Sign reads "Welcome to GAFB, elevation 504 feet" on the Base Operations Building at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York. View of exterior or Operations Building. View of a radar screen is shown as narrator discusses expansion of radar network for gathering data. Improved radars are shown being used for routine observing and reporting. A Vertical Viewing Radar unit is shown at the air base. An Air Force weather technician records readings.
A snow covered area. Transportable weather stations being used according to requirements. These mobile units can be transported anywhere. A man gets inside a weather station. Airplanes flying in formation overhead. Parachutes being dropped from the airplane. A soldier stands holding an air balloon. Another soldier stands nearby. Humidity, temperature and air pressure are being measured. A rocket being launched for the purpose.
Military Airlift Command Air Weather Service recon aircraft are shown. A B-57 taxiing; a C-135 in flight; a C-130 in flight. View inside C-130 showing crew stations and equipment. View of B-57 used for high altitude radiation sampling.
Weather surveillance is necessary for the launching of missiles. A rocket being launched from a launching pad. Advance knowledge of air density, pressure, humidity and wind velocity is necessary for the launch. Accurate forecast is needed for the launch of manned space vehicles. Air to air refueling of aircraft. Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Officers discussing a map. Hurricane Hunters crew working on locating hurricane centers. An airplane in flight. Men seated inside the airplane.
Observation of weather data collected from weather satellites. U.S. Air Force woman looking at photographs related to weather data. She works on an instrument. Airmen and women working to prepare a weather forecast. The weather forecast is prepared and transmitted to regional centers. Air Force weather centers located in the US, UK and Japan. Observations are sent to operating locations. Officers discussing. Men standing near an airplane. The airplane in flight overhead. High speed equipment are used for weather observation.
An interview of United States Air Force Lieutenant General Ira Eaker conducted by Dr. Maurer in the United States. Dr Maurer and General Eaker seated at a desk. Dr Maurer talks about the work and the contribution of General Eaker in the U.S. Air Force. He says that General Eaker was the Commander of the 8th Air Force. In 1944, he became the Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Allied Air Force. Then from 1945 until his retirement in 1947, he was the deputy commander of the Army Air Forces and chief of the Air Staff. General Eaker talks about his experiences. He talks about the first airplane flight he saw. He further speaks that he was sent to a training camp in 1917. A man came in the camp looking for some fliers. He was already selected for an examination of regular army. He says that in November 1917, he was on a parade grounds. An airplane was in flight overhead. The aircraft landed and he looked at the engine of the aircraft.