Checkertails Part 2 - The P-51 Era is now online :)
 

Well here it is.
Five years on from a late-night conversation with Ralph "Monguse" Gimenez, in which he uttered the now immortal words to me "have you ever heard of 'The Checkertail Clan'?" here is Part 2 of my self-made Documentary on the 325th Fighter Group "The Checkertail Clan"..

Part 1 which can be found here;

https://vimeo.com/38294301

tells the story of the Fighter Group's formative days from activation, to flying the P-40's and rotation into the P-47 Thunderbolt.

Part 2 continues their story, detailing the transfer to P-51 Mustang's and covers the missions flown, the personal stories that affected the men, the anecdotes they recall of their service with the 325th, and all of it told in their own words.

Narrated by Professional actor Gary Bullock this film records the history of those men who served with the Checkertail Clan in World War 2.

With never before seen interviews, original archive footage and images (again many never seen before), my journey across the United States has proved to be as rich and fruitful (while also sometimes frustrating) as I could have wished for and I present their story for anyone interested in WW2 history, to view completely for free.

You can either watch the online version at Vimeo or download a DVD image, which you can burn and watch on your DVD or Blu-Ray player at home.

To watch the online version at Vimeo, just click this link at the end of this introduction. If you look under the video on the Vimeo page I have also given the option to download the video file from Vimeo and watch on your own media playing device.

The DVD disk image is a Dual Layer disk and 7.54GB in size (once extracted from the files) which can be downloaded at the end of this introduction (I had to split it into Four Files to upload).

Download all four parts, double-click Part 1 and it will ask you where you want to extract it to. Choose a location and let it extract the file.
Once done, open your DVD burning software, choose "Burn Disk Image" (or similar phrase), select the newly extracted file called "CHECKERTAILS_PART_2" or "CHECKERTAILS_PART_2.iso and burn it to your blank Dual Layer DVD. You can then watch it on your home DVD player.

I have made the disk image Region Free so it can be viewed on any countries DVD player.

This disk has been made for free, I have done it all in my spare time. I have done it for fun but also so that veterans and families (as-well as all of you interested in WW2 History) will have a permanent record for future generations to hear the stories of these great men who served in WW2, in their own voices.

All I would ask is that you share the link, DVD, video files with as many people as you can as the whole purpose has been to tell their story and share their knowledge with others.

Please understand, every person who helped and is listed in the credits has done so for free, in their own time and all to honour these Veterans.

Gary Bullock, knew Gordon McDaniel (a 5-in-a-day Ace) and it was by chance that we hooked up and once he saw what I was doing, he readily jumped onboard with the project and offered to re-write my amateur script and make it what you hear presented in this feature.
The film runs for two-hours and thirty-six minutes and covers D-Day, Operation Dragoon, First flights, training, losses of friends, specific missions....the list is endless.

I hope you enjoy the feature, and if you do please leave feedback as I hope you can spare me a few moments to pass on your thoughts.

One final disclaimer I have to make.

I have tried my best to identify Luftwaffe Units taking part in the action during specific events in this feature. Please remember this is the history of the Checkertail Clan, and while I have tried my best to make the Luftwaffe units accurate, I haven't got an unlimited amount of time and so I have just done my best.

While much of this feature is related to the Checkertail Victories, it is not exclusive and does cover their losses too. I realise the Luftwaffe did score victories against the 325th, but that is a Luftwaffe story and if someone wants to make their own film, then I await to see that with relish.

For now I present Part 2 of my Documentary, thanks for taking the time to either download or watch it online.

I would like to thank the Virtual 352nd Fighter Group (especially 352nd_ Persecutor) for hosting the files for the DVD.

If anyone is able to download and create a Mirror for the files or a torrent I would be grateful and add them to this post so others can get the files quickly too.

Best wishes,
Neil "Mysticpuma" Pugh

Watch Part 2 online at my Vimeo Channel here:

https://vimeo.com/54052096


Download the DVD image files for Part 2 here:

http://www.352ndfg.com/Downloads/Che...ease.part1.exe

http://www.352ndfg.com/Downloads/Che...ease.part2.rar

http://www.352ndfg.com/Downloads/Che...ease.part3.rar

http://www.352ndfg.com/Downloads/Che...ease.part4.rar

The torrent version of Part 2 (DVD .iso image) can be downloaded here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ky2csa0c8w6tusr

PLEASE SEED as soon as you have downloaded it. Cheers, MP

For anyone who would like Part 1 as a DVD image, it can be downloaded here as a torrent file:

Part 1:
http://www.mediafire.com/?2bh5t4qxt9ec1l4

I thoroughly enjoyed part 1.I thought it was excellently done.I am awaiting the completion of my download of part 2.

Thank you for time and devotion to the project.

