Mission Completed
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Duration: 3.5min
Year Published: 1940s
Creator: War Finance Division of the U.S. Treasury Department
Format: 16mm
Sound: Sound
Description: "A picturization of a few moments on the deck of a carrier as her Avengers return to base from a combat mission. 'Beautifully co men and machines of an aerial war.' Educational screen"
Complete Record: "Mission Completed" is a WWII propaganda film promoting the purchase of War Bonds. The film was made by the War Finance Division of the U.S. Treasury Department. The film shows battered U.S. Navy planes returning to an aircraft carrier after missions against the Japanese. In some cases their pilots and gunners and wounded. Some aircraft barely make it back, slamming into the deck, crashing or falling overboard. The film emphasizes the high cost in men and planes paid by the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Campaign, to try to demonstrate to viewers why they should be purchasing war bonds. The narration concludes, "we can't put a value on a man's life but we can make sure that all of our pilots have the best tools to fight" by buying war bonds. "Only then is our mission completed." 0:23-0:33: The film describes a mission where 60 planes, carrying 100 men, take off from an aircraft carrier to blast and burn a target 400 miles away. 0:40-1:07: The crew anxiously waits for the planes to return, hoping that all 100 men will come back safely. 1:10-2:04: As the planes start returning, some damaged, the crew rushes to assist, and some pilots are injured. 2:11-2:49: The film shows various planes returning, some damaged, with pilots receiving medical attention. 2:59-3:22: The film concludes with a message about the cost of the planes and pilot training, emphasizing the importance of buying war bonds to support the war effort.
Transcription
[Music] They left at dawn the planes from our carrier, 60 of them with 100 of our men. mission to blast and burn the [ __ ] in Tokyo Bay 400 miles away. 100 of our men, 100 of our friends. We want them back. We'd like to see something besides clouds in that sky about now. We don't like that empty sky when it ought to be full of our friends. 400 miles, 200 out, 200 back. It isn't much really. It's the flack and the zeros in between. 100 men went out. We try to believe a 100 will return. Never happens that way, though. You just hope for the best. You just wait and sweat it out. They're overdue now. We hope nothing's gone wrong. Stand by to take aircraft aboard. Stand by to take aircraft aboard. Here come the first ones. Four of them. [Music] Now to bring them in. We know it won't be easy for some of them. [Music] It won't be easy for this one. That wheel up. His hydraulic system's gone. One wheel landing sober you up when they don't kill you. [Music] Glad you made it, Joe. The wingman of the eighth division. A little flack in the tail. No real damage. 60 planes out. 42 bank so far. MLAN's Hellcat there will make it 43. [Music] Steady, Mac. Steady. Wave the next plane off. Wave that plane off. The deck's a little messed up for the moment. Sorry, Mac. We couldn't see your rudder was gone, but your hands aren't hurt, Mac. You'll fly again. Here comes Pete Erikson. Fast with his rudder control shot away. Mission completed. The plane $80,000. The pilot's training $50,000. Pete Ericson's life. We can't put a value on a man's life. But we can make sure that all the Pete Ericson's have the best tools to fight with. We can make sure by buying war bonds and more war bonds. Only then is our mission completed.
Metadata Source:Educational Film Guide 1946
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