FLIGHT OF B-47 SAC UNIT FROM U.K. TO FRENCH MOROCCO Reel 4 · Part 2

Description

Summary: Training mission of the 305th Bomb Wing from Brize-Norton AFB, England, to Sidi Slimane Air Base in French Morocco, October-November 1953. SLATE: 30 OCTOBER 53. LOCATION: BRIZE-NORTON. APCS, MATS. 1) CS crew members standing near exterior plane prior to engines starting. One talks over radio phone to crew in plane. 2) CU power cables attached to underside of plane's external power receptacles. 3) CU hand pulling power cables from the receptacles. 4) MS ground crewman removing engine warm up equipment, C-26 type electrical auxliary power unit from near the B-47. 5) LS beneath wing of B-47 toward another B-47, stationary, in bg. Another B-47 taxiing through scene. 6) INT briefing room scene, crew of the bomb group present. 7) LS gate entrance to Brize-Norton AFB, activity at gate as civilian type cars enter and leave base, ambulance pulls down to gate and out of scene. 8) CU sign, BRIZE-NORTON RAF STATION 3920 AIR BASE GROUP WELCOMES YOU. COL. W.M. VAN SICKLE, COMMAND. SLATE: OCTOBER 53. CAMERAMAN: GRIMALDI. SCENE: BRIEFING, BRIZE-NORTON 9) MS INT briefing room, crew of B-47 Bomb Group being briefed, marking notes upon maps and folders. 10) CU men making notations on a map and folder. INT briefing room scene, officers standing at large wall map tracing aerial route pattern. 11) CS first officer passing pointer over to second officer who places another map upon wall, labeled DROG VALID 02/l60O. (Maj. Hess) 12) CS crew members writing information in pads during briefing. SLATE: CAMERAMAN: GRIMALDI 28 OCTOBER 53. 13) LS nose section of B-47 and tail section of KC-97 during air to air refueling attempt with telescopic boom method, boom extends and injeets into nose section of B-47. (Scenes in this sector very jumpy due to camera fault.) 14) AFSV B-47 in flight. (Scene no good due to camera slipping loose of loop) 15) AS of B-47 in flight, refueling from a KC-97. (Film scratched and slipping) 16) AS tail sector KC-97, refueling B-47. (Very good cloud effect below and bg) 17) Aerial close. Bottom SV B-47 in flight. 18) ALS rear section of B-47 visible only in flight. 19) CU INT aircraft, scene of top of head of crew member. (Scene no good.) SLATE: CAMERAMAN: GRIMALDI. 20) MS crew members of the B-47 standing in shade of fuselage of plane, airfield hangar building and control towers visible in bg. Both men are wearing Turkish type hats, three of the men climb inside of plane, and ground crew chief replaces ladder inside plane and closes hatch. SLATE: 4 NOVEMBER 53. CAMERAMAN: MONAHAN. LOCATIONp SIDI-SLIMANE AIR BASE, FRENCH MOROCCO. C-47 ATTACK UNIT PROM UNITED KINGDOM. 21) PS C-47 takeoff R to L, tree in bg, unidentifiable terrain. (Some repeats.) 22) LS down row of approximately ten B-47's, wing tip to wing tip, foremost plane taxis out of parking area. 23) CS ground crewmen removing wheel chock from in front of landing gear. 24) PS B-47 taking off, R to L, trees in immediate bg and mountains in distant bg. 25) LS B-47's starting to take off, control tower building visible in distant bg, fg desert terrain. 26) LPS C-47 taxiing down in front of three stationary B-47's. 27) LS B-47's poised at end of runway for takeoff. 28) PS B-47's starting up runway 29) CU sign. 305TH BOMB WING HEADQUARTERS, being attached to telephone line pole, sergeant enters quonset hut type building after posting sign. Reel 2: 1) MS tugs towing B-47 up over taxi strip, rain falling in scene. 2) MS crew member standing beneath tail section removing personal gear from plane. 3) MS truck mounted distrivutor, eight hundred gallon type, converted into water carrying vehicle used to wash down aircraft. 4) MS operator of the vehicle turning on valve and starting to wash down the aircraft, rain falling in scene. 5) CU of the operator washing down the plane during a heavy rain. 6) LS beneath wing of B-47, another B-47 in the bg, tug starting to tow same, rain falling in scene. Crew getting out of B-47 aircraft. 7) MS CU attaching tow bar to front gear of B-47. 8) MS crew getting into jeep. no. 366 on hat of one of the men as they board the jeep, B-47 in bg. Scene repeats four times, B-47 landing using parachute brake, on rain covered runway. 