Combat America (1943)

Interesting facts

Combat America is a 1945 documentary film produced during World War II, narrated by Clark Gable. At the time of the film's production in 1943, Gable was a major in the Eighth Air Force, a unit of the U.S. Army Air Forces. 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 cameraman Andrew J. McIntyre; First Lieutenant Howard Voss, a sound engineer; Master Sergeant Robert Boles, a cameraman; Master Sergeant Marlin Toti, another cameraman; and First Lieutenant John Mahlin, a scriptwriter."

Production

In 1942, following the death of Gable's wife, U.S. Army Air Forces General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold offered him 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.

In Combat America, initial footage depicts aircraft flying over American mountains, then 351st Bombardment Group operations at RAF Polebrook 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.

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 bombers, Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb fighter aircraft, Beechcraft Model 18 transport and Lockheed Model 12A Electra Junior transport aircraft.

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