Various uses of petroleum and its byproducts in United States. Man drives a cream colored 1952 Cadillac Convertible car along the road. Close ups of various car parts in the 1952 Cadillac Convertible that are manufactured from petroleum byproducts, including seating, parts of dash, and window seals. Other vehicular traffic on road, including an antique automobile. An American Airlines DC-6 aircraft taking off. A streamlined locomotive: Burlington Route E-5A Diesel-Electric Silver Pilot locomotive approaching on a railroad train track. Tractor driven plow. A field being plowed. Petroleum byproduct being sprayed on fruit trees as a pesticide. Use of oil for American ground, air and naval forces. Petroleum byproducts and uses in oil industry. View of an oil refinery. Tourists visit an early oil derrick in Pennsylvania. An oil rig at work.
Glimpse of a U.S. Navy pilot in the cockpit of an airplane, during the Korean War. He is pointing down at something. Next, a parachute is seen drifting rapidly in the wind as it descends. Pilot in aircraft hears about a pilot bailing out behind enemy lines. He is instructed to photograph the area. Next, a Navy 9F9 Panther aircraft is seen in the air. It has tail code "PP" indicating it is from the aircraft Carrier USS Essex (CV 9) with Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) and Composite Squadron 61 (VC-61) from June 1951 to March 1952. . Glimpse of Navy ships in formation. View of Landing Signal Officer bringing in several 9F9 Panther aircraft to land on deck of the USS Essex. These aircraft carry tail code "M" of Squadron VF-23 with Air Task Group 2, aboard the Essex from June 1952 to February 1953. Next, several Navy A-4 Skyraider aircraft come in to land. They display "S" tail codes of Squadron VF-54. They are followed by another 9F9. Scene shifts to photo interpreters and pilots studying the photographs for clues to where their parachuting pilot might be located. They discover a parachute in the photos, and circle it. Ship loudspeaker is seen as helicopter crews are alerted for rescue mission. A Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopter takes off from the flight deck. Other pilots wait anxiously as the Helicopter returns to land on the Essex flight deck. The missing pilot is aboard and they help him from the helicopter, place him on a litter and cover him with blankets. His friend takes his picture.
Signing of the Treaty of San Francisco by the Allied Powers and Japan, September 8, 1951 in San Francisco, California. Secretary of State Dean Rusk is seen shaking hands with Japanese Foreign Minister Okazaki Katsuo, in 1952. American troops remaining in Japan engage in training for Defense. They practice assaults from small boats, charge overland, simulate fighting in empty industrial sites. Flag of Japan being raised while Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and officials stand at attention and American officers salute. American troops in formation salute. Japanese troops march in parade.
Major events of the year 1951. Republican Party nominees Robert Taft, Senator of Ohio and Earl Warren, Governor of California begin their preparations for the 1952 Presidential elections in United States. They address a press conference. Eisenhower remains silent on the issue. President Harry S Truman while addressing the Women's National Democratic Committee refuses to reveal the name of Democratic candidate for Presidential elections.
Nuclear bomb testing footage. Continuous colour film of atomic bomb shot Baker from Operation Crossroads on July 25, 1946, as well as film of the Ivy King shot from Operation Ivy on November 15, 1952. Both nuclear tests were conducted by the United States.
High Commissioner and Commander in Chief, French Army General,Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, arrives in Indochina on a DC-3 airplane. He is greeted by the high ranking military and political leaders in the country. He reviews contingents of French military forces, meets and greets, seemingly countless, military officers, and many Vietnamese Government officials in white suits. Later, in 1952, French General Henri Navarre arrives by DC-4 aircraft (to replace General de Lattre de Tassigny, who died of cancer). He is greeted by French officers and officials.