bursts. Gable's film crew included
MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...
cameraman Andrew J.McIntyre; 1st Lt. Howard Voss, a sound engineer; Master Sgt. Robert Boles, a cameraman; Master Sgt. Marlin Toti, another cameraman; and 1st Lt. John Mahlin, a scriptwriter." ''Combat America'' was originally intended to be used as a recruiting film for aerial gunners; however, by the time it began production, the needs for gunners had lessened. The film was completed as an account of aerial combat over occupied Europe and as a testament to the Eighth Air Force aircrew and ground crew in England.


Synopsis

In 1943, in preparation for overseas deployment, 400 pilots and 3,600 crewmen of the 351st Bombardment Group assemble at a Colorado air base. Arriving in England, as part of the Eighth Air Force, the 351st BG is welcomed by the
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
and begins training, attending daily lectures on security. Their first mission flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers has the armada departing at 15-second intervals. The first mission of the 351st on
Fortress Europe Fortress Europe (german: Festung Europa) was a military propaganda term used by both sides of the Second World War which referred to the areas of Continental Europe occupied by Nazi Germany, as opposed to the United Kingdom across the Channe ...
, after fighting through
Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
defenders, is a success, with all 20 B-17s returning safely back to base. The danger of flying in massed formation, however, is brought home in training, when a collision takes place over the home base. Missions are also not always without casualties and 351st bombers are shot down. Wounded airmen who make it back to base, are cared for at a nearby hospital. When bombers are all shot up, the ground crew works up to 90-hour periods to put them back into service. As the mission tallies build, the men partake in activities at the base, including games, socializing and worship. The U.S.O. brings entertainers such as
Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in Bob Hope filmography, more than 70 short and ...
while the
Red Cross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and ...
provides the men with rest and recreation. During special parades, commanders of the 8th Air Force bestow medals for exceptional service and sacrifice. The 351st participates in a big mission into Germany and after flying for about three hours, the B-17s' fighter escort turns back. As the bombers near their target to drop incendiary and anti-personnel bombs, enemy fighter aircraft appear and intense flak comes up from the ground. After a long battle, the 351st returns to base, ready to fight again until the war is over.


Cast

*
Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...
as Himself / Aerial gunner / Narrator * General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold as Himself / Commander, U.S. Army Air Forces (credited as H.H. Arnold) * General
Ira C. Eaker General (Honorary) Ira Clarence Eaker (April 13, 1896 – August 6, 1987) was a general of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Eaker, as second-in-command of the prospective Eighth Air Force, was sent to England to form and ...
as Himself / Commander of the 8th Air Force *
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, (Richard Alexander Walter George; born 26 August 1944) is a member of the British royal family. He is the second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, as wel ...
as Himself *
Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in Bob Hope filmography, more than 70 short and ...
as Himself *
Frances Langford Julia Frances Newbern-Langford (April 4, 1913 – July 11, 2005) was an American singer and actress who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and made film and television appearances for over two decades. She was known as the "GI Nightinga ...
as Herself * Jack Pepper as Himself * Tony Romano as Himself * William A. Hatcher , , Himself , , Commanding General * Philip G. Hulse as Himself / Top Turret Gunner * Kenneth L. Huls as Himself / Ball Turret Gunner * Theodore R. Argiropulos (Randall) as Himself / Pilot * Robert Wallace as Himself / Co-Pilot * Daniel F. Stevens as Himself / Bombardier * Paul J. Postias Himself / Ball Turret Gunner * Tim Tuchet as Himself / Tailgunner * "Ace" Akins as Himself * Pete Provenzale as Himself


Production

In 1942, following the death of his wife, he U.S. Army Air Forces Henry H. "Hap" Arnold offered Gable a "special assignment" in aerial gunnery. The special assignment was to make a recruiting film in combat with the Eighth Air Force. Gable had completed his training as an aerial gunner at the end of January 1943. After ''Combat America'', intended to recruit aerial gunners, Gable went on to work on '' Wings Up'' (1943), recreating much of the training he had gone through as an officer.Argoratus, Steven
"Clark Gable in the 8th Air Force."
''Air Power History'', Spring 1999. Retrieved: January 24, 2017.
In ''Combat America'', initial footage depicts aircraft flying over American mountains, then 351st Bombardment Group operations at
RAF Polebrook Royal Air Force Station Polebrook or more simply RAF Polebrook is a former Royal Air Force station located east-south-east of Oundle, at Polebrook, Northamptonshire, England. The airfield was built on Rothschild estate land starting in Augus ...
The film later shows a wall poster with target names and swastikas indicating confirmed kills by the bomber group. Combat footage begins three-quarters of the way into the film and includes the take off and return of bomber aircraft on missions. Footage at the end of the film includes a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in an uncontrolled dive with a portion of the horizontal stabilizer missing and a shoot-down of Luftwaffe fighter aircraft. Intercut with the combat footage is close-up footage of machine guns firing from B-17 waist gun positions. A number of contemporary combat aircraft are featured in ''Combat America'', including Boeing B-17F and B-17G Flying Fortress bombers, Republic P-47C Thunderbolt fighter aircraft,
Handley Page Halifax The Handley Page Halifax is a British Royal Air Force (RAF) four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It was developed by Handley Page to the same specification as the contemporary twin-engine Avro Manchester. The Halifax has its orig ...
bombers, Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb fighter aircraft,
Beechcraft Model 18 The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to Novem ...
transport and Lockheed Model 12A Electra Junior transport aircraft. German aircraft that are seen are Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Messerschmitt Bf 109 and
Messerschmitt Bf 110 The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often known unofficially as the Me 110,Because it was built before ''Bayerische Flugzeugwerke'' became Messerschmitt AG in July 1938, the Bf 110 was never officially given the designation Me 110. is a twin-engine (Des ...
fighter aircraft. In aircraft recognition training, a
Junkers Ju 88 The Junkers Ju 88 is a German World War II ''Luftwaffe'' twin-engined multirole combat aircraft. Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works (JFM) designed the plane in the mid-1930s as a so-called '' Schnellbomber'' ("fast bomber") that would be too fast ...
A bomber and Heinkel He 111H-1 bomber is shown.Santoir, Christian
"Review: 'Combat America'."
''Aeromovies''. Retrieved: January 24, 2017.


Reception

''Combat America'' was typical of the training and recruitment films of the period produced under the auspices of the
Office of War Information The United States Office of War Information (OWI) was a United States government agency created during World War II. The OWI operated from June 1942 until September 1945. Through radio broadcasts, newspapers, posters, photographs, films and other ...
.Koppe and Black, p. 58.


See also

* RAF Polebrook#Hollywood at Polebrook * Clark Gable filmography


References


Notes


Citations


Bibliography

* Harris, Warren G. ''Clark Gable: A Biography''. New York: Harmony Books, 2002. . * Koppes, Clayton R. and Gregory D. Black. ''Hollywood Goes to War: How Politics, Profits and Propaganda Shaped World War II Movies''. New York, The Free Press, 1987. .


External links

* * * * {{Authority control American World War II propaganda films American aviation films Films about the United States Army Air Forces First Motion Picture Unit films Articles containing video clips World War II films made in wartime United States government films 1945 documentary films 1945 films American documentary films