Empires of Industry: War Planes of World War II

World War II spurred the production of over 300,000 war planes more than the previous 40 years combined and transformed the American aviation industry into a high-tech giant. HISTORY presents a rare glimpse into some of the greatest fighters ever produced, touring such planes as the C-47 Transport (the "Gooney Bird"); the rugged B-17 Flying Fortress; and the B-24 Liberator, mass-produced by Ford on the world's longest assembly line. Take a rare glimpse inside the P-51 Mustang the largest prop-driven fighter and witness the scrappy Grumman Iron Works' Wildcats and Hellcats leap from U.S. aircraft carriers to attack the Japanese air force. Modern shots of restored aircrafts, historic footage ranging from factory floors to mile-high battles, and extensive interviews with pilots and designers capture the WAR PLANES OF WORLD WAR II, the aviation industry's finest hour.

• documentary