4th Fighter Group Home Movies ...

[Chicoartist]

Home movies shot by 335th Fighter Squadron crew chief SSgt. Joe Sills at Debden, Essex, UK, home of the World War II 4th Fighter Group. I shot these with my iPhone as they played on the computer. The YouTube upload was light-years faster this way. Enjoy! I'll have more later. Some of the film is in color!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2tZqDSREFE

and Part II of ?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA1ck5BN7fw

Wade

[WIXerGreg]

Great stuff, thanks for posting.

[t6flier]

That is Fantastic.. Just think about how much of that is out there and maybe never to be seen!

Thanks for sharing Wade!
Mike V

[cco23i]

OUTSTANDING! Great to see the ground crews!!!

Scott

[Dan Johnson II]

More please!

Was that WD-3 the 2 seater B model I saw? Looked like another malcom hood bird showed up briefly too. Wonder if there are some earlier 4th films out there too?

Thanks for posting that Wade.

[Jarink1]

That's some really cool video. I know we all tend to get caught up in the planes (I know I do), but it's also interesting to wonder about what the people in these videos were thinking or saying, who they were and where they might be now.

[Chicoartist]

Glad you guys enjoyed the excerpts - there's much more, including some ultra-rare footage of Mac McKennon and, I believe, George Green, who picked him up from a field in March 1945 IIRC. I will post more from the Sills films soon.

There is a lot of 4th archival footage, especially from early 1944 onwards. The 'permanent' (RAF) bases used by the 8AF, like Debden, tended to be well-covered due to the comfort level - the reporters liked staying there and taking advantage of the Officer's Mess! I have some (along with films covering other fighter units) on the DVDs I sell. Many WIX members have those. The footage is out there ...

The first time I saw this Sills footage was in a British home literally across the street from Debden airfield. Completely freaky to have walked the 335th areas (the primary location of most of the films) just prior to seeing the film!

As an aside, I know the 352nd FG organization has or had a really nice two-DVD set of home movies shot at and around Bodney. I also got a great DVD of 56th FG home movies a while back on eBay as well.

Wade

[Chicoartist]

More, including some nice color footage -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFnhN74M9GQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UB4g40MB_0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15Mgw-2cbTI

[Dan Johnson II]

Great stuff Wade!

Fun to try and recognize pilots. Think I saw Shel Monroe in one of the color shots, and it sure looked like McKennon at the end of part V.

Interesting post Russian Shuttle film too with the 'borrowed' 31st FG 51B

Oh to have a time machine!

[Zachary]

Wade - would you mind if I shared your links (with credit to you) on the EAA Oshkosh365 forums?

Zack

[Chicoartist]

Be my guest -