The twenty millionth automobile by Ford on display in Nashville, Tennessee. The twenty millionth Ford, a black Town Sedan, parked at the steps of War Memorial building. A crowd gathers around the car. Men come out of the building and come down the steps to the car. The men shake hands. A man signs a register. The twenty millionth Ford drives off. The car parked at the base of the steps of a building. Men reach into the back seat for logbook. Men come down the stairs. The men shake hands. One of them holds the license plate '20 millionth' and signs the log.
Wide-ranging review of U.S. Navy aircraft operational in 1941. Formation of U.S. Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft in flight. One enters shallow dive and emits smoke as a screen for warships during training exercise. Nine U.S. Navy Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers peel off from echelon formation and dive toward the sea, as the Douglas SBD Dauntless emitting smoke skims over the water. A glimpse of the Aircraft Carrier, USS Enterprise (CV-6) is seen in the background. The TBDs launch their attack under cover of the smoke screen. They drop their torpedoes low over the water and climb out past the USS Enterprise. Her deck is empty. Large formations of U.S. Navy SBD and TBD aircraft fly overhead. TBD and SBD aircraft are seen landing on the Enterprise. Deck crews and signal officers, with paddles, are seen at work. An F4F lands on the flight deck. Deck crews position the aircraft, after landing, and chock their wheels. Plane captains attend to their aircraft, including refueling them. Scene shifts to land base, where mechanics work on various aircraft, including a PBM Mariner flying boat. At TC: 03:13, a U.S. Navy JRS-1 flying boat is seen in flight. (This is a Sikorsky S-43, Baby Clipper. The Navy had about 15, or so, of these, just prior to World War 2.) A mechanic is sitting on the nose of this aircraft performing some task, while in flight. (Clearly, the aircraft is capable of very slow flight.) Next seen is a Navy N3N trainer plane; an SNJ (North American T-6 Texan); Several Consolidated PB2 Coronados; PBY amphibian; Vought Kingfisher;Grumman F4F Wildcat;formation of Douglas TBD Devastators;formation of Douglas SBD Dauntless; and closeup of SBD with canopies open and pilot and rear gunner visible. Brief view of Lexington-class aircraft carrier.
The entire ship's company is seen assembling on the deck of a South Dakota class battleship (possibly the USS Indiana) during World War 2. Her 16-inch guns,in a triple turret,loom over the assemblage. (The gun barrels appear to have bronze collars around their bases.) A variety of other vessels, including U.S. warships, are anchored in the background. The location is somewhere in the Pacific. The Navy Captain, assuming command of the ship, and an Admiral step upon a platform, followed by the Captain,being relieved of command, who salutes the Admiral, and steps back. The Admiral addresses the assemblage. Then the Captain assuming command, reads his orders. A cloud of black smoke appears momentarily in the background. Camera pans to Gun turret and ship's superstructure above heads of the sailors. The Admiral and two Captains join the ship's company in saluting (perhaps as national anthem is played). Scene shifts to two Navy officers wearing garrison caps, posing on the ship, and shaking hands. Waters of a bay and hills are in background. Camera then shows the new ship's Captain and the Admiral walking past some of the ship's officers, as the ceremony is ended.
Evaluation of Japanese bomb-carrying balloons sent across the Pacific to the United States by Japan during World War 2. Gun camera footage of American fighter planes from Aleutian Island bases firing at Japanese balloons en route to the Pacific coast of the United States. A balloon bomb which reached the shores of the United States. but did not explode is examined by United States Army soldiers. They unfold the rice paper parachute portion of the balloon and examine its construction. Close-up views of the balloon control mechanism are shown, including a circular frame that would hold anti-personnel and incendiary bombs. Details of the wet cell battery and ballast weights are shown, including barometric aneroid switches which would operate to release ballast from simple hooks, as needed, to control balloon altitude. Narrator indicates it is believed the main purpose of the bombs was to start brush and forest fires.
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, visits the U.S. Army Base at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Shah Pahlavi climbs onto a tank and inspects others. He watches a firepower demonstration showing tanks with flame throwers. He reviews troop formation while standing in a jeep, and then on foot. Troops parade. Troops hold flags of U.S. and Iran.
Launching of German V2 rockets (guided missiles) from Peenemunde, Usedom island, Germany, during World War 2. German V-2 in launching position, technicians and equipment in area are preparing to launch the missile. Two civilian technicians and a uniformed German military officer walk across launch area toward V-2 rocket. Workers and technicians gathered around the V-2 base. The missile about to be launched. Smoke emitted from the exhaust section. Launching of V-2. Launching pit at Peenemunde showing a V-2 prior to launching. Rocket engine starts, rocket begins to rise slightly, and then the V2 rocket topples over and explodes in the launching pit. Another scene showing the successful launching of a German V-2 guided ballistic missile. Brief view of a street in England showing results of a V-2 impact on surrounding buildings. Scene of devastation and rubble from V-2 rocket explosion. Two British boys hand a chair to one another across rubble. Another V-2 impact site in England, United Kingdom, showing a row of houses with one or two completely destroyed a rocket.
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