ENGINEERING DIVISION STAFF FILM REPORT: ESR-4 Reel 2 · Part 1

Description

Summary: Tests conducted by ATSC at Wright Field, Ohio, 1945, on German Mark 108 3omm gun, centrifuge Radial "G" exposure suits, model A/C, B-24K, line-throwing gun, Tallboy bomb, and JB-2 launching with different launching devices. Reel: 1: German Mark 108 30mm Gun. CS: American officer dismantling the gun. ECS: Dismantling process. Gun is operated by compressed air. Radial G. Scenes at Aero Medical Lab., Centrifuge Department, showing large spin equipment in operation and showing pilots undergoing Radial G tests. Good shot inside of centrifuge chamber showing pilot trying to move about through compartments which simulate compartments in an aircraft. Good coverage of centrifuge Radial G tests. Exposure Suit. CS: Exposure suit in small container. CS: Unfolding suit from container. CS: Airman clad in exposure suit walking across ice on a lake. Two men wearing same type suits walk across ice. CS: Recording instruments attached to suits for exposure tests. CS: Man jumps into icy water. CS: Two airmen floating around in icy water in anti-exposure life suits. CS: Recording instrument recording various parts of body undergoing test. CS: men getting into rubber boat. This suit was standardized in 1945. Flight Line Flashes. CS: Nose section of a B-24K model showing new chin-turret gun, operator sitting in the nose. CS: Single tail on the new type B-24K. CS: Night firing of linethrowing gun showing flare inserted into the gun indicating where the line goes. Several good shots of the flare going thru the air. CS: Parachute flare descending. This gun incorporates the throwing of a line, using a flare for sighting it, and dropping onto the target area by means of a parachute. Reel 2: Tallboy. CS: Tallboy, a 12,000 lb. bomb, lying at edge of a runway. This was first tested by the British in Europe. CS: Modifications on the bombs bay doors showing the way the Tallboy fits into the bomb bay of a B-29. CS: Loading operation, showing B-29 taxiing across top of the bomb. CS: Crews using hand-cranes and chain hoist to lift the bomb up into bomb bay. CS: Bomb installed in bomb bay. ADS: Tallboy being dropped at Eglin Field. ADS: Tallboy bomb descending towards target area at Eglin Field. ADS: Tallboy exploding in target circle. JB-2 Launching Devices. CS: JB-2 taking off Camera follows JB-2 showing rocket booster falling away. These scenes are taken at Range 64, Eglin Field. The following scenes show three different types of launchings of the JB-2: rocket launchings, power launchings, and steam launchings. ADS: Range 64, Eglin Field. CS: Trailer bed made into a 49-ft. fixed-degree rocket ramp, showing the modifications used for this portable type of JB-2 launching ramp. CS: Rocket booster being installed on launching ramp of the trailer Good coverage of the placing of the JB-2 on top of rocket booster. CS: Complete assembly on the trailer. CS: Airman working on the magnetic compass in nose section of the JB-2. CS: Various instruments and control panels in JB-2 used in control of flight. Excellent coverage of instruments used to control JB-2 in flight. CS: Rocket on the launching ramp on trailer. Excellent shot of JB-2 launching from the 49-ft, portable launching ramp, camera follows the JB-2 in flight. Multiple Cartridge Ramp, CS: Airman installing explosive charges in multiple cartridge section on launching ramp. Good coverage of men lifting one of cartridges and installing it on ramp. CS: Men putting cartridge into the ramp cylinder. Cylinder extends the length of launching ramp. CS: Ramp undergoing test shots showing a mounted cylinder on the ramp. Charges explode prematurely along the ramp, and the missile fallss over. CS: JB-2 on the ramp. Showing a mishap when the JB-2 is launched. JB-2 and ramp afire. Steam Ramp. CS: Steam launching ramp, equipment around the area, steam generating plant, and operators of the plant. CS: Installations around the ramp showing pipelines leading into the ramp and steam generating plant. The assembling of a steam generating plant. CS: Huge pipe connected to end of launching ramp. CS: Launching of dummy-bombs from the steam launching ramps. Excellent shot of the dummy-bomb taking off. CS: JB-2 installed on steam launching ramp. PS: JB-2 launched from steam launching ramp. Missile crashes in front of launching ramp. Good

Collection

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

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities