The Cold War of the 1950's resulted in many television programs produced by government and industry to promote their own interests. No such series had as long a run or was as well received by the viewers as the U.S. Army's Big Picture series. From 1951 to 1964, in syndication or on the ABC television network, these programs presented straight documentary films produced by the Army Pictorial Center. These productions depicted various facets of the U.S. Army in action, including great battles, new weaponry, training and equipment and the historical roles played by the Army's various divisions and branches. most of the footage used in this interesting series came from the Army's own vast authentic and re-enactment training film library. Here is what turned out to be a series of very successful public relations programs, the official U.S. Army television report to the nation, the Big Picture.
Disc 1
6TH INFANTRY DIVISION
The 6th Infantry Division of World War II holds the unchallenged record for consecutive days of continuous combat in the Pacific Theater, 219 days, set by the Division on the Island of Luzon in the Philippines.
1ST CAVALRY & 41ST DIVISION
The 1st Cavalry has seen action from Bull Run to Baghdad, but during WWII, the first team played a pivotal role in retaking the Philippines. The 41st Infantry Division was the first American Division sent overseas after Pearl Harbor and the first trained in Jungle Warfare. It spent 45 months overseas and earned the title of "Jungleers."
AIRBORNE TO BATTLE
Air mobility has been a key concept since World War II and during that war elements of the 82nd and 101st Airborne played pivotal roles in several crucial battles. In Korea and afterwards, the concept of "vertical envelopment" continued to evolve and grow in importance.
KING OF BATTLE
Field artillery is a category of mobile weapons used to support armies in the field. Known as the King of Battle, these weapons are specialized for mobility and tactical efficiency, and not for long range or sheer destructive power.
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Disc 2
D-DAY ANNIVERSARY
During World War II, many invasions and operations had a designated D-Day, denoting the day on which a combat attack or operation was to be initiated. By far the best known D-Day is June 6, 1944, the day on which Operation Overlord began, commencing the Allied effort to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation.
PARIS '44
The Liberation of Paris took place in late August 1944, marking the end of Operation Overlord. However, before the Allies marched into the city, skirmishes between members of the French Resistance and the German occupiers of Paris claimed hundreds of lives.
TIGERS ON THE LOOSE
The 10th Armored Division, nicknamed the Tiger Division, served under General George S. Patton in World War II. When the German army launched its offensive in the Battle of the Bulge, the "Tiger" division provided support to Allied forces in the town of Bastogne, Belgium.
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