Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In Big February 2011 Newsletter

Hello World War 2 & jet aircraft fans --

You are invited to come in from the cold and drop by Zeno's Drive-In http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com for this month's showing of six exciting aviation & combat documentary films playing over the Internet. We're showing two new premiers and four returning aviation classics.

[B]As always, all of the videos showing on our web site are for your free viewing pleasure.[/B] The movies playing at the Matinee are viewable in both RealVideo and Windows Media Player streaming video formats

Now showing "At the Matinee" at Zeno's Drive-In

"B-29s Over North Korea" NEW! Exclusive release from Military Arts Pictures. We created this video from a recently released reel of silent, raw and unedited and undocumented footage shot by the US Air Force in Korea in August-September, 1950, apparently intended for a documentary that was never released. The highlight of the film shows an early morning briefing for 19th Bomb Group at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. Reminiscent of scenes from the World War 2 classic "Target for Today," the briefing is for mission against the all important rail bridges near Sinanju Station, North Korea and the port of Nampo, as part of the preparation for the Inchon landings and the breakout from the Pusan perimeter. Through careful research, we've been able to reconstruct the briefing and the mission, including target footage taken at the time, along with corresponding satellite photos showing the same locations today. And as a special bonus, we've added "19th BG Color Nose Art Scrap Book," a collection of remarkable Kodachrome slides taken of 19th BG B-29s by SSgt. George J. Amthor, an armorer with the 19th BG, 30th Squadron, at Kadena in 1950-51.

"Clark Gable's Combat America" New restored print. This warmhearted documentary was produced, written, directed, and narrated by movie star Clark Gable while he was on assignment with the 8th Air Force, developing a gunnery training film. Though not as well known as "Memphis Belle," in our opinion this film is easily its match in story telling, action, and unforgettable color imagery. Gable chronicles the experiences of the men & B-17s of the 351 Bombardment Group from the cool early morning mists of Colorado to the frigid skies over Germany. His affection and admiration for these men comes through loud and clear. This film is like a Kodachrome album out of the past, giving us snapshots of life on a front line air base in 1943.

"A Day with the A-36s" Unique extended color version compiled from multiple sources. The A-36 was the ground attack variant of the P-51 and was known as "the Invader," "the Mustang" or "the Apache." This is very rare combat film of an A-36A fighter-bomber squadron in action in Sicily. The A36A was equipped with the Mustang's original Allison engine which worked just fine for low level work. Note the quad 20mm canons on this fast and powerful attack plane, very unusual on an American fighter. This exciting film includes incredible cockpit views of screaming ground attack runs as well as fascinating scenes from a captured Italian air base. Hidden gems in this film are up close views of captured or destroyed Axis aircraft, including an He 111, FW-190, Ju 88, and a rare view of an intact Italian Macchi 202 "Folgore" in full desert cammo.

"Mastering the Thompson Submachine Gun: Principles of Operation" Originally developed as the .45 caliber Trench Broom for close-in fighting at the end of World War I, no other weapon is more surrounded by legend and mystique than the Tommy Gun. During World War II, the Thompson came into its own for its originally intended purpose, making war along side the US Army and Marine Corps. This is a thorough explanation of the inner workings of the Thompson delivered through a live tear down, with supplemental animation. You'll learn how all the parts function together in this very innovative design.

"Recognition of the Japanese Zero" Lieutenant "Jimmy Saunders" (Ronald Reagan) learns how to tell a P-40 from a Japanese A6M Zero, the hard way. (That's a very angry Craig Stevens aka "Peter Gunn" on the receiving end.) Contains plenty of interesting info about what US pilots were told about Japan's most produced and feared fighter and how to spot it. Includes seldom seen footage of a captured Zero doing spectacular aerobatics.

"Bird Dog FAC for F-100s Supports US Army" his short film is a real gem. You'll see an Air Force Forward Air Controller (FAC) assigned to the 1st Division, flying a tiny Cessna O-1E Bird Dog and operating in conjunction with three F-100 fighter bombers out of Phan Rang and local Army Artillery. Their mission is in support 3rd Brigade operations against VC bases near Lai Khe, 50 miles from Saigon, to prep an LZ so chopper borne troops could land and conduct offensive operations. You'll see spectacular color footage of the Bird Dog operating in tandem with the F-100s, striking at very low altitudes, followed closely by a Huey assault. The importance of FAC operations in the Vietnam War cannot be overstated.

If you haven't stopped by Zeno's Drive-In before, we also feature 1940-45 vintage WWII Army & Navy films and pilot's manuals on how to fly the F4U, F6F, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-61, TBF/TBM, AT-6/SNJ, B-17, B-24, B-25, A-20, A-26, B-26, B-29, and Stearman N2S. Alert! -  don't miss the F-86 & B-58!

Free admission for all. That's over 14 hours of rockin' World War II props & jets for free viewing over the Internet!

Zeno

Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In
World War II Aviation Videos Playing Online 24/7
http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/

Web Videos: B-29s over North Korea, A-36s,Tommy Guns, Zeros, Gable's B-17s & FAC Bird Dogs