National Archives Identifier: 69252
A United Artists/Walt Disney production covering history of aviation from the Wright Brothers first flight to the role of air power in early World War II. Includes speculation on how air power should be used to best advantage against Germany and Japan as formulated by aviator/aircraft designer, Maj Alexander P. de Seversky. (Note: Entire film is animation except for clips of Brig Gen Billy Mitchell and Maj de Seversky speaking.) Reel 1: 1) MCU of Brig Gen Billy Mitchell speaking. 2) Animation depicting historical flights by aviation pioneers such as the Wright Brothers, Alberto Santos-Dumont, Louis Bleriot, C. S. Rolls, Eugene Ely, Cal Rodgers, Charles A. Lindbergh, Wiley Post, Howard Hughes and the crews of the NC-4 and the Douglas World Cruisers. 3) Animation depicting World War I aviation and the advent of the synchronized machine gun and aerial bombardment. 4) Still photographs and animation depicting career of Maj de Seversky and his contribution to aviation. 5) Animation depicting role of aviation as used by Germany in the invasion of France, Norway and Crete, the RAF during the evacuation at Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the sinking of British warships, PRINCE OF WALES and REPULSE. 6) Maj de Seversky speaking. 1217′: Total footage in reel. Reel 2: 1) Maj de Seversky speaking. 2) Animation depicting US war production and its logistic problems, geographical advantages of logistics held by Germany and Japan and the effects of unrestricted submarine warfare by the German Navy. 3) Animation depicting methods of defeating Germany through close air support and strategic bombing, the disadvantages of allied bombing operations against Japan from China, Siberia, aircraft carriers and bases gained through island invasions and the advantages to be gained by bombing Japan from Alaskan bases with long range bombers. 4) Animation depicting advantaged of the long range heavily armed bomber over attacking fighter planes and how bombardment by these aircraft, of hydroelectric sites and submarine pens can shorten the war. 1124′: Total footage in reel.