As film starts, three U.S. Air Force ground crewmen are seen standing at attention in front of their Republic F-84 Thunderjet aircraft at Wiesbaden Air Force Base, Germany during Exercise Cirrus. The aircraft are parked on pierced steel planking (Marsden matting). They are approached by Lieutenant General Lauris Norstad, Commander in chief, USAFE (U.S. Air forces Europe) with additional duty as commanding general of the Allied Air Forces in Central Europe under the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe. The General, accompanied by a Colonel, stops to speak briefly with the three airmen as an Air Force photographer circles them taking pictures. Norstad continues to another F-84 and ground crew, where he also speaks with them, spending more time with one who is a Master Sergeant. Then he and the Colonel turn and exchange salutes with some Italian Air Force officers as they walk past them. Next three 1950 Buick sedans are seen pulling away from the edge of a taxiway, where they were parked. The drive past the camera on the taxiway. In the final scene, General Norstad is seen conversing with members of his staff, standing next to luggage lined up beside them under a C-54 transport plane.
Film begins showing an auxiliary power unit under the wing of a Republic F-84 Thunderjet parked on Marsden matting at Wiesbaden Air Force Base in Germany, during Exercise Cirrus. A ground crewman uncoils the electric cable from the unit and plugs it into a receptacle under the aircraft wing. View of the man crouching below the wing. He then stands and starts the power unit. The aircraft's crew chief's name, "T/Sgt G.Cavert," is stenciled beneath the cockpit. Scene changes to an F-84 sitting alone on the airfield. Tents are seen in the background. A ground crewman approached the aircraft, climbs a ladder, opens latches securing the machine gun compartment, and raises the compartment cover forward, exposing the M3 browning machine guns inside. Closeup of the man sitting atop the open compartment.Camera focuses on his hands as he pries some cartridges from a gun and closes its cover.
British Royal Navy Supermarine Attacker F1 aircraft is seen approaching to land on the U.S. Aircraft Carrier, USS Antietam (CVA-36) during British Navy practice carrier operations using her angled flight deck, in 1953. Anti-aircraft guns on the Antietam are seen in foreground. The aircraft bounces upon touchdown and immediately continues in a touch and go landing. Another (or the same) Supermarine aircraft repeats a similar touch and go landing. A third British Attacker aircraft approaches to land, but rounds out too high and simply goes around. The next one seen executes a perfect touch and go but the one behind it fails to "touch" before continuing, as does the next one trying a touch and go. The next one makes a smooth touch down before proceeding to go. The final scene shows a Supermarine Attacker F1 aircraft touching down and staying there, in a full stop landing employing arresting gear.
Flight deck operations aboard USS Ranger underway in the Pacific Ocean during the Vietnam War. U.S. Navy A4D Skyhawk touching down and taxiing on the deck. U.S. Navy F8U Crusader making arrested landing. The F8U aircraft touching down for the arrested landing.
Loading activities aboard the United States aircraft carrier Bataan in San Diego, California. Mule tractor pulls a U.S. Air Force F-84 away from the parking area on quay wall towards Bataan. A man gets into the cockpit of the aircraft as it is being pulled to the aircraft carrier. A F-84 being hoisted aboard the carrier Bataan. Aircraft on the flight deck of the carrier.
Loading activities aboard the United States aircraft carrier Bataan in San Diego, California United States Air Force F-84 being hoisted aboard the carrier Bataan. Aircraft on the flight deck of the carrier. F-84 being loaded onto the deck of the carrier Bataan.
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