Film opens with views of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) radar installation at Thule, Greenland. View of two airmen walking underneath one of the huge antennas. Scene shifts to the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command (SAC) Command Post at Offutt Air Force Base, in Nebraska, where data from the BMEWS system is displayed on its monitors. The SAC Senior Controller, a Colonel, is seen on the "gray phone," via which he can communicate directly with various SAC entities. More views of BMEWS radar facilities. Back at the SAC Command Post, the camera focuses on the Operations Officer Controller, a Major, occupying number 4 controller position. He is seen talking on the gray phone. He presses a button labeled "Pease" (for Pease Air Force Force Base). View of his assistant (A master Sergeant). Next a flight of F-105 Thunderchief aircraft are seen closeup in formation with a SAC KC-135 tanker, from which one is receiving inflight refueling. View further away of the four F-105s and their tanker. Back at the Command Post, a Captain and a master Sergeant are keeping track of logistics affecting SAC worldwide. View of ordnance being transported on a SAC flightline. An officer and NCO on phones, and airmen on duty at switchboards of the SAC worldwide communications network encompassing ground lines of telephone, teletype, plus low frequency, high frequency, and ultra high frequency radio links. Switch board operator plugging in lines on the board. Camera pans over the controllers' positions at the command post. The Senior Controller (Colonel) asks the Operations Officer Controller (Major) to do a maintenance test of the primary alert system, whereupon, the Major lifts the red phone, and announces a test of all stations. Aerial view of SAC B-52 bombers parked on hardstands at an alert facility. Inside the alert area, SAC crew members are seen in their billets, where they stand 15 minute ground alert. One is playing a guitar, while the other is reading a manual. A partially open Minuteman missile silo, and a Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic missile (ICBM) silo opening with its missile being raised. A missile control crew inside the complex. More views of the SAC command and control center, at Offutt Air Force Base.
During World War 1, a French naval aviator climbs into the hull of a Franco-British Aviation Type H flying boat, marked F.B.A. #8. Another crew member is already aboard and the engine is running. They taxi out in the water and take off in the aircraft. As they taxi for takeoff, a Breguet 14H float plane lands in background. Aerial views from the airborne F.B.A. Type H, showing boats in the water below. Next are seen two voisin 3 float planes taxiing slowly in water. A Viosin 3 float plane taxis rapidly up onto a wooden ramp. (WWI. WW1)
U.S. aircraft carriers in the Sea of Japan. Launch of carrier-based missions to attack Japanese shipping and airfields in World War II. Aircraft readying on carrier deck including F6F Hellcats, TBF Avenger, and SB2C Helldivers. Scenes of attacks by U.S. aircraft on Japanese targets in Tokyo Bay, seen via gun camera footage. U.S. Navy fighter aircraft returning to land on carrier have accidents. One lands but overshoots and runs off the end of the deck and into the ocean, striking another aircraft on the way. Another fighter aircraft is seen landing on a carrier deck but the supplemental fuel tank beneath it detaches and explodes and the plane erupts into flames. The burned pilot is rushed to safety by crews and firefighting crews battle the blaze. Scenes of dead American sailors and airmen being buried at sea.
Opening scene shows a ship at sea seen through cloud filled sky from an aircraft flying above it. Closer aerial view from below clouds. Change of scene to Japanese sailors in Dress White uniforms gathered on the deck of an aircraft carrier, underway at sea. Four heavy gun barrels swung to port on a Japanese warship at sea. Her high speed creates a heavy bow wave. Japanese Naval Ensign aloft on ship's mast. Naval officers, in Dress whites, on the bridge of a Japanese warship. A Japanese Commander at a table with other officers aboard a warship. Japanese sailors busy on deck cleaning and maintaining the ship. Closeup of a Mitsubishi F1M reconnaissance float plane aboard a Japanese war ship. Closeups of several Japanese Navy pilots in flight gear on deck of a ship. They climb aboard Mitsubishi F1M float planes. One is seen catapulted off the ship. It returns flying overhead toward the camera. View of the Japanese battleship, Ise, underway at sea. View from a Japanese warship, of a Kawanishi H6K flying boat passing low overhead.
Nine Japanese Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" planes, in triangle formation, fly over the Japanese battleship, Nagato. Japanese officers seen on the bridge, including Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who is seen using binoculars. His Admiral's flag flies above the Japanese Naval Ensign on the mast of the battleship. Ship's Officers assembled on the bridge, review charts. Several officers on deck using instruments to determine sun elevation. Sailor sends blinker light signal. Another sends semaphore flag signals. A Japanese submarine is seen moving on the surface parallel to the course of the battleship. Japanese sailors at various lookouts using binoculars. A bugler blows call to battle stations. Nagato's 45-caliber 41-centimeter (16 inch) guns swing to port firing position. Crew members hurry to battle stations. View of engine room with pistons moving and sailor at controls. Camera pans heavy wake from the ship and focuses on starboard bow wave and then shifts views to wakes astern. A flight of three open cockpit Mitsubishi A5M ("Claude") aircraft is seen overhead. A Mitsubishi F1M reconnaissance float plane passes close overhead. Glimpse of a warship's gun barrels. Several Mitsubishi A5M aircraft fly low overhead. Sailors wearing gas masks watch from a warship. Several different views of warships firing antiaircraft guns during training drill. A pair of A5M aircraft fly by as antiaircraft guns fire. A pair of Mitsubishi F1M reconnaissance float planes pass. Smoke is seen coming from interior of ship. Sailors in gas masks rush to the source. Crewmen below decks don gas masks as part of the drill. Smoke obscures much ot the next scenes. View from deck of ship shows two 16-inch guns and heavy smoke (from funnels of battleships). Line of destroyers seen following behind other warships. Various views of heavy wakes from ships underway.
USS Wasp flight operations in the Pacific Theater. F4F aircraft landing on the flight deck. It crashes as the wheel collapses. It crashes into barriers. Men running towards the plane. SB2U aircraft crashes into barrier aboard the Wasp. Another SB2U aircraft landing aboard the Wasp.