During the Vietnam War, airmen are seen lifting a Night Observation Device (NOD) or Starlite Scope, into an AC-130 Gunship. Closeup of airman's hand fastening cable connection and sleeve, to install it. Views of two airmen connecting additional cables as part of the installation. One of the airmen seated at the controls rotates the unit around and checks its vertical motions. He tightens two connections and then steps away from the unit.
Animated map of Pacific region shows sphere of Japanese influence and potential areas for Japan to control in the Southwest Pacific during World War 2. Majority of scenes are from before outbreak of World War 2. Final scenes of clip include invasion scenes. Clip begins with pre-war views of city life and streets of Manila, Philippines and Filipino people. Scene changes to Hong Kong under British, and scenes of port area and buildings near port. Chinese civilians on busy city streets of Hong Kong. Views of jungle areas in Malaysia. Views of buildings and temple landmarks in Bangkok, Thailand. A car and a rickshaw pass by with temples in background. Thai tanks and Thai soldiers marching through the streets of Bangkok as civilians watch soldiers in Thailand on parade. Aircraft in skies over Bangkok during parade. Scene changes to Makassar on Celebes and people on streets in city of Indonesia. Views of port of Singapore, pre-war. Elevated views of city of Singapore and City Council offices. Buildings and traffic along busy streets in Singapore. View of the General Post Office (GPO or Fullerton Building.) Scene changes to Sumatra with port views and three float planes of flying boat aircraft flying overhead in formation. Final scenes of clip focus on Japanese offensive maneuvers during World War 2: Japanese fleet at sea and Japanese aircraft in skies overhead. Japanese soldiers boarding landing craft from transports. View from inside Japanese landing craft of Japanese soldiers preparing to go ashore on a beach landing. Japanese soldiers invading an area in the Pacific under cover of naval bombardment. Japanese soldiers firing machine guns and rifles. Japanese infantry charging. Animated map of Pacific region. Japanese aircraft bombing Port Darwin in Australia.
U.S. airborne troops training in hand-to-hand combat; scaling obstacles; crawling under barbed wire; and parachuting from C-130 aircraft. Paratoopers jump from aircraft and view of sky filled with parachutes and aircraft. Paratroopers landing on the frozen tundra in Alaska, and jumping from U.S. Air Force C-124 Globemaster aircraft, over the ice cap in Greenland. In February, 1956, U.S. Army paratroopers jump from Air Force C-119 aircraft during SEATO Operation "Firm Link," in Thailand. Civilians in Thailand watch the demonstrations, in which one of the paratroopers is forced to use his auxiliary chute when his main chute fails. Military General officers of Southeast Treaty Organization nations watch the demonstrations. U.S. Army airborne units practicing assault resupply techniques with NATO forces in Germany, supported by helicopters and light utility airplanes. Supplies being airdropped with parachutes to the resupply location. At Fort Bliss, Texas, a radio controlled drone plane equipped with a parachute (possibly a Radioplane OQ-14 or similar from slightly later generation), acts as a target for tank crews. When hit, the drone parachutes to earth. A different U.S. Army reconnaissance drone is launched from a catapult as a U.S. Army soldier stands nearby controlling its ascent with remote control joystick. Aerial footage shot by the drone is shown, revealing scenes on the ground useful to field commanders. The drone, with it's camera, returns to base and gently parachutes to be recovered.
USAF personnel eat in modular dining hall at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield in Thailand. Dining hall is filled with U.S. Airmen patrons, seated at tables during mealtime.Thai women in orange uniforms are busing the tables. Several U.S. Airmen stand holding trays in the serving line.They proceed through the line taking food items along the way. Dining hall workers serve them hot items from steam tables.A Thai woman fills glasses with ice and water.
Interview of U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Joseph M Valenti, Commander of 618th Military Airlift Support Squadron about the impact of C-5 in South East Asia, conducted at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand. The Colonel starts to answer a question and fluffs his line. He contrasts the short time airlift takes to deliver to a war zone, with that required by surface shipping in the past. Colonel Valenti discusses the difficulties of operating with personnel who are on one-year tours of duty in a war zone. He stresses training as the key to successful operations. In his discourse, Valenti fluffs his lines several times, and asks if they should continue with the filmed interview (which they do).
K-loader behind C-5A, and moving to rear of aircraft at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand. Some officers stand at Air Base. Thais and U.S. Airmen, of 6th Aerial Port Squadron, pushing cargo pallets and jet engines on dollies from C-5A across K-loader and onto trailer. Men pulling cargo.