https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/3006ff0c-15cd-4fdf-9556-5b54843f1542 The color version of this film, without the James Stewart introduction, can be found at: https://youtu.be/Dm0bIZoJ36g Directed by William Wyler and John Sturges in 1944, "Thunderbolt" shows the air battles that raged over Italy during World War II. It focuses on the life and death struggle of a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber squadron in the 12th Air Force. In addition to showing how the pilots' activities seriously crippled the German military's fighting ability, hastening the sweep of Allied forces into Rome, the film also shows the suffering of non-combatants on the ground. The narrators are Lloyd Bridges and Eugene Kern, music by Gail Kubik, script by Lester Koenig. Note: this version of the film was released in 1961 and features a special introduction by Jimmy Stewart, which was shot in 1947. Stewart was a licensed amateur pilot prior to WWII and who enlisted in the Army Air Forces shortly after Pearl Harbor was bombed. The specific aerial operations shown are part of Operation Strangle, when flyers of the Twelfth Air Force (based in the island of Corsica) made a series of attacks on Axis supply lines. The attacks were made against the Gustav Line and forces arrayed against the Anzio beachhead; the specific attack shown in the film is said to resemble a mission flown on May 1, 1944, against a railroad tunnel at Rignano sull'Arno. Pilot Lt. Col. Gilbert O. Wymond Jr., who appears in the film, was awarded the Silver Star for his gallant work during that mission. His plane the "Hun Hunter XIV" is prominently featured. "Thunderbolt" follows the 57th Fighter Group of the U.S. 12th Air Force during World War II as they operate from Corsica to support the Italian campaign. Using P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers, the group carries out Operation Strangle—an effort to cut off German supply lines by destroying bridges, railways, and convoys. The film highlights the daily lives of pilots and ground crews, the intensity of combat missions, and the personal toll of war. Despite the lighthearted atmosphere of their makeshift American-style base, the pilots face constant danger, loss, and the weight of time slipping by. Their relentless efforts contribute significantly to the Allied push through Italy and the eventual capture of Rome. 0:18 – Combat footage from Allied airmen in the Mediterranean during WWII. 1:17 – Gen. Carl Spaatz introduces the film, honoring Allied fighter-bomber units. 2:16 – Italy’s fascist regime and civilian suffering, especially children. 3:01 – Airmen’s aerial view of war and Italy’s challenging terrain. 4:05 – Air power reshapes Italy by disrupting transport and infrastructure. 4:40 – Corsica becomes the base for the 57th Fighter Group. 5:25 – Daily life on base: early starts, pre-flights, mission prep. 7:00 – Key pilots introduced, most in their early 20s with heavy experience. 8:01 – Alto air base routines, shared with French squadrons. 9:03 – Mission briefing for Operation Strangle—cutting German supply lines. 10:00 – Allied ground forces stalled; airpower strategy shifts. 11:29 – Operation Strangle begins: bomb railroads, bridges, and supplies. 12:19 – Introduction of the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber. 13:15 – Close pilot-crew relationships; aircraft treated with pride. 14:07 – Pilots brief crews before missions. 16:00 – Takeoff from Corsica; heading to Italy. 19:17 – Cross into enemy airspace. 21:38 – Locate and attack bridge targets. 23:02 – Bombing runs; hits and misses. 24:33 – Strafing enemy trains, vehicles, and stations. 27:07 – Base life: self-made American-style community. 29:13 – Crews build amenities and comforts from scratch. 32:00 – Reflections on lost youth and time. 33:04 – Squadron returns; one plane missing. 35:26 – Debrief and daily routine resumes. 36:00 – Germans switch to highways; attacks continue. 37:40 – War’s danger hits close: crashes near home base. 38:38 – Operation Strangle cripples German logistics. 40:01 – Ground forces advance through destroyed infrastructure. 41:00 – Missions continue daily, paused only by nightfall. 41:57 – Film closes, reflecting on airmen’s sacrifice. 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