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| TRANSCRIPT OF THE GERMAN FILM, WAS NOT OBTAINED
FROM THE USG Column 1, is what is seen on the film Column 2, is who is speaking Column 3, is spoken TEXT from the film PLEASE NOTE -- Some of the interrogation questions DO REPEAT, as tho duplicated, but are on separate consecutively numbered pages in the transcript... Spelling errors appear in the original |
P I L O T S I N P Y J A M A S
1
Y E S : S I R
Heynowski & Scheumann
1. THE PRODUCERS OF THIS FILM EXTEND
PARTICULAR THANKS TO THE COMRADES
OF THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE'S ARMY AND
THE FILM STUDIES IN HANOI FOR THEIR
COMMRADELY ASSISTANCE.
2. & 3. THE QUESTIONS IN THE INTERVIEWS
WITH THE US AIR FORCE OFFICERS WERE
ASKED IN GERMAN AND TRANSLATED SI-
MULTANEOUSLLY. THEY WERE DUBBED FOR THE
ENGLISH VERSION OF THE FILM.
4. -M u s i c- Pilots climb into their cockpits
5. Airplane taxies to the take-off strip
6. Bombs falling
7. Explosions Author's on the commentary: Vietnam- ground
8. People standing We have seen the attacks - in front of buring buildings
9. A man holding a and their targets. wounded child
10.
US airplane We have seen the the murderers
in the sky...
11.
Evcavation and the victims on the ground.
of people burried
in rubble
12.
Planes in the sky What is inside these American
bomb droppers? What do the
insides of their heads look
like? We would like to ask
them - but up there, in
their lofty heights,
they are unreachable for us.
13.
Pilots. But now we are facing one
Close-up of eyes another, eye to eye with
these bomb droppers
from the USA; for -
14. A rocket is prepared for Rockets -
15. A MiG takes off MiG's -
16. Anti-aircraft gun is loaded ack - ack -
17. Militia with rifles and rifles -
18. Crash brought them down to earth.
19. Air defence fire Original sound
20. A burning airplane Commentary: One -
21. A plane engulfed in Two -
22. A burning plane barrel Three - rolls out of the sky
23. An airplane explodes Four -
24. A burning airplane Five -
25. A burning airplane Six -
26. A burning airplane Seven -
27. A buring airplane Eight -
28. A burning airplane Nine -
29.
A burning airplane crashes, Ten American air pirates who
pilot ejects survived the crash of their
planes. They appeared in front
of the cameras And microphones
30.
Montage: of a film team from the German
Photos of the team (sound Democratic Republic, who were
engineer, cameramen, still the first such group in the
photographer, interpreter, world to be granted permission
editor; Heynowski & Scheumann) by the Council of Ministers of
the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam to extensively query
the prisoners - to ask them in
the name of millions the world
over: Why?
31.
Pan shot of the doors The prison camp cammanders
of the dention camp ascertained which pilots
were prepared to speak and
answer the questions.
32.
A pilot turns his back Author's
to the camera commentary: This one here turned away as
we came into his cell: he not
only didn't want to be
questioned, but also not
filmed. Was he filled with
pride - or repentance? Did
he refuse because of self-
confidence or shame? We do
not know. His prisoner's
clothing-called "pyjamas"
-- was the only thing we
could film.
33.
Photographs of the Lieutenant-Commander Shumaker
capture of Lieutenant also refused to speak. We
Commander Shumaker certainly would have liked to
become acquainted with this
pilot's pilot. Because after
all Shumaker, before being
sent to Vietnam, was a
back-up man in the American
Astronaut group.
But we know why he refused.
His camp commander told us.
Upon capture Schumaker fell
down on his knees and cried
for his life. We understand:
The man is ashamed of himself.
34. Photograph of the unknown These two, then, did not want pilot and Shumaker side by to come side
35.
Gallery of 12 faces; the two Two from a total of only 12
who refused are marked prisoners who had to be
asked to attain 10 acceptances.
36.
Hubbard enters the room Even as prisoners they could
decide themselves whether they
wanted to come or not
37.
Shively walking along a path Not one of them looks like a
war profiteer.
38.
Alvarez enters the room None of them give the
impression of being a global
strategist, who ponders about
parts of the world and spheres
of influence.
39.
Camera scans Terkelson, But never in the history of war
feet to face have the monopoly bosses and
their political
40.
Ringsdorf sits down representatives personally gone
to
41.
Abbott sits down the battle fields.
42.
Thorsness enters the room Those who went were always the
and sits down same as as these. And in those
parts of the world where
43.
Duart enters the room the mechanism of aggression
functions, it functions
through such people.
44.
Hughes, sitting We want to question them, want
to become acquainted with them
- but their
45.