Awesome. MP, I have a chance to meet with George P. Novotny in Feburary. He lives up in Michigan. I goto school with his Grandson, David, who I showed these videos to. Just thought I'd share that. I'm looking forward to meeting him.

Salute Mystic

Great work, we owe a tremendous amount to these gentlemen and the others who fought to preserve democracy. Thanks very much for taking the time to do this.

as a matter of fact, I think I might take both of these and burn them to DVDs for him, his grandson, and family.

Neil , this is totally awesome !
Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication
on this project working with 325th Fighter Group veterans .
I can't imagine the amount of patience & work it took to
make this video :shock:
It's very much appreciated !

Cheers ,
Stanley :)

Incredibly cool thanks Mystic!

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback. I look at feedback as my 'earnings' for making the Documentary for free, so I appreciate you taking the time to post. Cheers.

The Veterans share their thoughts after watching Part 2 in California in August:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHY4hUXs9EQ

Cheers, MP

Amazing work Mysticpuma.

Thank you

Nice documentary of the 325th Checkertails

Was it a struggle to decide colour or BW for the IL2 clips ?




.

Not really a struggle, but I did decide against making all the footage "old film" style.

If you see the clip where the Mustang's dive into the 64 FW-190's it starts "old film" then goes to IL2 (with some effects). I originally was going to keep all IL2 footage "old" but, after reviewing it, it just didn't sit right for me.

I also tried film grain, but again, it just didn't need it.

The still images from IL2 (illustrate Tom Batey circling his downed wingman and Jack Kinney shooting down a 190) had the grain effect, which looks fine for stills, but I just didn't like it when the video was rolling.

Maybe Part 3.......NOPE!!! Not going to happen ;)

Thanks for the question and interest, cheers, MP

¨First one was excellent. Now downloading the second one.

I have to admire your hard work you have put into this. The very idea of documenting these peoples experiences is humbling. To do this for free with such a noble intentions is a rarity but also absolutely vital because without You me or anyonelse wouldn't have the opportunity to learn about these men. I'm also moved to think how good it must have felt for those old men to see that there is interest in the world to know what they went through during the war. I applaud you sir!

Kimmo

P.S do you have any plans for torrent dl? Would be easier to pass it a long to other people since torrent is quite much faster....

Downloads were extremely slow for me but I finally got it all(I had to re download part 1 as the original gave a CRC error upon extraction).

Excellent documentary and the DVD was well done with the added stuff.Very professional.Great interviews.

Thank you.

Just awesome MP!!
Im out of words!!

Kling out;)

Thank you for your dedication and generosity.

Respect.


S!

Thanks very much Mysticpuma, awesome stuff!

I'd love to be able to offer the DVD as a torrent file, but I have no idea how to create one. I realise it would be quicker and if anyone can create a torrent (maybe package the four files together or the extracted .iso?) I would gladly add the link to the first post.
Also if anyone can mirror the links?

Many thanks for your feedback (everyone), it's really very much appreciated. Cheers.

T h a n k s ! :)


~s~

thoroughly enjoyable watch. well done.

beer in drop tanks, who'd have thought of that.

Yanks of course.

Real men drink warm beer :)

@ MP

Yes I suppose I was expecting the BW continuity to follow with the IL2 inserts, still it looks great, the vets were pleased too.

Now about a Axis bomber squad ......... next movie...........KG something...............................where'd ya go......


:)

An outstanding documentary. Best one I've ever seen. Thank you for sharing it with the community. I will be sharing this for sure.

The torrent version of Part 2 can be downloaded here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ky2csa0c8w6tusr

PLEASE SEED as soon as you have downloaded it. Cheers, MP

Added link to first post as well ;)

If anyone would like the DVD version of Part 1 it can be downloaded here;

Part 1:
http://www.mediafire.com/?2bh5t4qxt9ec1l4

Cheers, MP

Congratulations MysticPuma on finishing this true masterpiece of documentary film-making!!

Salute!!!
http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/q...1941Salute.gif

This film (parts I and II) matches, and in many aspects exceeds, the quality of History Channel's documentaries of WWII aviation related events and participants.

In that regard, I was pleased to see that one of the Vets noted the failure of the Hollywood "Redtails" movie to accurately, or realistically, portray aerial combat events in spite of their EXPENSIVE CGI. Hollywood (and History Channel) CGI companies haven't got a clue about the "Physics" of aerial flight, just as the screenwriters don't have a clue about aerial combat and/or the behavior of real-world WWII (or WWI) pilots. The Star Wars type X-Fighter(and Tie fighters, etc) laser-like and Physics-defying maneuvers were also seen in the recent "Flyboys", "Red Baron", and the earlier ridiculously bad "Pearl Harbor!

