Wide-ranging review of U.S. Navy aircraft operational in 1941. Formation of U.S. Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft in flight. One enters shallow dive and emits smoke as a screen for warships during training exercise. Nine U.S. Navy Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers peel off from echelon formation and dive toward the sea, as the Douglas SBD Dauntless emitting smoke skims over the water. A glimpse of the Aircraft Carrier, USS Enterprise (CV-6) is seen in the background. The TBDs launch their attack under cover of the smoke screen. They drop their torpedoes low over the water and climb out past the USS Enterprise. Her deck is empty. Large formations of U.S. Navy SBD and TBD aircraft fly overhead. TBD and SBD aircraft are seen landing on the Enterprise. Deck crews and signal officers, with paddles, are seen at work. An F4F lands on the flight deck. Deck crews position the aircraft, after landing, and chock their wheels. Plane captains attend to their aircraft, including refueling them. Scene shifts to land base, where mechanics work on various aircraft, including a PBM Mariner flying boat. At TC: 03:13, a U.S. Navy JRS-1 flying boat is seen in flight. (This is a Sikorsky S-43, Baby Clipper. The Navy had about 15, or so, of these, just prior to World War 2.) A mechanic is sitting on the nose of this aircraft performing some task, while in flight. (Clearly, the aircraft is capable of very slow flight.) Next seen is a Navy N3N trainer plane; an SNJ (North American T-6 Texan); Several Consolidated PB2 Coronados; PBY amphibian; Vought Kingfisher;Grumman F4F Wildcat;formation of Douglas TBD Devastators;formation of Douglas SBD Dauntless; and closeup of SBD with canopies open and pilot and rear gunner visible. Brief view of Lexington-class aircraft carrier.
Recruitment advertisement for the United States Navy within the U.S. military. Teenage boy exits diner and sweeps stoop of diner with broom. Aerial view of Grumman F9 Cougar jet aircraft flying in formation. Mechanics on aircraft carrier examine Grumman F9 jet. Sailors in Japan at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan. Sailor typing message on typewriter while wearing headphones. Flight director in aircraft carrier guiding Grumman F9 aircraft. Nurse and doctor confer with patient in bed in hospital. Sailor operates signal light. Grumman F9 Panther jets taking off from aircraft carrier. Narrator urges viewer to "see your Navy recruiter today."
U.S. Task Force 38.3 in Leyte Gulf during Battle of Leyte in World War II. Captain C.W. Wieber talks to pilots aboard USS Essex (CV-9) underway. U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat fighter crash lands on flight deck of Essex. F6F approaches and lands on deck.
U.S. Task Force 38.3 in Leyte Gulf during Battle of Leyte in World War II. U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat fighters with folded wings parked on deck of carrier. Pilot talks to his gunner after strike. F6F lands on flight deck. Men wheel 2,000 lb. bomb no dolly.
Rescue of Marine Corps pilot, Milton H. Vedder, who was shot down on April 25, 1943, in an aerial battle over Vangunu, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, during World War 2. View from a U.S. Navy PBY Catalina flying boat as it takes off and then flies low over islands and water. Two Marine F4U Corsairs are seen flying escort above the PBY. View from the PBY as it lands on the water and taxis past a native shack while approaching Segi Point shoreline. Crewman on PBY looks through binoculars. Native canoe approaches with Lieutenant Vedder. Native and beach observer in a boat. Man in hat is probably coast watcher Donald Kennedy. Rescued pilot Lieutenant Milton N. Vedder, in boat, smokes a cigarette. View from PBY as it takes off. Vedder and others conversing inside the PBY. Several views of the two U.S. Marine F4U Corsair fighter escort aircraft. Other F4Us are seen in distance. (Note: reportedly, the two escorting F4U Corsairs were flown, respectively, by Major Weissenberger, the Commanding Officer, and Major Leary, both from Lt. Vedder's squadron, VMF-213. )
A formation of Douglas SBD-3 aircraft is seen flying overhead. Pilots of U.S. Navy Fighter Squadron (VF-3) on their Aircraft Carrier, the USS Yorktown (CV-5), after a mission during the Battle of Midway. They are seen climbing out of their aircraft after parking on the flight deck. The Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Commander John S. Thatch, in cockpit of his F4F aircraft with 7 Japanese flags painted on its fuselage. in out of sequence, earlier shot, he holds up four fingers in response to question of how many Japanese aircraft fell to VF-3, on this mission. Other VF-3 pilots climbing from their aircraft. Three pose in front of an F4F.