Risner enters room and sits mere appearance before the
down camera and microphone is
not enough for this.
46.
Risner We were fully aware of a risk
for us:
47.
Backs of pilots heads Members of the American armed
forces who fall - as they call
it - in "communist" captivity,
are pledged to silence. What,
then, will our interview
partners themselves say once
sit down on
48.
The chair, empty this chair? Every American
Officer knows his pledge of
silence.
49.
English text is faded in Commentary: "Code of Conduct" - Article 5:
50.
Insert:
Article 5 When questioned, should I
become a prisoner of war, I
am bound to give only name,
rank, service number and date
of birth. I will do the utmost
of my ability.
51.
Camera scans the closed Keep your mouth shut - this is
mouths of the 10 pilots their order. Will they adhere
to this? If so, we would not
learn - what's going on in
their brains, how they think,
what they feel, how they
became what they are: namely
air pirates. If they answer
only the four questions
allowed by the Code of Conduct
then we would have made this
6,300 mile journey to Vietnam
only to shoot approximately
one minute of film.
52. Hubbard Not we, but
53.
empty chair fades in those we interviewed had to
make this decision.
54.
Hubbard, engineer fits This man was the first. A few
the earphone dials turned by our sound
engineer: technical prepara-
tions for understanding with
our interpreter. And, we
begin.
55. Pilot in cockpit - M u s i c -
56. Title fades in Heynowski & Scheumann
57. Title fades in PILOTS
58. pilot in prisoner's clothing walks along a path
59. Title fades in IN PYJAMAS
60. Hubbard
61.
Title fades in 1
YES, SIR
62.
Hubbard declares X: We do not wish to conduct an
interrogation but rather just
chat with each other about
your action as a pilot of the
American armed forces against
the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam. I call your attention
the fact that under the Code
Conduct you are authorised to
answer only four questions
pertaining to your person.
Everything over and above
this is left up to your
voluntary decision. Do we
understand each other?
Hubbard: Yes, yes, sir.
X: What is your name, please?
Hubbard: Edward, I'm, ah, my name is
Edward Lee Hubbard.
X: What is your rank?
Hubbard: I am; First Lieutenant in the
United States Air Force
X: What is your service number?
Hubbard: Ah, my service number is FV
3122827
X: Did you want to be a
professional officer, or were
you drafted?
Hubbard: No, I, I enlisted in the Air
Force. I was not drafted.
X: Of your own free will then?
Hubbard: Yes, sir.
X: What is your age? When were
you born?
Hubbard: I was born on the 18th of May,
1938, and I just had my 29th
birthday.
X: Are you married?
Hubbard: Yes, sir, I am married.
X: Do you have children?
Hubbard: I have one little boy, named
David Wayne.
X: Are you a member of a church?
Hubbard: I'm a Protestant by faith.
X: Protestant, yes. What
education do you have?
Hubbard: Just high school. I've just
had high school. I have taken
a few night school courses,
college courses, but very few.
63.
Alvarez declares Alvarez: My name is Edward Alvarez,
junior.
My service number is 644124.
X: When did you join the Navy Air
Corps?
Alvarez: Oh, I came into the United
States Navy in 1960.
X: Your rank is Lieutenant Junior
Grade.
Did you enlist in the Navy in
1960?
Alvarez: I joined of my own free will,
yes. I was born December 23rd,
1937. I live in Santa Clara,
in California.
X: Are you married?
Alvarez: Yes, I am married,
X: Do you have children?
Alvarez: No, I have no children.
X: No children. -- Are you a member
of any church?
Alvarez: Yes, I am Catholic.
X: A Catholic. And your education?
Pilot's helmet on the
the floor. Pan shot Commentary: The man who owned this pilot's
of pilot helmet was shot down shortly
before being interviewed.
[64 NOT IN ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]
65.
Shively declares He was very willing to get
dressed again, for the camera,
in his pilot equipment.
Shively: Sir, my name is James Richard
Shively.
X: What is your Air Force rank?
Shively: I am First Lieutenant. My
service number is FR 78909.
Sir, I was commissioned in
1964, June of 64.
X: Were you drafted, or did you
enlist of your own free will?
Shively: Ah, I joined, I enlisted.
X: Then today you are considered
to be a professional officer.
Shively: Yes, sir.
I'm 25 years old. I was born
on the 23rd of March, 1942.
X: Are you married?
Shively: No, sir, I am not.
X: Do you have a fiancee waiting
for you in the United States?
Shively: No, sir.
X: Are you a member of a church?
Shively: Ah, I'm a Baptist. Baptised in
the Baptist Church.
X: What is your educational
standing?
Shively: Ah, sir, I had four years
college at the United States
Air Force Academy and I had
approximately eight months
graduate school at Georgetown
University in Washington, D.C.
