RANCH HAND OPERATION AND BASE DEFENSE, TAN SON NHUT AB AND BIEN HOA AB, SOUTH VIETNAM Reel 3 · Part 3

Description

Documentation of activities around Tan Son Nhut and Bien Hoa Air Bases. Includes Operation Ranch Hand (jungle defoliant spraying from C-123B's); VNAF B-26B and A-1H attacks on Viet Cong positions; defensive installations around the air bases and scenes sbowing complete work stoppage during Vietnamese siesta from 1200 to 1500 hours. Reel 1: CU's of US Army Brig Gen Fred J. Ellmore inspecting C-123B spray nozzles under wing. 44' AV's of C-123B spraying defoliant and of area along canal that had been sprayed previously. 370' AV of jungle along canal and river showing defoliated areas. 698' AV's of native village along river, jungle areas and plantations. 880' Total footage in reel. Reel 2: AV's of jungle and river showing defoliated areas, canals and villages. 495' AV of spray as seen from rear door of C-123. 518' Shows Army officer and civilian inspecting C-123B spray nozzles. 562' AV of spray being released. 655' AV of C-123B spraying defoliant. 724' AV's of swamp and jungle along river. 916' Total footage in reel. Reel 3: MS of Metropol Hotel in Saigon and other buildings used by US personnel for quarters and offices. 95' MS's of USAF and Vietnamese personnel inflating weather balloon and releasing it. 232' LS's of Vietnamese airmen walking to instrument box under anemometer and taking reading. 283' MS of cameramen leaving building with equipment. 330' MS's of USAF and Vietnamese personnel in weather building checking map, using teletype and talking on telephone. 400' Sequence of scenes showing master sergeant taking message on telephone, walking out of room and handing message to officer. 525' Shows USAF and Vietnamese officers checking wall map. 550' MS's & CU's around tent area at Tan Son Nhut AB showing airman drinking coke, walking to shower and shaving. 740' MS's of World Airways Super Constellation being unloaded with forklift. 856' Total footage in reel. Reel 4: Series of scenes of mess hall, lyster bags, the weather forecaster's tent and the Joint Operations Center Building. 147' CU's of VNAF B-26B engine starting and aircraft starting to taxi. 200' CU of pilot and cameramen boarding VNAF T-28D. 265' Scenes of men inspecting VNAF B-26B pod cameras and boarding aircraft. 361' AV's of USAF quarters at Tan Son Nhut AB. 499' LS of vehicles entering and leaving guard gate at Bien Hoa AB. 567' CU of sign reading: MATS WESTAF, DETACHMENT 2. 597' Map of Southeast Asia. (Very poor) 670' AV's of Tan Son Nhut AB showing buildings, flight line and runways. 854' Total footage in reel. Reel 5: MS's of forklift unloading freight from World Airways Super Constellation. 78' MS's of passengers debarking from MATS C-l2lE. 126' Scenes of Vietnamese ground crew refueling C-12lE and unloading baggage. 156' MS of WESTAF Operations Building. 177' MS of C-124C on ramp with CU of engine starting. 275' AV's of farm area showing fields and streams. 337' MCU of Vietnamese and USAF personnel working in weather station. 378' CU of officer being briefed by chief weather officer. 398' CU of airman using teletype. 442' MS of pilot and photographer on flight line beside VNAF T-28D discussing flight pattern and boarding aircraft. 533' Total footage in reel. Reel 6: MS's of sandbags around base perimeter-- camera pans to VNAF A-1H's on flight line with engines running. 36' CU of Vietnamese soldier holding carbine. 47' MS of tent in field. 64' MS of Vietnamese guard walking post by gate. 79' MCU of Vietnamese soldier fixing bayonet to carbine. 96' MCU of Vietnamese soldier using radio. 113' CU's of Vietnamese guards checking people through gate. 181' Scenes showing deserted streets, areas and locked doors during the Vietnamese siesta hour. 299' MS of guard at gate checking people through. 336' CU of Vietnamese soldier in sandbag position watching across field. 360' CU of Vietnamese guard at gate checking passes. 436' CU of Vietnamese personnel filling sandbags. 485' MS's of Vietnamese people leaving for siesta hour. 659' LS of VNAF B-26B taxiing on flight line. 700' LS's of ground crews working on VNAF B-26B's. 785' LS down row of VNAF T-28D's on deserted flight line. 851' Total footage in reel. Reel 7: LS down rows of VNAF A-1H's and VNAF T-28D's on deserted flight line. 153' MS of USAF ground crew working on VNAF B-26B. 176' Scenes of Vietnamese returning to air base after siesta. 197' ELS of VNAF A-1H bombing jungle--shows smoke rising. 271' ELS of several helicopters over jungle. 375' ELS of rocket burst and bomb burst from VNAF B-26B attack. 443' ACU right SV of VNAF B-26B in flight. 483' ALS of VNAF B-26B making napalm drop, fragmentation bomb drop and firing rockets at ground targets. 730' ELS's of VNAF A-1H dive bombing and strafing Viet Cong positions. 819' ELS of VNAF B-26B strafing, firing rockets and dropping bombs. 985' Total footage in reel.

Collection

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

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities