Because it was such a rugged aircraft, the pilots who experienced the P-47 called it "the Unbreakable," and in this episode, the viewer will learn just how tough these World War II bombers could be. A P-47 could be riddled with holes and with its wings partly disabled, yet still manage to return to home base. They flew 546,000 missions in two years, losing less than one percent of planes during that time. Newsreel footage of planes in action illustrate the history of these remarkable fighting aircraft.
The unique appearance of the F4U Corsair stemmed from its bent wings, which were necessary to hold up the biggest propeller ever installed, and a very powerful engine. In this episode, the scrappy fighter plane is scrutinized, and archival footage is used to illustrate its capabilities. The Japanese referred to it as "the Whistling Death," due to the noise from its engine. Many experts agree that the F4U was able to outfight and outmaneuver most planes of the war, and at war's end, it racked up a kill ratio of 11:1 against the enemy
This episode documents the creation of what was at that time the most technologically advanced bomber aircraft in the world, the B-29 Superfortress. Featuring such innovations as pressurized crew compartments and remote controlled gun turrets, these aircraft carried the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