X: Did you obtain an academic
degree from the University?
Shively: Ah, yes, sir, I have a
Bachelor of Science degree
with a major in political
science from the Air Force
Academy and a Master's
degree in International
Affairs from Georgetown
University.
66.
Ringsdorf declares Ringsdorf: Ringsdorf, Herbert Benjamin
Ringsdorf, Sir.
X: When were you born?
Ringsdorf: September 16, 1939.
I am a First Lieutenant. FR
15446. I joined of my own
free will.
X: Did you enlist for patriotic
reasons, or what led you to
join the Air Force?
Ringsdorf: I wanted to be in the Air
Force to fly, I wanted to
learn to fly.
X: Are you married? Do you have
children?
Ringsdorf: No, I am not married, no.
X: Is a girlfriend waiting for
you in the United States, or
do you have a fiancee?
Ringsdorf: I have a fiancee, yes.
X: Did you intend to get married
in the near future.
Ringsdorf: When I got home we were
planning on it.
X: Are you a member of a church?
Ringsdorf: I am Methodist, Protestant.
X: How much education do you have?
Ringsdorf: I have had four years of
college.
X: Do you have an academic
degree, or did you graduate
from College?
Ringsdorf: I have a Bachelor of Science
in chemistry.
67.
Torkelson declares Torkelson: My name is Loren Harvey
Torkelson.
X: What is your rank in the Air
Force?
Torkelson: Ah, First Lieutenant.
FV 3155656.
X: Are you an Air Force career
officer, or were
drafted for service?
Torkelson: Ah, well, I wasn't
necessarily drafted. I am
not actually a professional
soldier. But I did have a
military obligation. I am
just fulfilling a military
obligation that is as is
required by my country.
X: How old are you? When were
you born?
Torkelson: I am 26. I got married on the
4th of January this year.
X: 4th of January, 1967?
Torkelson: Yes, I did.
X: Then this vietnam assignment
was sort of a honeymoon trip?
How long were you together
with your wife before coming
overseas?
Torkelson: Oh, after I got married,
approximately 9 or ten days.
X: Are you a member of a church?
Torkelson: I am a Protestant.
X: Tell us something about your
education, please.
Torkelson: Ah, well, I went through
high school. I have
A Bachelor degree. Four years
of college at University of
North Dakota.
68. Abbott declares Abbott: Robert R. Abbott.
X: What was your rank in the Air
Force?
Abbott: First Lieutenant.
X: What is your service number?
Abbott: My service number, you mean?
FR 81453
X: And today you are a
professional officer,
that is your job?
Abbott: Yes, sir.
X: What is your age?
Abbott: 25.
X: Are you married?
Abbott: Yes.
X: Do you have any children?
Abbott: No, sir.
X: Are you member of a church?
Abbott: What educational standing do
you have?
X: I graduated from Michigan
State University, Bachelor of
Arts degree.
69.
Duart declares Duart: My name is David Henry Duart.
When I was shot down I was a
captain. I was promoted
supposedly since that time to
major.
X: This is the first time I've
heard this. How do you know
that during your period as a
prisoner, in absentia so to
speak, you were promoted to
major?
Duart: Ah, our promotion system,
ah, a list of those to be
promoted in the following
year is put out in December.
And I was informed that I
had been promoted and in
February, it's a number
system. My number was so far
down on the list. By the end
of February when I was shot
down, you could very
easily figure out by how many
they were promoting a month,
approximately what month you
would be promoted in. I
figured out in my case that
it would be probably in
April, latest in May.
X: So that's the way it is. What
is your service number?
Duart: Foxtrott Victor 3057321 is my
serial number. I am 32 years
old.
X: Are you married?
Duart: Yes, sir, I am married. I
have three children. I am of
Protestant faith. I am a
graduate of high school in
Pennsylvania.
70.
Thorsness declares Thorsness: My name is Leo Keith
Thorsness. I am a Major in
the Air Force.
X: What is your age, please, and
when were you born?
Thorsness: I am 35. I was born and
raised the first 18
years in Minnesota.
X: Are you a member of a church?
Thorsness: I am a Lutheran.
X: Are you married, Major?
Thorsness: Yes, I'm married and have
one child.
X: Married and have a child. How
about your education?
Thorsness: I have a Bachelor's degree
at, from the University of
Omaha and I have a Master's
degree from the University
of Southern California.
71.
Hughes declares Hughes: I'm James Lindbergh Hughes.
X: Which rank did you have in
the Air Foce?
Hughes: Lieutenant Colonel. FR 43211.
X: When were you born, Colonel?
Hughes: 11 June 1927.
X: Are you married?
Hughes: Yes.
X: Do you also have children?
Hughes: Two.
X: Are you a member of a church?
