Crew of a U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command (SAC) aerial refueling KC-135 tanker aircraft stand on a stage. They stand at attention as a Lieutenant Colonel at a podium reads the citation accompanying their award , in recognition of a unique refueling mission they performed during the Vietnam War. The crew members are Major John H. Casteel, Aircraft Commander; Captain Richard L. Trail, Pilot; Captain Dean L. Hoar, Navigator; and Master Sergeant Nathan C. Campbell, Boom Operator. During Operation "Daisy Chain," they performed the first ever three-level aerial refueling operation that saved six carrier-based U.S. Navy aircraft critically low on fuel, over the Gulf of Tonkin. Each crew member is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by SAC Commander in Chief. General Joseph J. Nazzaro. Closeup of the medal on Sergeant Campbell.
Opening scene shows a message being received on a teletype machine from the U.S. 3rd Air Division. Two Air Force officers are seen seated at desks. One is labeled "Ops-Plans." The on duty operations officer passes on the message to his staff where it goes through operation, operation planning, maintenance, ordinance and armament. Technicians preparing the guns and loading ordnance for the mission, on a B-52 aircraft. Air crew members ate seen assembled in their briefing room, Glimpse of the mission briefing officer at a podium. View of wristwatch as narrator speaks of navigators synchronizing their watches. A B-52 crew stepping from their crew bus as they arrive at their aircraft. As other crew member climb aboard the plane, their aircraft commander reviews the aircraft status, as reflected on its Form 781, with the aircraft crew chief. Crew members then begins a pre-flight walk-around inspection, starting with the landing gear and wheel wells. The last of the crew enter the aircraft via a bottom hatch, which a ground crewman then fastens from the outside. Inside, crew members are seen going through pre-flight check lists at their respective duty stations. Back at the Command Post, the duty controller receives the order via secure telephone, from 3rd Air Division headquarters, to execute the mission. He informs the Aircraft Commander and the B-52 starts its engines. View of throttles being pushed forward in the cockpit, as the aircraft begins takeoff. View from ground as the B-52 takes off and flies overhead. Glimpse of the aircraft commander in the cockpit wearing helmet and oxygen mask. Hand of radar observer is seen as he checks out his equipment. Aerial closeup of a B-52 in flight. View of radar observer placing the aircraft controls in so-called "Second Station," with the autopilot controlled by the bombing navigation computer. Inflight closeup of B-52 opening its bomb bay doors and starting to drop bombs. Glimpse of the aircraft commander in cockpit and of B-52 aircraft in flight, as narrator states they are returning to U-Tapao Airbase,or to Guam. The aircraft in the mission are seen landing back at U-Tapao Airbase, Thailand, where other B-52s are parked on the ramp. They taxi to their parking places and crew members board buses back to operations for a mission debriefing.
U.S. soldiers fire howitzers at 25th Infantry Division Headquarters in Cu Chi, Vietnam. Use of FADAC (Field Artillery Digital Automatic Computer) in U.S. 25th Infantry Division Headquarters. Battery D, 3rd Battalion, 13th Artillery, 25th Infantry Division fire M-110 SP 8-inch howitzer mounted on tank. A crewman carries canister. Another round is loaded and fired. Two men put shell on loader up to the howitzer. The howitzer is elevated. The crewman tightens fuse on the ground and hands it up on cradle. (Vietnam War period).
Battery D, 3rd Battalion, 13th Artillery, 25th Infantry Division makes use of FADAC (Field Artillery Digital Analysis Computer) at Division Headquarters in Cu Chi, Vietnam. Two soldiers of 25th Infantry Division carry FADAC into an M-577 Command-Post armored vehicle. A computer is set up and connected. FADAC panel in view. A 400-cycle 110 Volt generator. Interiors of the M-577 shows an operator operating the computer. (Vietnam War period).
U.S. 25th Infantry Division makes use of FADAC (Field Artillery Digital Automatic Computer) at Division Headquarters in Cu Chi, Vietnam. A PFC (Private First Class) receives the orders for the fire mission over a radio. A computer operator feeds the information into a computer. View of a computer panel. The operator makes notes. A lieutenant, executive officer, checks mission on the FDC (Fire Direction Center) chart and plots on the chart. A telephone operator talks over a phone.
U.S. 25th Infantry Division Headquarters in Cu Chi, Vietnam. A FDC (Fire Direction Center) sandbagged bunker of Battery D, 3rd Battalion, 13th Artillery, 25th Infantry Division. An M-577 Command-Post armored vehicle.
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