View of earth taken from a V-2 rocket 80 to 100 miles above earth surface in New Mexico. Area around White Sands is seen. Desert and mountains are also seen. Curvature of earth visible. Images blur and out of focus due to unstable and rotating rocket.
Crewmen on weather deck area of USS Mansfield (DD-728) in Vietnam. He and others wear flak jackets and helmets. Below him in background, the Mansfield fires a salvo to port, from a pair of her forward 5-inch guns. View downward to port side of lower deck, where empty shell casings are seen near the railing. The ship raises a sharp bow wave as she makes way at high speed. The USS Hanson (DD-832) a Gearing class Destroyeris seen at some distance. It maneuvers about and comes closer to the Mansfield (from which the photos are being taken). Wind is picking up and white caps appear on the water. Ensign G J Groves, is seen at the Mk 37 Director position above the bridge of the Mansfield. Views of him communicating from that position. A sailor mans an M2 50 cal machine gun set up at a railing of the Mansfield. He sights the weapon but does not fire. An officer appears wearing a black cap with gold "scrambled eggs" on the bill and "Comdes Div, 152" inscribed on the front (Commander Destroyer Division 152). He issues some instructions to crew members. (Note: Records indicate that the Captain of the USS Mansfield was Commander Donald P. Nellis during this period.)
First half of the film shows explosions along the shore from U.S. naval gunfire. The explosions appear to indicate various types of munitions being used, including occasional bursts of white phosphorus shells. At TC:2:08, the U.S. Destroyer USS Mansfield (DD-728) is seen engaged in the bombardment. View from her bridge shows her 5-inch/38 guns turned to port and firing a salvo from the forward pair of guns. Thereafter the remainder of the film shows more views of her shells striking along the shore. Mountains are seen close to the shore in the background.
Opening scenes, photographed from the USS Mansfield (DD-728), shows a U.S. Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer bombarding the Vietnamese coast, during Operation Sea Dragon in the Vietnam War. Next, a sailor is seen looking through binoculars at the Mk 37 Director position above the bridge of the Mansfield. Closeup of the gun director. Next the Mansfield fires a salvo to port from one of her forward twin 8-inch guns. Smoke is seen above the shoreline. More views of the gun director punctuated by more salvos from the 8-inch guns. Closeup of gun barrels as they fire. Sailors on deck watching as smoke from firing drifts away. View forward from amidship, showing sailors looking over railing. A Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun (M2) dominates foreground, where it is affixed to the ship railing. More salvos are fired from the Mansfield's forward guns. Shells strike the shore area.
German aircraft of WW 2. A German Heinkel 100 prototype fighter takes off, with rocket assist. (The smoke is visible only as it passes dark trees in background.) The aircraft retracts landing gear and makes high speed pass over the Airfield. Two Messerschmitt Me 109s fly low over the Airfield. Focke-Wulf Fw 190 parked on grass with engine running. Pair of FW-190s make formation takeoff. Me-109s, Ju-87's and FW-190s in various formations and maneuvers. A Junkers 188 with Technician working on it, then making a high speed pass and climb. A Focke Wulf 200 Condor Taxis by through puddles.
German slates refer to the dream of "Northern" people to fly, fulfilled by aircraft development. Scenes from Paris airshow in 1908, when it was a feature of the automobile show that year. Hangars bear names of aircraft companies: Bleriot; Vetze and others, with historic vintage airplanes of the period parked on the grass in front of each. A man plays with a dog in the grass. Spectators are seated in stands set up in the background. Scene shifts to 1935, where a long row of German aircraft are shown parked with engines running. Then it shifts to 1943, during World War 2, with a long line of German Messerschmitt aircraft parked with engines running. An animated map shows air lines of communication emanating from center of Germany and extending throughout Europe. Huge formations of German warplanes are seen in flight.
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