MSRP-$29.00
This DVD is the latest release
from Victory Films. The Fourteenth
Air Force started with the famous Flying Tigers in China and progressed
throughout the war until its culmination with the surrender of the Japanese in
China.
The first chapter of the video
is a slice of life of the Flying Tigers from the inception until its
disbandment. Pappy Paxton, a member
of the Flying Tigers, was there from the very beginning and lucky for us he had
a movie camera. Starting out in the
US we are treated to a little slice of life from the early 40s.
The clothes, cars, and architecture of the period are seen and also such
places as the Golden Gate Bridge. You
get to see how the Tigers were formed and the background story and now pictures
to go with the names. It truly was
a simpler time. Traveling on the
ship you get to see a naval tradition in the King Neptune ceremony as the Tigers
pass over the equator. With a stop
over in Hawaii you can see how the islands differed from the mainland.
Once arrival in China you can see the contrast between eastern and
western civilization. The P-40s are seen just after delivery without the
distinctive shark mouth. Also seen are some really unique looking bamboo
replicas on the airfield.
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Some things you wouldn’t
expect to see is a priest’s burial and downtown Kunming.
Seeing a US town is one thing, but a foreign land so different as China
is really interesting. The Flying
Tigers are obviously the reason for the film.
What you get to see here, for the first time, is the complete Pappy
Paxton film. Many of the pilots,
such as Newkirk and Bond are shown going about getting ready for missions.
Also seen is the Chinese Army which at that time was very poorly trained
and equipped. They carried
everything on their backs.
Of course you can’t talk
about the Flying Tigers without speaking P-40s and there are plenty to be seen. Everything from the P-40B to the E are shown.
Interestingly, some of the P-40Es have US ARMY still on the underside of
the wings. There are even some
P-40s in color flying over the Hump and some on the airfield.
The Chinese Air Force P-43 Lancers and some Oscar wreckage are seen as
well. Something that I’ve never seen before is a captured
Japanese pilot in front of a Flying Tiger P-40.
The next installment is a
section of United Newsreels. The
first being the transfers of the Flying Tigers to the USAAF with Col. Robert
Scott taking over from General Claire Chennault.
Also some of great air to air footage with low level passes and flybys
being the highlights.
There is a color footage
sequence of the 23rd FG P-40Es with darker Dark Green repairs readily
apparent. An interesting detail for
the model builder. From there are
some 14th Air Force Alerts with P-40Ns and Ks.
Notable among them is a P-40N Lady Eleanor with stars on the wheels.
The final newsreel is called
the “Battle of China”, I found it interesting with its depiction of Chinese
and Japanese war. The first bombing
of a civilian populace and the subsequent rape of Nanking are all covered. The rise of Chiang Kai-shek is interesting to note as a
historical background.
The final sequence is the
surrender of the Japanese in China. Filmed
entirely in color the impressive ceremony shows the Japanese generals
surrendering their swords and the American and Chinese armies marching by in
formation. Bringing the 14th
Air Force’s story in World War II to a conclusion.
The whole CD is interesting and
informative. There are plenty of
P-40s to keep you happy. The
inclusion of Pappy Paxton’s coverage brings a very personal touch to the story
behind the story. I love P-40s and
this CD contains a bunch. Some of
it you probably have seen before and some is new.
Highly recommended.
You can obtain your copy of
this CD, and the other great CDs, from Wade Meyers at http://wademeyersart.tripod.com/id69.html
. Let him know you heard about it
from here. While there check
out the other Victory Films. I
have not found one that I haven’t thought was well worth the money and this
one is no different. It contains
unique footage that you won’t find anywhere else.
Superior work all the way around for the modeler and/or historian.
Thanks to Wade Meyers Studios
for the review copy.
Floyd S. Werner, Jr.
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