The re-creation of historical aerial combat events/engagements using IL-2 "footage", and now possible with Cliffs of Dover as well, can bring the written accounts of historians and the memoirs and spoken words of interviewed Vets to life on the screen as never before. Again, the vets confirmed that they saw realism in your IL-2 recreations of their experiences.

I'm hoping that members of the ClOD community, specifically those making ClOD videos and movies, will be motivated by your masterpiece and will grasp the opportunity themselves to produce short movies telling other documentary-type stories of WWII Aerial combat.

Again, thanks for producing this marvelous work, which I hope you are planning to market for possible broadcast on BBC or elsewhere...such as at the aforementioned History Channel. I should think that there is an audience out there far larger than just that of the Flight Sim community and other WWII-related Internet communities.

DR

Bump

Neil,

both parts have been magnificent, History Channel worthy pieces of art!!! I hope you will get one day a TV channel to show them to the greater public.

A few questions if you ever have time to answer:

Part 1 at 1:20:30 In these IL2 scenes, how did you make the electricity lines glow like that after the P-47 cut through them???

What is the name of the song in the beginning of Part1 and Part2 video after you show your Mysticpuma logo and the Checkertails opening screen?

What is the name of the song at the end of Part1?

What happened to Nicholas Dimancescu??? He looks a bit too young.

Part 2 at 1:15:20 I see the P51 climbing leaving a nice contrail coming from the propeller. Is this from IL2 ????

Part 2 at 1:45:15 The P-38 landing on the inodated runway; Is this is Italy? I think I have seen this in a film about operations in the Aleutian islands.


~S~

Part 1 at 1:20:30 In these IL2 scenes, how did you make the electricity lines glow like that after the P-47 cut through them???

I had to use Adobe After Effects for the lightning effect and key-frame the electricity, flash, glow and trails to match the action as it happened. It was a little long-winded, but worth the effect ;)

What is the name of the song in the beginning of Part1 and Part2 video after you show your Mysticpuma logo and the Checkertails opening screen?

The Music is by Clannad and the song is the Theme to "Harry's Game"

What is the name of the song at the end of Part1?

The artist is Enya and the track is called "Exile"

What happened to Nicholas Dimancescu??? He looks a bit too young.

Nick was a great guy who I was really privileged to meet in Washington. He reall was only young and in the prime of his life. During filming of a new Documentary he fell to his death and a light went out in the world. His passion and enthusiasm for the projects he worked on was incredible and he helped me significantly with some recovered archive footage that I have never seen before (all the black and white P-51B/C footage in the film).

http://kogainonfilms.com/Pages/About/Obituary.html



Part 2 at 1:15:20 I see the P51 climbing leaving a nice contrail coming from the propeller. Is this from IL2 ????

Yes it is IL2 and a modded version. I saw the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFYzHfjTGtk

and then checked IL2. The contrails form about 20-yards behind the aircraft. I contacted SAS_Cirx and showed him the video and he altered the position of the contrail hook so it matched the engine rather than behind the aircraft. Looks great doesn't it? ;)


Part 2 at 1:45:15 The P-38 landing on the inundated runway; Is this is Italy? I think I have seen this in a film about operations in the Aleutian islands.

Yes it is the Aleutians footage. I needed to show how bad weather could affect runways and of-course there is little archive footage available (other than the P-51 I show bouncing through the water!). I suited the purpose of the illustration :)

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated and I am glad you took time to see the history of the 325th. Best wishes, Neil

~S~

Thanks for the reply!

Adobe After Effects: Awesome but what a hard and painfull work!!!

Contrails: Awesome work!!! You got me there, I was speechless watching the P51s producing such contrails!

For the first time I saw IL2 with different eyes. It looked so amazing to see a whole squadron's history unfold in such a realistic way, using the graphics of a single computer game (plus some Adobe After Effects).


~S~


PS. There was one scene you didn't dare to make: When he shot one Bf109 which subsequently fell on another Bf109 ;) ;) ;)

It's an amazing video MP.
I enjoyed seeing you and Monguse again at the premier. :)


Wheels

Nope it's there..but briefly ;)

Excuse me for bumping this. 5-years of work went into it, so forgive me giving it a little push ;)

Cheers, MP

Well worth a bump, MP.

I'd like to get a copy on my HD, but the torrent is not being seeded by anyone; also, the Vimeo Download option is extreemely slooow, today at least. Have you ever tried "Dropbox" for sharing/DL'ing such a large file/video? I use that method quite a lot.

Hi, I'll send you a PM link tomorrow to download the files. Which are you looking ofr DVD or .avi

Cheers, MP

Just tried to download the HD versions but as previous poster said there are no longer any seeds.

Would love to get hold of those iso files ... ? :) Unless you fancy sticking a couple of DVDs in the post (of course I'd pay you for postage etc.) ;)