Attack on Wotje Island, February 1, 1942. Crew members move F4F-3 Wildcat's and Douglas Dauntless SBD aircraft across crowded flight deck of the U.S. aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CV-6) during raid against Japanese positions in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, by Task Force 8, of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral William Frederick Halsey, Jr, during World War 2. Oversize U.S. stars are evident on the aircraft, at this early stage of the war (1942). Crewmen roll bombs, on dollies, across the deck. F4F Hellcat aircraft sit with engines running as some Douglas Dauntless aircraft commence take off. The destroyer USS Gridley, DD-380 passes abeam the Enterprise at time 00:37. A Curtiss SOC Seagull airplane catapults from the heavy cruiser USS Northampton, CA-26. Several U.S. aircraft seen in flight. View from stern of a U.S. heavy Cruiser as a destroyer crosses her wake, behind. The heavy cruiser USS Northampton, CA-26 and the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City, CA-25, in background (time 1:09 to 1:11) bombard Wotje island. Black smoke billows from a ship burning close to shore. Brief glimpse of the heavy cruiser USS Northampton, CA-26's triple battery of 8-inch guns. The heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City, CA-25 fires a broad side. Scene from the stern of heavy cruiser with fires burning on Wotje Island in background. Formation of Japanese aircraft attacking U.S. ships are fired upon by antiaircraft guns. Black flak bursts seen in the sky. Vice Admiral Halsey consulting with other officers aboard his flagship, USS Enterprise.
Nine F-84G planes in Taiwan. The Chinese Nationalist acrobatic team, the Thunder Tigers, taxies. The Thunder Tiger F-84G's takes off at Taiwan. Two sets of four and a single F-84G with a T-33 camera plane trail. The nine-planes of Thunder Tiger team in diamond formation over a building. Thunder Tiger F-84G's flies over. Thunder Tigers in a tight right echelon formation, peel off separately. Thunder Tigers in diamond formation. Thunder Tigers in diamond formation to the right and climb.
Splashes in water during an air demonstration for the President. A-1J plane in flight during demonstration. Flames on water from a Napalm drop. President's flag flying from yard. Ambassador Wright and Mrs Wright view air show from 010 levels during President's visit aboard ship. Ambassador Wright and Mrs Wright. The Republic of China flag on ship. F-8C plane and A-4B aircraft make an arrested landing. F-8C planes catted. Three in air in matter of seconds, followed by a fourth F-8C. F-4B aircraft catted.
A number of F9F aircraft destroyed due to fire in hangar deck of United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Boxer (CV-21) off the coast of Korea, during the Korean War. Saiors push a destroyed F9F aircraft over the side of the ship. A destroyer comes along side the carrier.
Scene opens aboard the U.S. Aircraft Carrier, USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) as crews position several Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircrafton steam catapults under the direction of a yellow shirt aircraft handling officer. Next, the aircraft are seen being launched. Camera follows one leaving the flight deck and proceeding over the water. Closeup of deck crew working down under an aircraft as it moves into position for launch. View from above the flight deck shows two A-4 aircraft on catapults. Tail code AB on the closest one identifies it as belonging to Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1). Scene shifts to a catapult crew preparing an Vought F-8E Crusader aircraft for catapulting. Three crew work at the front and two at the back of the aircraft. They fasten the bridle cable. View of the aircraft being catapulted. Narrator identifies Kenneth Wilson, launch crew hold back man who is fastening the tension bar to the tail of the plane while men at the front are hooking up to the catapult shuttle. Closeup of the tension bar holding the aircraft back, while engines are set at full power. View of catapult control panel, as it is fired and the holdback bar releases. Next an F-8 of Squadron VF-11 taxis into position, and is likewise prepared for catapulting. An F-8E viewed from the front as it launches. Cables sliding back across the deck after launch where green shirts viewed through steam rising from catapults attend to them. View from cockpit of an aircraft taxiing onto the catapult. An F-8E taxied into position and readied to launch. View of pilot in cockpit. deck crew members signaling. Aircraft is launched. An E-1B propeller-driven early warning aircraft of Squadron VAW-12 taxis onto a catapult. Views of the green shirts setting its cables for catapulting. Remainder of film is a montage of catapulting from viewpoint of green shirts setting cables and aircraft launching. At end, the launches are completed (24 planes in 12 minutes) and the deck crews get a well-earned respite.
Operations aboard U.S. Navy's USS Constellation (CVA-64) at Yankee Station, Vietnam. A-4C aircraft moves onto catapult. Men on deck. Plane ready for launch. Aircraft in flight. A-4C aircraft launched from Number two catapult. Island in the far background. F-4B aircraft launched from angled deck. Catapult console operator with raised hands. He lowers his hands and presses a button. A-4C launched. RA-5C aircraft moves on catapult. Catapult crew under aircraft. Men hook up and check bridle. Men leave the area. RA-5C aircraft being launched from number one catapult. Catapult console operator on deck. F-4B aircraft ready for launch. C-2A aircraft comes in for recovery. Men wearing yellow shirt in the foreground. Plane rolls out with area. C-2A taxis toward in front of island. A-6A aircraft towed over deck by tractor. F-4B parked at deck edge between two other F-4B aircraft.