Reconstruction of activities that took place during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident 2-5 August 1964. USS Ticonderoga underway in the Gulf of Tonkin. Pilots in a ready room aboard the ship. They are being briefed by an officer. U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Roy H. Bowling, who is one of the pilots involved in air strike on North Vietnam. U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Render Crayton, another pilot involved in the air strike, seated in the ready room during the briefing. Lieutenant Er and Weber also in the ready room during the briefing. The Commanding Officer of the Squadron stands before a map of Vietnam and briefs the pilots.
Opening scene shows a message being received on a teletype machine from the U.S. 3rd Air Division. Two Air Force officers are seen seated at desks. One is labeled "Ops-Plans." The on duty operations officer passes on the message to his staff where it goes through operation, operation planning, maintenance, ordinance and armament. Technicians preparing the guns and loading ordnance for the mission, on a B-52 aircraft. Air crew members ate seen assembled in their briefing room, Glimpse of the mission briefing officer at a podium. View of wristwatch as narrator speaks of navigators synchronizing their watches. A B-52 crew stepping from their crew bus as they arrive at their aircraft. As other crew member climb aboard the plane, their aircraft commander reviews the aircraft status, as reflected on its Form 781, with the aircraft crew chief. Crew members then begins a pre-flight walk-around inspection, starting with the landing gear and wheel wells. The last of the crew enter the aircraft via a bottom hatch, which a ground crewman then fastens from the outside. Inside, crew members are seen going through pre-flight check lists at their respective duty stations. Back at the Command Post, the duty controller receives the order via secure telephone, from 3rd Air Division headquarters, to execute the mission. He informs the Aircraft Commander and the B-52 starts its engines. View of throttles being pushed forward in the cockpit, as the aircraft begins takeoff. View from ground as the B-52 takes off and flies overhead. Glimpse of the aircraft commander in the cockpit wearing helmet and oxygen mask. Hand of radar observer is seen as he checks out his equipment. Aerial closeup of a B-52 in flight. View of radar observer placing the aircraft controls in so-called "Second Station," with the autopilot controlled by the bombing navigation computer. Inflight closeup of B-52 opening its bomb bay doors and starting to drop bombs. Glimpse of the aircraft commander in cockpit and of B-52 aircraft in flight, as narrator states they are returning to U-Tapao Airbase,or to Guam. The aircraft in the mission are seen landing back at U-Tapao Airbase, Thailand, where other B-52s are parked on the ramp. They taxi to their parking places and crew members board buses back to operations for a mission debriefing.
Various scenes in unedited mix covering arrival of USO troupe aboard the USS Hancock. View of pilot in the cockpit of H-46 Sea Knight helicopter approaching the aircraft carrier USS Hancock ( CVA-19) as seen through the cockpit window. View from hovering helicopter as sailor crosses deck to assist landing. Sailors securing the chopper. Sailors gathered around USO Troupe members, and H-46 Sea Knight helicopter of HC-3 "Packrats.". Sailors and USO troupe members on flight deck overlooking open hangar deck below. Carrier island in background. Vought F-8 Crusader of Navy Squadron VF-24 on the flight deck. Douglas A-4F Skyahawk aircraft is seen displaying Logo of Squadron VA-212 ("Rampant Raiders"). USO troupe members walk about on deck. H-46 Sea Knight helicopter lands on the USS Hancock.
George Rhodes rehearses along with the orchestra and cast. USO troupe band member sings while playing guitar. George Rhodes seated next to him. Drummer plays drums. Musicians rehearse with a large mirror in the background.
AC-119G Gunship in flight. View of field on the ground.
American airman operates instrument inside AC-119G Gunship aircraft. Interiors of AC-119G Gunship show mini guns firing and expelled shell casing falling into hopper. Tracers streak towards target on water. Crewman tosses photoflash bomb from side door of the Gunship. The mini gun inside AC-119G Gunship fires.