Midway-class aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Atlantic Ocean during Operation Long Step. Flight deck crew re-spots the aircraft aft in readiness for next launch. A lineup of U.S. Navy F2H Banshees wait to be spotted aft. Three-inch gun crew stand during condition watch. Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Leyte in the background. A U.S. Navy HUP helicopter lands aboard USS FDR. A pilot sits in a Banshee aircraft awaiting his turn to be moved in position over a catapult. F2H-2s warm up. F2H Banshees in position on catapults ready for launching. Handling and catapult crew stand in assigned positions between airplanes during jet launchings. The jets being catapulted. A helicopter aboard USS FDR during the launching of the aircraft.
Midway-class aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Atlantic Ocean during Operation Long Step. U.S. Navy F4U-4 Corsairs lined up ready for a signal to take off. AD type aircraft and F4U-4s get the signal for take off. The airplanes take off. An LSO (Landing Signal Officer) brings in a F2H-2 Banshee. The Banshee taxis. An AD-4 Skyraider approaches the stern of the ship for landing aboard USS FDR. F2H Banshee airplanes in flight, awaiting turn to land aboard the aircraft carrier. They fly in formation over Baltimore-class heavy cruiser USS Columbus CL-74. Captain George W. Anderson CO (Commanding Officer) of USS FDR views operations from the bridge. Commander T.F. Caldwell enters with a message which they discuss.
Aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Atlantic Ocean during Operation Long Step. Heavy cruiser USS Des Moines CA-134 sends a blinker-light signal to USS FDR. Aircraft being spotted aft. USS Des Moines underway through rough seas southwest of Sardinia. Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Leyte's helicopter returns to the ship. USS Des Moines underway. Airplanes on flight deck of FDR in the foreground. A quartermaster sends USS Leyte a flashing-light signal. The quartermaster sends a message to heavy cruiser USS Columbus. USS Columbus answering USS FDR's message. Flight deck crew takes a break during Operation Long Step. Gearing-class destroyer USS Myles C. Fox, DD-829, airplane guard for USS Roosevelt, takes heavy seas over her bow during rough weather south of Malta. Two guardians stand by on station. USS Myles C. Fox in the background. Silhouette: USS FDR's helicopter U.S. Navy HUP being tied down to the flight deck. Sea and spray falling over the flight deck of USS FDR as it is underway south of the island of Malta. Views of aircraft on the flight deck.
Midway-class aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Atlantic Ocean during Operation Long Step. A U.S. Navy AD-4 Skyraider aircraft makes an approach to land and gets a wave-off from an LSO (Landing signal Officer). USS FDR's island structure. The AD-4 Skyraider being re spotted by airplane handler. An airplane handling crew re spots a U.S. Navy F4U-4 Corsair in readiness for next launch.
Midway-class aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Atlantic Ocean during Operation Long Step. A pilot steps into a U.S. Navy F2H-2P Banshee and his airplane captain assists him with harness and strap. The pilot sits in readiness prior to launch while his airplane captain cleans the windshield. Jets on the flight deck being readied for launch. An airplane guard destroyer in the background. Silhouette: Essex-class aircraft carrie USS Leyte, heavy cruiser USS Columbus and escorting destroyers in formation. A U.S. Navy AJ-1 (Savage) aircraft lands aboard USS FDR. The Savage aircraft spotted forward. A rocket cart loaded with 5" rockets being wheeled aft. Ordnance men secure 5" rockets under wings of Banshees. A large water spout beyond a destroyer escort during the operations. Island structure of USS FDR. F2H-2 Banshee aircraft from USS Roosevelt flying in formation past the ship. A F2H-2 landing aboard, passes the island forward to the elevator.
The freighter, Flying Enterprise, is seen listing some 80 degrees to port in the windswept approaches to the British Isles. After suffering damage from a storm on December 28th, she had been taken under tow toward England,by a succession of ocean-going tugs over a period of 15 days. Her present position is only about 30 miles from the coast of England, but her tow line has parted and she is foundering. Closeups of "Flying Enterprise" and "Isbrandtsen" painted on her hull. (Narrator states that the Captain, Henrik Kurt Carlsen,is still aboard.) Aerial view of several other ships around the stricken vessel. Officers and crew of the destroyer, USS Willard Keith (DD-775), are seen firing a line to the Flying Enterprise. Heavy seas are flowing over the foredeck of the destroyer. Another view of the listing ship. (During these scenes, Captain Carlsen is heard on the radio, in the background, describing the circumstances leading to their present trouble.) More views of the Flying Enterprise, helpless and battered by wind and seas, before eventually sinking (not seen). Narrator states that Captain Carlson was rescued. (Note: This ill-fated trip which ended in the sinking of the old Liberty Ship made world-wide news when it turned out that she was carrying paper money.)