"Ramrod to Emden - The Thunderbolts” Special Edition with Pilot & Aircraft I.D.s (1943)

This classic WordWar 2 documentary film shows the legendary 56th Fighter Group P-47s on a escort mission to Emden, Holland, in October, 1943, from early morning briefing, through action packed fighter opposition over target to touch down and debriefing.
That alone makes it worth seeing - but something has always been lacking.
For the first time anywhere, using surviving archival photos taken at the time as a reference, we've been able to put names to many faces, including 56th FG CO Hubert “Hub” Zemke and legendary aces like Major Dave Schilling, Captain Walker “Bud” Mahurin, Major Gerald “Jerry” Johnson and many more. And using aircraft databases, we've been able to match plane unit I.Ds with the pilots inside. So when you see P-47D “UN-B” taxi by ready for takeoff, we've identified it as “Bat Outta Hell,” flown by 1st Lt Gordon E Batdorf, 63 F.S. and superimposed a wartime picture of him in the corner of the screen.
One of our long term missions has been to identify and thereby pay tribute to the previously anonymous men & women shown in these films and preserve their individual contributions for the historical record. Very satisfying work. Probably due to war time censorship, out of all the pilots and personnel shown, only fighter Ace Francis “Gabby” Gabreski, then CO of the Group's 65th Fighter Squadron, is identified by name in the original film.
And last but not least, we've done a scene by scene digital restoration of the video and audio, made from the best archival copy of the film available.You won't see this quality anywhere else!
Are you able to identify anyone in the film that isn't identified here? If so, just post a comment in the comments section giving the name of the person, where they are on the timecode of the video and if relevant why you know who they are and if you have it, a link to support your identification. If we get enough additions, I'll release an updated edition!
Zeno, Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In
www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com
Get this film, and many more WW2 aviation films on our new "Behind the Scenes in World War 2 Volume 7 DVD" bit.ly/3H2cVuS
And don't miss our B-26 DVD bit.ly/3rlUX0H
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[@ZenosWarbirds]

Are you able to identify anyone in the film that isn't identified here? If so, just post a comment in the comments section giving the name of the person, where they are on the timecode of the video and if relevant why you know who they are and if you have it, a link to support your identification. If we get enough additions, I'll release an updated edition!

[@greghelms4458]

Absolutely love the fact that identities are added. Wish a whole lot more of these were like this. Thanks.

[@markjones7185]

The pilots names and their planes, awesome !

[@johnbuchman4854]

Really appreciate this preserving of our history.

[@colinsdad1]

Gotta love the Old USAAF uniforms. Those Uniforms look so much better than the Dress Blues I was issued in the USAF. Thank you Sir for taking the time to post this- The younger Generations need to be reminded of what Sacrifice is. ESPECIALLY now, these films give us a glimpse into Military History, where we might perhaps glean some hard-learned lessons, even Years later.

[@edgaraquino2324]

Many thanks for this film...enjoyed it a lot...what a team effort to get everyone up and back...enjoyed your efforts to preserve history and to ID men and ships and to get an idea of how they lived their lives and did their jobs... Are these earlier models of the 'Bolts, the clear plexiglass ones came in '44? Hope you can do more of these...Good job!

[@andressini4829]

Just amazing!!!,i ser it several times and always i Discovery new details!!,justo one detail,in the 33:13 mark that shows 1st.lt Donald "doc" renwick p-47 "doc" is identified as a D model but this particular machine is a earlier C model,You can identify as a C because have the "short" cowling flaps, a very important detail.

[@lawrencemahalak6824]

Suprised Robert S. Johnson isn’t shown in this film.

[@ZenosWarbirds]

When the film was shot in October 1943, it was still relatively early in his career and he hadn’t yet yet received the renown he would later achieve. He may be in one of the scenes, but I haven’t been able to ID him.

[@markpaul-ym5wg]

Thanks zeros always.I horse laughed when the narrator said nazi planes blown to kindling.😅😂😊