WWII in HD

Synopsis

WWII in HD is a 10-part American documentary television miniseries that originally aired from November 15 to November 19, 2009 on the History Channel. The program focuses on the firsthand experiences of twelve American service members during World War II, including an Army nurse, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a second generation Japanese American and prisoner of war, and an Austrian Jewish immigrant. The twelve members recorded their time in both theaters and some had later interviews; found footage from the battlefield was paired with the stories of the twelve service members. The episodes premiered on five consecutive days, with two episodes per day. The series is narrated by Gary Sinise and was produced by Lou Reda Productions in Easton, Pennsylvania, United States.

First Air Date: 2009-11-15

Last Air Date: 2009-11-19

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 10

Networks: History

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Gary Sinise as Narrator
LL Cool J as Shelby Westbrook (voice)
Steve Zahn as Nolen Marbrey (voice)
Justin Bartha as Jack Werner (voice)
Josh Lucas as Bert Stiles (voice)
Tim DeKay as Richard Tregaskis (voice)
Amy Smart as June Wandrey (voice)
Mark Hefti as Archie Sweeney (voice)
Ron Livingston as Charles Scheffel (voice)
James Kyson as Jimmie Kanaya (voice)

Seasons

Specials (2010)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: The Air War (2010-11-10)

The untold story of the American 8th Air Force's bloody battle to defeat the German Luftwaffe in the months leading up to D-Day. Told through the gripping, first person accounts of three American airmen and Stars & Stripes reporter Andy Rooney, this special showcases breathtaking aerial combat--original, color footage, never before seen by most Americans--of the B-17s Flying Fortresses, P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs on missions such as Regensburg, Schweinfurt and Berlin. Never-before-seen 8mm footage of the airmen on the bases, the devastation in Germany, and the Luftwaffe perspective is also highlighted. Flying 25,000 feet above the earth in oxygen-devoid air, and temperatures as low as 50 below zero, the 8th Air Force fought a war unlike anything ever before experienced. By the end, they would suffer more than 26,000 combat deaths--more than the US Marines lost in all of World War II. Narrated by Emmy nominated actor, Rob Lowe.
Ep. 2: The Battle for Iwo Jima (2010-11-17)

Forever etched into history with its famous image of U.S. Marines hoisting 'Old Glory' over Mount Suribachi, the Battle of lwo Jima reveals a far greater story than just an iconic photograph. The Americans wanted the small island for its strategic airfields, which would bring their bombers within range of Japan's home islands; for the ragged Japanese, it represented a last-ditch effort to stop the oncoming Allied juggernaut on its island-hopping march towards Tokyo. The result was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, as fortified Japanese defenders gave no quarter to the wave of men and steel that crashed onto the volcanic blacks sands of lwo Jima.
Ep. 3: Character Profiles

Additional interview footage with war veterans Jack Werner, Chaeles Scheffel, Roscoe Blunt Jr, Jimmie Kanaya, Shelby Westbrook, and Jack Yusen.
Ep. 4: Finding the Footage

Historian Don Miller, Producer Lou Reda, and others talk about searching for and obtaining the footage used in the series.
Ep. 5: Preserving the Footage

Historian Don Miller, Producer Lou Reda, and others talk about the state of the source materials and efforts made to restore and preserve them for future generations.