How the Atlantic was conquered by air ranging from the pioneering epic of Lt Cdr Read USN in his Curtis flying boat and Alcock and Brown in their converted Vickers Vimy bomber in 1919, to Charles Lindbergh’s epic solo crossing of 1927 and the record speed flights, including Concorde.
Long distance car rallies, including the London-Sydney and the Pan African rallies, and attempts to drive round the world (by Kegresse half-tracks in the 1920s) and the length of the Americas. Epic footage of speed and endurance.
Kurt Carlsen’s epic solo struggle to save his 6,700 ton vessel, her holds waterlogged, from the ravages of an Atlantic hurricane during Christmas 1951. Spectacular film taken at the time shows the immense bravery of this famous Captain in his efforts to stay with his ship.
A number of Japanese soldiers in the Pacific did not heed the news in 1945 that their country had surrendered. They continued to wage guerrilla war believing their country was fighting on. One on the island of Guam, Hiru Onada, endured a further 10 years before surrendering to the authorities.
The story of T E Lawrence's exploits with the Arabs during the Great War. Hitherto unseen clips of Lawrence riding in the desert with King Faisal and the victorious arrival into Damascus.
A group of Norwegians, separate from Milorg, the main Resistance movement, sent back intelligence of German activities in their country by radio direct to the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). Among their coups was tracking down the German battleship Tirpitz. They were often infiltrated back into their country by the Shetland Bus, a group of Norwegian fishing smacks based in the Shetland Islands.
Set against the backcloth of the Special Operations Executive and its US equivalent, the Office of Strategic Services, the use of light aircraft, parachutes, motor torpedo boats, and submarines to insert agents. The programme illustrates examples of particular agents such as Odette, Yeo-Thomas (The White Rabbit), and Violet Szabo.
The men that have striven for it and the cars they drove. Craig Breedlove and the plane without wings and Malcolm Campbells historic Bluebird. Breathtaking shots of success and disaster in the Nevada Desert.
How the air routes were trailblazed to the east and the Pacific during the 1920s and 1930s. The fascinating story of how the East and Australia became just an air-journey from Europe.
Fighter pilots developed the art during the Great War, but it soon became a source of wonderment for the peoples of the world. Startling footage never seen previously of early flying stunts.
Some of the remarkable escapes which people have had from air disasters including the tail gunner who fell 12,000 feet without a parachute and survived.
Well before their country entered the Great War a number of adventurous Americans volunteered to fight for the British and French. Among them were a number of pilots, and in early 1916 they were formed into a special French fighter squadron, which fought with great distinction on the Western Front. Amazing aerial footage shows WW1 dog-fights as they really were.
Set against the backcloth of motor torpedo boats attracting adventurous spirits in both world wars, this is the story of the future US President and his struggle to survive after the sinking of his PT-109 off New Georgia in the Solomons in July 1943.
In the tradition of Indiana Jones the true story of Mans efforts to reach the source of the worlds mightiest river including the mystery of the disappearance of Colonel Fawcett in 1923.
The many and sometimes successful attempts to escape under the watchful eyes of the East German border guards.Set against the background of the history of the Wall.
The fascinating story with newly released footage on how flying high and fast, and often unarmed, aircraft brought back valuable intelligence on the enemy in both war and peace. Sometimes they did not return.
Some of the Twentieth Centurys most famous examples, with emphasis on how the rescue services have operated in the most appalling conditions.
Some of the worlds most dramatic fires and how they have been fought, with live action footage of daring rescues and escapes.
The challenge of the North Pole from Americans Dr Cook and Cdr Pearys claims to have reached it in 1908 and 1909. It includes all the extraordinary methods used to reach the North Pole - dog, skis, icebreaker, and nuclear submarine.
The story of the low-level raid with bouncing bombs by 617 Squadron in May 1943, with the emphasis on Gibson himself, the technical ingenuity involved, and the cold-blooded courage of the crews. The true story behind the man, the inventor and the famous film.
Lost cities in Asia, Africa, and South America, including Hiram Binghams discovery of the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu in 1911 and Sir Leonard Woolleys excavation of Abrahams birthplace, Ur of the Chaldees, in the mid 1920s.
A downed German Bomber in 1940 contained a curious electronic blackbox. Thereafter the skies above Europe witnessed an ever more intense technological battle as the bombers of each side sought more accurate methods of bombing targets and protecting themselves from nightfighter attack. A fascinating insight into the Secret War of electronic code breaking and counter intelligence.
Man first flew in a balloon in the late 18th Century, but the internal combustion engine enabled him to build airships which could effectively combat the natural elements, especially wind. How balloons and airships were used in peace and war, until disasters in the 1930s meant that they were superseded by heavier-than-air machines as the means of air transport. Some amazing footage of daring escapes including personal interviews.
The pre-war attempts, the first successful assault in 1953 and subsequent expeditions, including the attempts to climb it without oxygen - including rare aerial shots of the summit.
The story of the US/Soviet space race, beginning with German rocket development before and during World War II. It covers the tragedies, such as the 1967 Apollo oxygen fire, the moon-shot which nearly never returned and the Soyuz disasters.
What makes a fighter ace, from the fighting scouts of the Great War to the hi-tech Top Guns of today. Amazing footage, some of which is shown for the first time.
The story of airspeed record breaking with emphasis on the Schneider Trophy and culminating in the sound barrier being first broken by a US Bell X-I rocket aircraft in 1947. Set against the background of the belief that an aircraft might well break up if it did fly at more than Mach 1. The true story of ‘The Right Stuff’.
The often bizarre attempts from the beginning of the century onwards. There is a high degree of humour in this programme, as well as pathos.
How Orde Wingate conceived and organised a force which twice penetrated deep behind the Japanese lines in Burma during World War II. Hopelessly outnumbered, it tied down thousands of crack Japanese troops. His example was followed by a crack US force - Merrill's marauders.
The story of the intrepid pilots who pioneered today’s air routes and some of the bizarre aircraft and adventures which contributed to this fascinating story.
