motion picture unit motion picture unit later 18th primary film production unit world war military unit entirely professionals film industry produced propaganda training films notable entertaining films unit known include resisting enemy interrogation memphis story flying fortress bomb released theatres veteran actors future president ronald_reagan directors served unit produced training films trained combat personnel served distinction world war motion picture unit eponymous title self produced documentary unit narrated radio television announcer background united_states entered world war december army motion picture production responsibility commanding general believed formation independent film entity help lead air service gaining independence meeting march general arnold commissioned head producer create unit warner lieutenant colonel captain production accept offer immediate concern critical shortage pilots recruits arnold told warner needed pilots contracted produce release recruitment film come known winning wings directed featured pilot stewart masculine portrayal changed public perception military film completed weeks great success according general arnold pivotal recruiting pilots produce films prior activation notably line duty rear gunner formation success created demand training recruitment films proved difficult fulfill began process developing organizational structure independent motion picture unit dual mission unit produce training morale films train combat ranks filled film industry professionals time history unit raised july active unit key personnel formed initial roster included col warner commanding officer 2nd 2nd ronald_reagan unit operated offices burbank california moved hollywood maintained proved inadequate movie production scale required sheer came studios according writer facility perfect studio motion picture unit needed warehouse size sound stages prop rooms editing bays costume makeup departments outdoor set look like city street lot comprised acres dozens buildings october unit moved men nicknamed fort warner returned running company col took commanding officer life fort personnel assigned included known film professionals day filmmakers great success war actors directors including served unit future president ronald_reagan transferred cavalry reserve captain unit personnel officer responsible maintaining personnel files new recruits operational aspects later appointed adjutant like notable actors reagan appeared films produced unit avoid distracting audience eventually relegated films unique comparison military units methods employed obtain recruits members middle age unsuitable combat duty men sent war zone special mission unit able bypass normal recruiting channels empowered draft directly basic training rigorous experienced servicemen according unit member basic training mandatory wasn basic basic military fort formal units optional unit members called names barracks home commonplace men area nearby film production film project undertaken flight training aid titled learn live set pilot heaven feature length film stars order demonstrate correct aviation techniques common flying mistakes addressed film highly regarded led series films including learn live desert ditch live learn live jungle resisting enemy interrogation lauded military according considered best educational film produced war tells story captured dramatic fashion interrogated german layout interrogation strategy overall experience film extremely realistic airmen captured viewing film reported able successfully resist german efforts extract information feature length film highest quality recognition documentary nominated academy_award animation essential integral component films produced fort animation provided filmmakers scenarios possible live action photography technical secrecy constraints introductory training film pilots learn fly help colorful cartoon characters named thrust gravity drag representative forces act character created teach fine points military camouflage trigger joe appearance immediate hit gunners animators humor illustrate common loading firing techniques maximize efficiency accuracy gunnery personnel want films like theory simple clear interested trigger joe great joe central character entire series films developed gunnery training animation department staffed stellar assortment animators including department head creators disney bombing japan important assignments unit develop navigational materials support bombing campaign japan secret series films code named special film project according important challenging effort come motion picture unit unit given days produce films crews united_states forces final assault japanese mainland 20th air_force tasked carrying bombing campaign lacked necessary information flight routes targeting data explains unit expected deliver landmark check point initial point bomb release point radar center japanese naval vessel harbor railroad building forest rice objects appear seen clear day naked eye viewed radar screen overcast conducting extensive research topography japan foot scale model foot mile target areas fabricated complete mountains buildings railroads rice depicted clouds fog films produced specially mounted overhead camera camera moved simulate airplane flight model according camera recorded crew feet films pilots 20th air_force easily found targets amazed level detail accuracy unit able produce general arnold said following units accomplishment good briefing men dangerous missions bomb damage europe nazi germany surrendered general arnold ordered document extent damage caused aerial bombardment project code named special film project crew color film surveyed bomb damage inflicted major european cities addition recorded nazi civilian military personnel allied custody capture concentration camps american soldiers viewing film camps time summer day reagan came seen like crew shot hundreds hours film seen declined fund production editing footage estimated cost million documentary story special film project points effort biggest color film project world war biggest unseen film time combat training primary function training combat units based nearby approximately combat units seven officers enlisted men trained use variety photographic equipment cameras received combat weapons training sent army air force base document aspects base operations aerial battle tactics enemy airplane performance trained load film camera adverse conditions need develop location aerial motion picture photography shot world war filmed alumni unlike regular personnel combat suffered number casualties alumni program highly praised decorated trained fort assigned cairo egypt combat mission shot gunner wounded heroism awarded returned instructor effect personnel assigned combat duty significant contribution war effort reported air superiority enjoyed europe partly training films delivered field marshal commander chief germany armed forces noted decisive role played film production units calculated perfectly speed allies able train people war major quick complete mastery film education unit efforts unnoticed american military office investigative report wrote investigating officer conclude discussion saying sincere patriotic officers men contributed excellent work motion picture unit vast majority personnel succeeded producing training orientation films superior standard motion picture art training effectiveness men motion picture unit probably represent higher civilian income found military organization proud work right said combat camera units noting sheer volume footage shot auspices unit historian said time flip history channel world war american perspective watching work gentlemen legacy filmography list selected films produced prior formation growing demand training films overwhelmed established film production unit released films lost destroyed list representative output notes director narrator
First Motion Picture Unit