U.S. Air Force (Strategic Air Command) B-52 bombers land back in the U.S. after 6 months deployment in Southeast Asia, during the Vietnam War. United States 306th Bomb Wing planes and crews return back to McCoy Air Force Base in Florida, and those of the 91st Bomb Wing return to Glasgow Air Force Base, in Montana. Both units had been operating out of Andersen Air Force Base, in Guam. The commander of 306th, Colonel Earl L. Johnson steps from the last B-52 to return to McCoy AFB. He meets his daughter and wife. Men take pictures in the background. Officers stand in the a group. He shakes hand with local officials. Crewmen with their luggage. A KC-135 Stratotanker taxis as it brings home ground crews and other support personnel. Relatives of the crewmen wait to meet them. They step from the plane. A banner reads '306th Bomb Wing Reception Center Happy Day'. The airmen enter a hangar and go through customs. The airmen meet their relatives. The scene changes from Florida, to Montana, where the final U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress of 91st Bomb wing arrives at Glasgow Air Force Base. "McNamara's Band," playing kazoos, pot, and other contrived instruments, greets the arrivals. Colonel George Phieffer Jr., Commander of 91st bomb Wing greets his wife and others. Ground crews and other support personnel also meet their families.
Film opens with still portrait of U.S. Strategic Air (SAC) Commander in Chief, General Thomas S. Power., who is heard saying "Peace is Our Profession." Signs outside SAC headquarters, bearing the same message. Glimpse of entry gate to the headquarters. View of Atlas missile displayed on the headquarters grounds. Closeups of the missile, at top and bottom. Air Force personnel manning phones in SAC Control Center, underground,at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Others are seen walking near extremely large wall displays. View of the main Control Center with officers at their respective stations. View of person entering past guards into the underground facility. A briefing officer climbs onto a moving platform that elevates him so he can brief the center personnel, while referring to one of the large wall displays. View of teletype machines receiving messages in the Center. Digital clocks show times in places like Guam and Alaska. The famous "Red Telephone" from which it is possible to launch the entire SAC strike force, all over the world, within seconds after warning of an enemy attack has been received at SAC Headquarters. B-47 bombers taxiing on a base. Closeups of some taxiing. A B-47 bomber taking off and flying high above the camera. Extreme closeup from outside of crew members in cockpit of B-47 in flight. Flight of three B-47s flying in formation.
Activity aboard United States battleship New Mexico before the invasion of Guam during World War 2. U.S. Sailors aboard the New Mexico recover fired and hot 5-inch powder cases in cans on board the ship. They place and stack cans on the deck of the ship.
Activity aboard United States battleship New Mexico before the invasion of Guam in Pacific Theater during World War 2. The New Mexico, BB-40, fires her 5-inch/51 casemate mounted guns. Time 00:28 shows a stern view of the battleship USS Mississippi, BB-41.
Activity aboard United States battleship New Mexico before the invasion of Guam in Pacific Theater during World War II. Men remove ammunition from the hoist aboard New Mexico. Men load shells in a 5 inch gun. United States battleship Colorado underway at sea with a LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) in the background. Smoke rises from the coast due to bombardment.
Activity aboard United States battleship New Mexico before the invasion of Guam in Pacific Theater during World War II. United States battleship Colorado underway at sea with LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) nearby. A kingfisher scout observation plane catapults from the battleship New Mexico. Men on the bridge of the ship look through binoculars. Shells drop in the sea. Landing craft underway at sea. Coast bombarded with 5 inch guns. Aerial views from U.S. aircraft of shells exploding on the coast and smoke rising. (Note: time codes 00:00 to 00:18 and then 00:34 to 00:42 show port side of the battleship USS Colorado, BB-45.)