Watch the 8th Air Force Gun Camera Footage from July 1944 in Action During WWII

During the summer of 1944, gun camera footage captured intense aerial combat over Europe. Pilots from the VIII Fighter Command engaged enemy aircraft, providing a firsthand look at the fast-paced dogfights and ground attacks carried out by American fighter groups. The footage includes missions flown by various aircraft, including the P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-38 Lightning.

Engaging Enemy Aircraft

At 1:41, a pilot from the Air Sea Rescue Squadron can be seen pursuing a V-1 flying bomb, a German weapon used to strike targets in England. The footage shows the pilot maneuvering his aircraft to intercept the bomb mid-flight. The challenge of hitting a moving target at high speed is clear, as these weapons traveled at nearly 400 miles per hour.

At 3:55, Captain Fred Christensen of the 56th Fighter Group is recorded on July 7, 1944, claiming six Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft over Gardelegen, Germany. The 56th Fighter Group as a whole claimed ten Ju 52s in this encounter. These slow-moving transports were easy targets for the P-47 Thunderbolts, which carried powerful machine guns capable of shredding unarmed enemy aircraft.

Dogfights and Strafing Runs

At 4:47, Captain Fred Haviland of the 355th Fighter Group is seen engaging a formation of twin-engine fighters. He successfully claims two Bf 110s during this mission. Another P-51 enters the frame at 5:19, possibly providing cover or engaging additional targets. Some observers have speculated that the aircraft in this segment resemble Me 210 or Me 410 fighters rather than Bf 110s.

At 5:34, P-51 Mustangs engage a large transport glider, while at 5:58, P-47s of the 78th Fighter Group strafe an enemy airfield. Capt. Alfred Eaton of the 78th Fighter Group is seen at 6:27 making low-level strafing passes, targeting enemy positions with precision.

Keep going for the video below: