http://www.henrytenby.com/DVDs/pioneerdvd.html
These wonderful films capture the pioneering age of commercial aviation from the early 1920s until the late 1940s. This was the time when TWA, United Airlines, American Airlines and Lufthansa were just starting operations, and all of these then fledgeling carriers would develop over the following decades into the leader airlines of the 21st century.
In June of 1948, the soviets blockaded Berlin, and the United States and Great Britain did not allow Berlin to fall into the hands of the Russians. Through May of 1949, the RAF and USAF maintained an air link whereby everything from coal and trucks, to food and office paper were flown from West Germany into Berlin's three land airports (of Tegel, Tempelhof and Gatow). This DVD features an amazing film showing the allied air efforts in detail. It starts with a visit to the Sunderland flying boat operation that flew goods off the Elb in Hamburg into waterways of Berlin. But this was just a small component of the Berlin Airlift. The landplane operation was massive and every available aircraft was used.
Propliner fans will love this DVD as there is really amazing footage of Berlin Airlift aircraft including all the great propliner classics like the Avro York, Halifax, Hastings, Dakota, Tudor, the "Grosse Tudor", Viking, Lancaster and a lot more. To cap it off, the TWA Boeing Stratoliner and DC-3 footage in stunningly glorious kodachrome colour has to be seen to be believed. It is truly amazing that these TWA aircraft were filmed in eyeball-popping technicolor!
DVD Programs
Chapter 1) Men and Wings - United Airlines 1920-1945 (17 min)
Produced in the late 1940s, this black and white film explains how a handful of small US mail carriers merged together in the 1920s to form United Airlines. It then documents the carriers growth to the late 1940s with the Boeing 247, DC-3 and DC-4.
Chapter 2) American Airlines Curtis Condor 1933 (22 min)
This depression era black and white film was produced with good old American wit to explain the ease and benefits of air travel. Movie stars and businessmen demonstrate the benefits of flying on Americans brand new Curtis Condor, the star of the show.
Chapter 3) Conquest of the Air - Lufthansa 1920-1940 (13 min)
Between the wars, Germanys Lufthansa grew into one of the worlds largest international airlines, serving Europe, America, and South America. This black and white film tells the amazing story of the airlines growth with Ju-52s, Dorniers, and catapult ships.
Chapter 4) US Civil Aeronautics Board c.1947 (12min)
This film explains the role of the US CAA and CAB in the late 1940s as it pertains to civil aviation. Some neat aircraft footage is used to explain the agencys role in airline pilot training, ATC, accident investigation, and in flight passenger safety.
Chapter 5) Fashion Horizons - TWA Boeing 307 Stratoliner (7 min)
Filmed in glorious colour, this early 1940s short film was sponsored by TWA and tells the story of movie star Esther Fernandez who travels from New York to Arizona and LA for a screen test. Movie stars Mary Martin, Margaret Hayes, Virginia Dale, and Martha O'Driscoll are also in the film. The colour footage of TWAs shiny new Boeing 307 Stratoliner and DC-3 is amazing.
Chapter 6) Gen. Clay & Thomas Dewey Berlin Bloackade (3 min)
This short newsreel shows General Clay and Thomas Dewey speaking at the United Nations explaining that appeasement is not an option.
Chapter 7) Berlin Airlift "The Story of Great Achievement" (9 min)
This fabulous black and white film produced in the late 1940s explains how the RAF and USAF served Berlin during the blockade between June of 1948, and May of 1949. Sunderlands served from the Elb at Hamburg while Yorks, Vikings, Dakotas, C-54s, Hastings, Tudors, and DC-3s flew into Gatow, Tempelhof and Tegel. Fabulous footage!
Chapter 8) Douglas DC-6 roll-out 1946 newswreel (2 min)
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Berlin Airlift Promotionby c54driver19,952 views
Just wonderful, emminent illustration of the bankruptcy of fascist-communism that has to build walls to keep their victims, uh citizens from fleeing their incarceration, uh country. Sadly the white house obamanation is Stalin's devout imitator, except worse.
russedav5 6 months ago