OPERATION SANDSTONE, SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH ATOMIC BOMB TESTS Part 3

Description

Summary: Operation Sandstone. Shows the sixth, seventh and eighth atomic bomb tests at Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, emphasizing part played by USAF. Forward states that the picture depicts the part played by the Air Force. By USAF Lookout Mountain Laboratory, Hollywood, California, ca 1947. Reel 1: 1) AS B-24 formation dropping bombs. 2) ADS targets being hit, bombs bursting. 3) AS B-17 formations dropping bombs. 4) Aerial formation of B-29s flying through flak. 5) ADS atomic bomb burst. 6) Gen. Hall and Gen. Kepner with staff officers (approximately 20) sitting around a long table discussing the mission of OPERATION SANDSTONE planning. 7) GS one of the general staff pointing out the general formation of the islands around Eniwetok. 8) CS Army engineers and civilian construction workers erecting the camera tower on an island. 9) PS L-5 taking off. 10) PS R to L C-54 approach for landing and landing, taxiing on down past camera ship. 11) CS arrivals coming out of the ship. 12) CS Gen. Cullum, officer in charge of all photographic equipment on the test. 13) PS B-29 landing on Kwajalein Island. 14) PS B-29 taxiing up into the parking area, showing other B-29s which will be used on the test. 15) PS C-54 making a landing on Kwajalein. 16) B-17 parked on landing strip, camera pans up at B-29 approach for landing. 17) C-54 landing. 18) B-17 landing. 19) Gen. Hall's arrival at Kwajalein being greeted by Gen. Kepner and Gen. Brady. 20) Other staff officers greeting the general after arrival. 21) PS various parts of the airfield at Kwajalein showing the activity as the personnel arrive in various types of aircraft: B-29s, C-54s and B-17s. 22) CS unloading of supplies from C-54 door by hoist. 23) Good shot of unloading of various equipment from the C-54s. 24) PS two drone B-17s passing overhead. 25) MLS operations building with sign above it, KWAJALEIN AIRPORT. 26) B-17 taxis by in front of hangar. 27) INT operation planning section showing the generals and their staff sitting at the table planning OPERATION SANDSTONE. 28) INT showing the crews listening to the briefing sessons being conducted. 29) Briefing officer. 30) CS personnel attending the briefing session. Reel 2: 1) INT briefing room scene showing the general conducting the briefing on what to expect of atomic bomb bursts. 2) AS B-29 in flight. 3) INT B-29 showing the weather research instruments. 4) CS various stations in interior of plane, personnel checking and gathering weather data. 5) PS L to R B-l7 drone taking off. After the B-17 has been airborne, a B-29 comes in from left of picture frame; this plane is the mother plane for the drone. 6) PS two B-17 drones passing overhead. 7) PS looking up through palm trees and a communication wire strung along on poles as the two B-17 drones pass overhead. 8) Aerial single B-17 in flight. 9) INT drone aircraft fixed camera showing the controls being moved by the pilot in the nose of the mother ship. 10) INT mother ship showing the pilot moving the small stick about to control the drone. 11) AS B-17 banking off sharply to left. 12) PS two B-17s passing directly over top of control building. 13) PS L to R of B-17 drone coming in for landing, mother ship pulls off to left and passes overhead. 14) PS B-17 taxiing on Kwajalein. 15) PS mother ship bringing in the drone B-17 to final approach on landing then pulls away sharply to left, plane is then landed by ground controlled system. 16) AS C-54 converted into photo plane. 17) INT photo plane showing the various photographic cameras set up for photographing the SANDSTONE OPERATION. 18) CS sign, STICKELL FIELD OPERATIONS. 19) INT parachute packing department showing the parachutes being packed. 20) INT radar section showing men working on radar and radar equipment. 21) Good shots of final preparations for the operation showing the engines being completely overhauled, planes being overhauled, planes being refueled. 22) CS radar equipment in operation. 23) CS weather balloon going up. 24) INT operations showing the general staff sitting around planning the operations. 25) CS final preparations on the photographic and scientific apparatus. 26) PS all types of photo equipment, sound apparatus, scientific checking data, all types of equipment getting final check. Reel 3: 1) CS cameramen boarding the C-54. 2) CS motion picture cameras being installed in gun turret position. Good coverage of the atomic bomb camera ships. 3) CS men pulling the props through on a B-29. 4) Good coverage of the various aircraft engines starting, taxiing. B-29 taxiing, C-54 taxiing. 5) PS R to L C-54 take-off, passing directly overhead. 6) Same B-29, planes seem to be taking off in early morning hours. 7) CS crews getting out of drone aircraft on Eniwetok Atoll, props are turning over on the plane. 8) PS B-17 drone taking off, plane held in view by means of a searchlight focused upon the plane as it takes off. 9) Excellent night shot B-17 taking off, plane visible only by means of a searchlight turned upon the plane. (Excellent shot). 10) INT aircraft as the men place their heads down and protect their eyes from the atomic bomb burst. 11) ADS atomic bomb burst showing the cloud formation. 12) AS B-29 aerial single. 13) ADS radioactive cloud formation. 14) INT aircraft showing the various test survey planes taking tests on radiological readings. 15) INT control room showing the pattern being laid out and showing the location of all the aircraft. 16) PS two drone B-17s coming in for landing, one drone passing directly over top of control tower on which the general staff is standing. 17) CS hand controls used by one of the officers standing on the control tower bringing in the B-17 drone. 18) CS handling of the B-17 which is contaminated by radioactive rays. 19) CS special clothing and protective measures used to secure the film and the data from various sections of the B-17. 20) CS decontamination of the B-17. 21) PS airfield showing the activity as the photo planes arrive back at the base. 22) CS aircraft and crews being checked over the radiation or active rays. 23) CS observers and photographers getting out of the plane. 24) CS unloading of the camera equipment from the aircraft. 25) PS C-54 taking off from Kwajalein. 26) CS crews preparing the various aircraft and equipment for further tests on atomic bomb. 27) PS early morning take-offs: B-17s, B-29s and C-54s. 28) Good action shots at night showing the take-off of thc aircraft. 29) ADS atomic bomb bursts. Excellent shots of the bomb burst. 30) ADS showing the effect upon the island by the atomic bomb. 31) CSs looking out across the bay showing a blinker light warning that bomb burst is about to explode. 32) CS of atomic bomb burst. Good

Collection

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities