Ollie: There was a stretch of large buildings strangely fronted by a mansion – or what looked like a mansion. Big letters over the front porch read “U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES.” But I gotta tell you, it was not like any base I’d ever seen…
“The 18th AAF Base Unit (Motion Picture Unit), originally known as the First Motion Picture Unit (FMPU) , Army Air Forces, was the primary film production unit of the U.S. Army Air Forces (AAF) during World War II, and was the first military unit made up entirely of professionals from the film industry. It produced more than 400 propaganda and training films, which were notable for being informative as well as entertaining…” Wikipedia (Check out the article, as it provides an excellent overview of the unit, its personnel and accomplishments.)
As will be revealed in Episode 2, The First Motion Picture Unit was housed in the Hal Roach Studios (post) filmmaker Hal Roach leasing the studio to the government for one dollar a year.
If you have 20 minutes, watch this promotional film the FMPU made of itself on YouTube.
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