An interview of United States Air Force Lieutenant General Ira Eaker conducted by Dr. Maurer in the United States. General Eaker talks about daylight precision bombing, British and U.S. night and daylight bombing. He says that a few United States Army Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses Could survive against several German aircraft. He further states that if they reduced the number of these aircraft by razing factories, then they didn't have to worry about German bombers.
A film on the life of U.S. Navy sailors aboard ships in the United States. The sailors undergo a training exercise where they are firing ships guns at balloon targets while at sea.The sailors aboard a ship. They aim ships guns at target ballon. The balloon is released. They fire at the balloon. Smoke rises. The sailors load and fire the guns. A man looks through binoculars.
Strategic Air Command (SAC) Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. Views of the so-called "Scramble Horn." When sounded, SAC aircrews, standing alert, must immediately respond to their aircraft ready to take off on a mission. The horn, atop wooden beams, near power lines, appears approximately 5 feet in diameter and resembles a power line insulator.
Aerial views of the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. Atlas - the first operational intercontinental ballistic missile, erected in front of the building. USAF written on the missile. Cars parked near the building. Air Force personnel near the missile.
United States Air Force training film about Space Communications and the related problems and developments. Animation: Planets, remotely controlled unmanned space research vehicles in space. Space communication links between the vehicles and Earth. Radio waves are reflected, refracted and absorbed. An antenna radiates waves that are dispersed. Communication and light waves on the frequency spectrum. Groundwave and Skywave transmission explained. Skywave transmission reflected back to Earth by the ionized layers in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Bouncing of signal in optimal conditions. Spacewave travels from transmitting to receiving antenna, and travels unaffected through the ionosphere into outer planetary space. Depicts laws that govern Line of Sight transmission: Relation between power transmitted and power received, and ideal and regular conditions. Explains the factors involved in the relation between the power transmitted and received. Comparison of communication and light waves. Inverse Square Law explained. The law applied to Space Communication: Signal generated from point source, energy dispersed in shape of sphere, energy spreads over expanding spherical area. Outlines a practical approach to strengthen received power: Directing the radiating energy, and enlarging area of the receiving antenna.
Space Communications and the related problems and developments. Animation: Final formula expressing the relation between power transmitted and power received. Comparison of the distance between Earth and the moon, and Earth and Pluto. Factors effecting Space Communication. Payload factor: Effect of payload weight of a communication equipment, transport of equipment, need for small and light equipment. Limitations in miniaturization of components: Inaccessibility in term of maintenance and service. Depicts longevity of power based on available power sources. Advantages and drawbacks of chemical batteries, solar batteries, nuclear batteries. States methods for reducing power consumption: equipping vehicles with command transponders. Factors effecting Sapce Communication: Spatial environment and equipment used. Example of information required to study the planet Venus: atmospheric composition, surface temperature changes and exact period of rotation. Explains spatial movement and solution for this factor: Placing four equally spaced terrestrial stations around the globe, joint by reliable communication links for continuity and data reception.