Hughes: Ah, Protestant. Methodist
specifically.
X: How much educational
training have you had?
Hughes: Military, sir, or civilian,
or a combination?
X: Civilian and military.
Hughes: Yes, I have two civilian
degrees, one from The
University of Omaha, 1960,
General Education, one from
the University of New
Hampshire 1965, Electrical
Engineering. In the military
I've been through numerous
pilot training courses,
depending on the aircraft
that I was flying.
X: Colonel, you have an
explanation to make for our
viewers. Judging from your
face you were obviously
suffering from a skin
disease, is that correct?
Hughes: I have an allergy which has
cropped up, new to me, we
have yet to identify
specifically the cause for
it. We hope it's temporary.
X: We all are suffering here
from the heat and we have on
our arms and body that which
you have on your forehead.
The reason is simply that
this country is extremely
hot for what we are
accustomed to.
Hughes: I understand. Thank you very
much.
72. Risner declares Risner: My name is Robinson Risner.
X: What is your rank in the
American armed forces?
Risner: I am Lieutenant Colonel in
the US Air Force
Commentary: Risner was promoted to
Colonel while still a
prisoner. On the day of this
interview, this was not yet
known to him.
X: Your service number, please?
Risner: Ah, 26905 alpha.
X: When, Colonel Risner, did you
enlist in the Air Force?
Risner: In 1943.
X: Would you tell us your age,
please?
Risner: Yes, I am 42.
X: Are you married?
Risner: Yes, I have a wife and five
boys.
X: Five boys. Would you tell us
please the age of the
youngest and the age of the
oldest?
Risner: Yes, the youngest one is six
and the oldest one will be 19
in August.
X: Colonel Risner, are you a
member of a church?
Risner: I'm a Protestant and Assembly
of God.
X: How long did you go to school
before you joined the armed
forces?
Risner: I was only a high school
graduate, that is the
limits of my education.
73.
Stills:
Portraits of the ten
pilots Commentary: Professional officers - one
the same as the other.
Between 25 and 43 years of
age. All of them have high
school diplomas. Most of
them were enrolled in
universities, passed their
exams and have academic
degrees. Nearly all of them
are married or engaged.
Each is a member of a church.
The personnel departments of
the Air Force and Navy should
be delighted with them.
74.
US pilot in cockpit Author's Machines of the American
commentary: armed forces in use in
Vietnam.
75.
Plane takes off represent a high technical
standard.
76.
Plane takes off Not every pilot is capable of
flying a Thunderchief or
Phantom.
77.
Planes in the air Those selected to do so go
through extensive training
and must prove their
ability in numerous flying
hours.
78.
US pilot in cockpit For pilots flying against
the DRV
79.
Refuelling maneuver in the difficult maneuver of
the air hooking up in the air with
a tanker is a routine matter:
men and material are well
acquainted.
80. Shively declares Shively: I, I flew the F 105.
X: That is the Thunderchief?
Shively: Yes, sir.
81. Thunderchief flying - Original sound -
82. Abbott declares Abbott: F 105, Excuse me, F 105.
X: This plane has such a
sonorous name if I
remember correctly.
Abbott: Thunderchief.
83. Thunderchief landing - Original sound -
84. Hughes declares Hughes: The F 105.
X: This is the Thunderchief, is
it not?
Hughes: Yes.
85. Thunderchief flying - Original sound -
86. Duart decalres Duart: I was flying an F 105-F.
87. Thunderchief taking off - Original sound -
88. Risner declares Risner: I was in a 105, F 105.
X: The Thunderchief, is that
right?
Risner: Yes, yes.
89. Thunderchief taking off - Original sound -
90. Thorsness declares Thorsness: I flew the 105, sir.
X: That is the Thunderchief?
Thorsness: Thunderchief.
91. Thunderchief on runway - Orignial sound -
92. Ringsdorf declares Ringsdorf: I flew an F 4 C.
X: Isn't there another name
generally used to
describe this aircraft?
93. Phantom flying - Original sound -
94. Torkelson Torkelson: I flew an F 4 C. Phantom.
X: A Phantom. As far as I know
that is the Pride of the Air
Force. One of the most
modern airplanes, is that
right?
Torkelson: Ah, yes, sir, it is.
95. Phantom flying - Original -
96.
Alvarez declares X: What type of airplane did you
fly?
Alvarez: A 4 C.
X: There is another name for it,
isn't there?
Alvarez: Yes, "Skyhawk".
X: "Skyhawk".
97. Skyhawk takes off Original - Original sound -
98. Hubbard declares Hubbard: I flew an RB 66.
99.
Photo of model planes Commentary: One reconnaissance plane
known as the RB 66 --
100. Skyhawk one "Skyhawk" --
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