This 1944 World War II newsreel chronicles pivotal Allied operations across both the Pacific and European fronts — from the first Tokyo bombing to France’s liberation.
Historic 1944 Footage: Allied Air Power and the Liberation of Europe
About This Footage
This 1944 United Newsreel issue presents a dramatic overview of the shifting tides of World War II in late 1944. From the first massive B-29 Superfortress raids on Tokyo to the liberation of French strongholds in Europe, the film chronicles pivotal Allied advances in both the Pacific and European theaters. It also showcases early Air Force rescue innovations and the human cost of war through the loss of a combat photographer on Leyte.
a) B-29’s Over Tokyo
On Saipan Island, crews of the 21st Bomber Command prepare for the first bombing raid on Tokyo in two and a half years. Generals Emmett O’Donnell and Haywood Hansel oversee final checks before the B-29 Superfortresses take off for a historic 1,500-mile flight. Over Tokyo, flak bursts mark Japan’s defenses as the bombers target industrial centers. The first full-scale Superfortress raid on the Japanese capital is declared a success, opening a new phase in the Pacific air war.
b) Within the Week, Japanese Planes Retaliate – Bombing Saipan
In retaliation, Japanese aircraft bomb the newly built B-29 base on Saipan. Fires sweep across the airfield, but the cost to Japan is high — thirteen enemy planes are shot down. Despite the attack, American crews resume operations almost immediately, continuing regular strikes that intensify the pressure on Japan’s homeland industries.
c) Sixth Army Advances on Leyte
In the Philippines, the U.S. Sixth Army pushes inland on Leyte Island against strong Japanese resistance. War correspondent Frank Prist is killed while documenting the campaign — his death honored with military rites. The film also highlights U.S. aid to the liberated capital, Tacloban, where civilians receive clothing after years of deprivation under occupation. Millions more await liberation as the Allies reclaim the Philippines.
d) Plane in Full Flight Rescues Lost Airmen
A remarkable Air Force innovation debuts: the personnel pickup system. Early tests using a sandbag and later a sheep evolve into successful human trials, retrieving a man in full flight at 130 mph. The footage demonstrates the entire sequence, from low-altitude hook contact to winch retrieval, showing a new method for rescuing stranded airmen behind enemy lines.
e) Metz, Strasbourg, Belfort Fall to Allies
Across Europe, French and American troops reclaim three historic cities: Metz, Strasbourg, and Belfort. After weeks of combat, the tricolor flies once again over Metz. In Strasbourg, Nazi General Butterote surrenders his battalions to the 7th Army. Near the Swiss border, the French First Army captures Belfort Castle and its underground defenses. The liberation of these frontier cities symbolizes France’s full return to Allied control and the nearing collapse of Germany’s western front.
United Newsreel – 1944 Issue 7 captures the dual momentum of Allied victory — strategic air supremacy in the Pacific and the restoration of France in Europe. For researchers and filmmakers, it provides authentic footage of both theaters’ turning points, from the Superfortress offensive to the liberation of historic European cities.