Film titled "Service group" on the workings of the United States Army Air Force Service Group in World War II, and their role in keeping remote air force landing strips supplied and in good repair during World War 2. Aerial view of United States Army Air Force B-25 Mitchell medium bombers in formation over an enemy target area. Bombs away view as the B-25 aircraft release bombs over the coastal target area and explosions are seen on the ground. Aerial view of a partially sunken ship off of a Pacific island. A P-40 Warhawk fighter aircraft landing at a Pacific combat air field. Closeup of pilot as aircraft finishes taxi, and lettering on plane identifies him as Lieutenant R. McHale. Scenes on the ground at the air field, jeeps arriving at the airfield, pilots and crews in meetings and discussions, tents and quarters, meal operations, a soldier gets a shave, medical facilities, religious services, and watch towers. Pilots scramble to their waiting P-40 aircraft after tower spots enemy aircraft in the distance. Animated map depicts operations of the Air Service Center and logistics for supporting multiple Combat Air Fields. Scenes from the Air Service Center as new planes (P-38 Lightning) arrive and bombs are unloaded. Repair work and provisioning of supplies for the air fields.
Maneuvers of United States Army Air Service 1st Provisional Air Brigade in the United States. U.S. Army Air Service 1st Pursuit Group, 2nd Bombardment Group and 3rd Attack Group at headquarters in Langley Field, Virginia. Three personnel in uniforms outside the headquarters of the 1st Provisional Air Brigade. The U.S. flag outside the camp. U.S. Army Air Service Brigadier General James E. Fechet who is in command has a word with an airman. Brigadier General Fechet with his staff members lined up in front of the camp. The attack group of several aircraft arrive from the York River shore. The fleet in flight over Langley Field. Men outside the field. The pursuit group arrives at the same time from Yorktown. U.S. Army Air Service Airco DH4 aircraft in the air. Few DH4 craft on the ground. Officers from the ground watch the aircraft. The bombardment group arrives at the same time. Three DH4 aircraft in flight. The aircraft among the clouds. The 1st Pursuit Group representing the enemy, attack the bombers. DH4 aircraft pursue the bombers. The attack on the bombers is made from above as well as below at the same time.
USS CoConino County LST-603 (Land Ship Tank-603) in water. 603 written on bow of the ship. Crafts alongside LST-603. The ship is tied. Water pumps out from ship. Divers on a craft getting ready to go in to water. A diver wears his flippers. He jumps on water. A craft near LST-603. Divers near the pumped out water. A hose pipe pouring water. Two divers go under water. Another diver jumps off from a craft. Weather deck area of LST-603. A flag fly in air on the ship. 'USS CoConino County' written on a life ring. A mobile crane parked in deck of LST-603. Ventilator and open hatch of LST-603.
Operations of the Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT) Company. Aerial view of New York City's Manhattan Island, below. Camera focuses on Pennsylvania Station (Penn Station) seen from above, and then at street level. Travelers purchasing tickets for combined transcontinental rail and air travel at a window in the station. Families seeing travelers off at one of the railroad gates. Temporary sign at gate reads "The Airway Limited, second section." View of passengers on rear car of train as it pulls out. The car displays Pennsylvania Railroad logo sign reading "The Airway Limited, Pennsylvania Railroad." Views of Pennsylvania RR passenger train and closeup of locomotive wheels in motion. Animated relief map shows train proceeding from New York, past Columbus, Ohio, to Port Columbus station in Ohio. Transcontinental Air Transport, Inc. billboard sign at the station shows picture of passengers connecting between a train and an airplane. Billboard reads: "Port Columbus, Eastern Transfer Point, Air-rail Service, Coast-to-Coast." Passengers leaving the train and entering the station waiting rooms. Their baggage being weighed (Narrator says 30 pounds is the allowance.) View from terminal roof, of a Ford 5-AT-B, trimotor passenger airplane ready to accept passengers for the next phase of their travel. A logo on fuselage has "TAT" with small ribbon through it reading, "Transcontinental Air Transport." View of passengers seated inside the aircraft. The plane taxis and takes off from the Port Columbus airport. Ground is snow-covered, but the runway is plowed. Closeup aerial view of the airplane flying over the city of Columbus, Ohio. Distant view of it flying close to the LeVeque Tower skyscraper (a 47-story Art Deco-style building at 50 West Broad Street). Aerial view of the airplane passing the train, continuing westward, from Port Columbus. Views inside passenger cabin of the plane. Animated map show plane heading to Indianapolis. Officer hands out TAT illustrated map and points out features to passengers. Closeup of map. Aerial view of the airplane on final approach to land at Indianapolis airport. Clerk at airport typing arrival message on teletype, and company executives reading it at their headquarters. Animated map show plane moving to St. Louis, Missouri. View from air of Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Passengers in cabin. aerial view of the plane on final approach, over snow, to St. Louis. The aircraft taxiing on ramp and parking at terminal building, where passengers enter, under cover of awning-covered walk. Closeup of the aircraft engines. Inserted view of TAT engine overhaul facility, with Charles Lindbergh, the airline's technical adviser, and TAT officials inspecting the operation.
Film opens with February 1st, 1967 Change of Command Ceremony for Commanders in Chief of U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command (SAC). General John Dale Ryan is assuming command from General Joseph J. Nazzaro. A color guard stands with American flag flanked by flags of Air Force, SAC, units, and award ribbons. A military marching band marches in front of a stage (reviewing stand) where Generals and guests are seated, including Generals Nazarro and Ryan, plus the Commanders of SAC's three Air Forces. Civilian leaders present included Nebraska Governor and Mrs. Norbert Tiemann. Closeup of General Ryan. View of Governor and Mrs. Tiemann standing amongst six Air Force Generals. A traditional ceremony for change of command ensues. The flag of outgoing General Nazzaro is furled and cased and the flag of incoming General Ryan is unfurled and uncased. The flag ceremony completes as the two Generals exchange positions. Views of Generals and guests. Closeup of General Nazzaro.The band plays and marches and a contingent of U.S. airmen march in review. General Nazzaro renders them a parting salute and then he and Ryan shake hands and both turn to greet the Governor and his wife.
The 25th Anniversary of the Air Mail Service in the United States. Past events from year 1918 show the inauguration of air mail in the United States. A man holds an envelope to be delivered by air. President Woodrow Wilson talks to a pilot. Scene changes to 1943 in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington DC, on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Air Mail Service. A U.S. Army Sikorsky R-4 helicopter lands outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC. The pilot speaks to the helicopter designer, Igor Sikorsky, and receive a special package of mail. The helicopter is seen landing in Arlington Virginia at recently opened Washington National Airport, to deliver the package to a waiting aircraft. Crowd of people gathered outside at Washington National Airport terminal building to watch the helicopter landing. Mail being loaded aboard an air mail aircraft. The helicopter takes off.
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