John Ford and Battle of Midway

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:19 pm

The mention of John Ford in another post brought up a question I have had for quite a while. Can anybody enlighten me about the John Ford movie about VT-8? I think I heard it somewhere that he made a film about the squadron before Midway. Did he do a film just about VT-8 and what were the circumstances around the filming? Is the film available in its original form? Thanks

Dan K · **Posted:** Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:26 pm

John & Rob,

For the life of me I can't remember the book, but somewhere I've seen stills from the VT-8 project. Could it be John Lundstrom's "The First Team"?

Even if it isn't the right book, I wonder if a meticulous Midway researcher like Mr. Lundstrom wouldn't have an answer for you concerning the existence of the VT-8 film. I believe you can reach him through the Milwaukee Public Museum (if you really want to pursue this).

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:39 pm

Well ... now you make me want to watch the DVD!

I sell a line of DVDs which feature rare film. We just released a DVD with two Ford films. I just got it in, and what I do is watch a title first, then put up a detailed "scene index" ... but for now, here's the sleeve and a screenstrip:

http://wademeyersart.tripod.com/id70.html

Wade

SaxMan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:55 pm

IIRC, the John Ford footage was shown to the families of VT-8 after the battle and then kept under wraps for over 50 years. Also, IIRC, the Discovery Channel did get this footage in the late 1990s and broadcast a documentary based on the "never before seen in public" footage. There were a lot of shots of the men at their planes, a lot TBD take off shots, too.

Dan K · **Posted:** Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:09 pm

Rob,

Here's John Lundstrom's contact info (as posted by the Milwaukee Public Museum).

http://www.mpm.edu/collect/hstaff.html

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:42 pm

OK ... Stop the presses!

I just watched the John Ford 20 minute-long "Battle of Midway" film which is part of the DECEMBER 7th - BATTLE OF MIDWAY DVD I'm selling - twice as a matter of fact. It's a good short film, all filmed "on location" and in combat, but . . .

It appears that I screwed up (or maybe it was the producer who sent me a bunch of screenshots a long time ago for me to select from to make the "filmstrips" of three shots each for each title - yeah, that's it!).

The TBD taking off and the ship on the left are NOT in the Ford film - and I was looking for them. The picture of Jimmy Thatch *is*, along with several other aces getting out of their F4Fs. I've removed that particular "filmstrip" from my site until I hear back from the producer - and he sends me "correct" screenshots!

Serves me right ... it's the only one of the DVDs I hadn't watched yet. Glad I did! I probably wouldn't have noticed the errant screenshots unless I was specifically looking for those clips! Having watched all the other films I'm selling, however, I can assure you that all the other "filmstrips" I made for each film contain frames actually in the film implied!

Sorry to get you excited for nothing ...

Wade

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:52 pm

I should elaborate on my comments above ... there ARE quick shots of TBDs, SBDs and F4Fs taking off from the carriers, but the particular shot of the candy-striped TBD as seen from below isn't.

The color film is only 20 minutes long ... and it's not ALL aircraft all the time. The best stuff, and again, it's not a LOT, are the SBD cuts. There's about 5 seconds of TBDs. It's a "documentary" rather than a geek-fest like most of the other DVDs I sell.

Being the "edited" USN official release, the VT-8 stuff is missing here as well. :cry:

Wade

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Thu Dec 01, 2005 12:17 am

There's always the chance that the producer got the screenshots from John Ford outtake footage, and may have confused THAT footage with the official USN documentary on my DVD. He is, after all, a supplier of footage to The History Channel, etc, and he's got a TON of stuff - almost all Direct-to-DVD transfers from original National Archives films. That's why most of the footage is pretty darn clear. It would not be unusual for him to have any outtake footage if it was located with the original documentary film*. This line of DVDs came about as a sideline for him, and I'm just about the only place (in fact I believe I *AM* the only place) selling these - mainly because I was so excited about his 4th Fighter Group film. More titles to come, by the way.

More info when I get this cleared up.

Wade

*Some other DVD sellers have located original Memphis Belle outtake footage - also stored right alongside the original Wyler documentary cans.

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:48 pm

OK, I heard back from the producer:

Hi Wade:
The pictures in the filmgrabs came from Midway outtakes. In that sense maybe they should not be used since they were not used in the enclosed final film.

He sent me some new grabs ... here's the new filmstrip for that film (these frames are in the film I'm selling!

):

Wade

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:28 am

ForgottenFields,

I have a copy of the VT-8 video. It's about 10(?) min long & has shots of all the crews that were lost at Midway. I believe someone else in this thread mentioned that it was just given to the families of the missing crews & that's what I had heard as well.

I bought it from Traditions Military Videos, www.militaryvideo.com. The name of the video is "USS Hornet & Torpedo Sqd. 8". It's definitely worth the money.

Mac

dbrown · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2005 11:18 am

I also have this Traditions USS HORNET - TORPEDO SQAUDRON 8 film - but I have it on DVD which makes for much better ability to freeze frame form modeling purposes.

There is one great shot of a TBD taxying forward with the wings folded. The star on the side has not red center (paited out after Coral Sea) yet the star on the upper port wing while folded (which would make it the star on the bottom port wing when if flight) still has the red center.

Confusing but trust me it would make a very cool scheme that would have model judges scratching their heads.

Somewhat sobering to see all the brave pilots about ready to go into battle. The video shows a 'class photo' style video clip of each of the crew standing in front of a TBD. Interestingly enough it is the same TBD in every shot and as the filming pregresses each crew has scribbled a part of a cartoon characature on the front of the torpedo. I'd love to know which TBD that was (Bu n0) and if it was the same with the outdated insignia. Now that would make even a better model!

I am not associated with the seller - but you can see what they have at www.militaryvideo.com or call 1800-277-1977.

Cheers,

Derek

Warbird Information Exchange

John Ford and Battle of Midway

Who is online