9) LPS B-47 going up strip after landing, parachute trails behind, ambulances and crash trucks stand on alert in fg. SLATE: 2 NOVEMBER 53. CAMERAMAN: MONAHAN. LOCATION: SIDI SLIMANE. 10) LPS R to L B-47 taxiing into parking strip area, trails parachute behind, puddles of water upon strip, parachute is released from plane. 11) LS 6x6 truck driving out into area to recover chutes. 12) MPS man recovering chute and placing same in truck bed. 13) MS sign, DROP CHUTE HERE, man on alert duty for recovery of chute. 14) CS airman gives signal to unseen aircraft for release of chute. 15) LS B-47 taxiing, RV releases parachute. 16) CS ground crewman directing tow vehicle into position for placing tow bar to B-47. SLATE: LOCATION: SIDI SLIMANE 2 NOVEMBER 53. 17) CS ground crewman placing wheel chock in front of gear of B-47, another ground crewman opens bottom hatch door and releases ladder. 18) MS ground crewmen gathered at exchange mobile canteen, information upon side of same, SIDI SLIMANE EXCHANGE. 19) CS of airman buying coffee and hot dogs. 20) LS of portable control tower. 21) MS operators of tower are A/2c Dresser and A/2c Mechana. 22) CS fueling B-47 from underground fueling compartment, airmen removing hose connection. 23) MS tug tows B-47 out of parking area. SLATE: 2 NOVEMBER. C-47 SAC UNIT FROM UNITED KINGDOM AT SIDI SLIMANE. 24) LS jeep hauls crew and gear to bus parking area. MS crew leaves jeep and walks over to temporary 305th Bomb Wing Headquarters Building 26) MS carrier building, two of the crew members receiving shot of liquor. 27) CS airman pouring shot of Guggenheimer liquor into glass for crew member. 28) CS men drinking liquor and smacking lips. 29) CS other crew member receiving cup of coffee from native worker, 30) MS INT headquarters building NCOIC seated at desk, INTELLIGENCE sign upon desk. 31) MS same scene, S/Sgt Russel seated at desk, three crewmen of B-47, Maj. Sorenson, Maj. Beck, and Maj. Wells, enter and take seats at desk, insignia upon hat of the men. 32) CS sergeant interviewing the men and writing information upon form. 33) CS the three men. 34) CS three men filling out flight report forms and returning same to sergeant. 35) CS sergeant completing flight report form. 36) MS colonel receiving coffee from native worker. 37) Several scenes, interior Operations Building, crew members drinking coffee. 38) LA beneath wing of B-47 towards a stationary B-47 where ground crewmen are working pilot compartment canopy on top of the plane, jeep drives out of scene. SLATE: 2 NOVEMBER 53. LOCATION: SIDI SLIMANE C-47 SAC UNIT FROM UNITED KINGDOM. 39) ECU sign, "BASEDE SIDI SLIMANE." (information also in Arabic writing.) 40) PS jeep driving down road past sign, "BASEDE SIDI SLIMANE." 41) MS gate post area, jeep drives into scene, guards on duty salute officer in jeep, jeep comes to halt and then proceeds to gate guarded by USAF Military Police and French Military Police. 42) CU of US Military Policemen and two French Military Policemen standing guard duty, men salute. 43) LS jeep driving up in front of B-47, ground crewmen operating auxiliary power unit, crew of the B-47 get out of jeep and walk toward the B-47. Reel 3: 1) MS CU coverage, several scenes of ground crewmen directs aircraft on flightline, engines starting on B-47. Man using the intercom system talking to person inside plane, showing the engines starting on B-47. One scene includes two men standing fire guard, one dissolving overflow of gasoline with hand operated water tank. 2) PS B-47 taxiing out of parking area, other stationary in scene as first plane taxis up strip. 3) INT briefing room scene. 4) Sever scenes of various crew members of B-47 units attending briefing session. SLATE: 3 OCTOBER 53. CAMERAMAN: LONGO. LOCATION: BRIZE-NORTON AFB, B-47 UNIT FROM KINGDOM. 5) INT briefing room. Colonel Kunkle using pointer to point out aerial route for the unit, passes stick on to the next officer. Maj. Hess, who attaches all maps to the first map and then describes mission to the bomb group 6) CU this officer during the briefing session. 7) CU crew members taking notes. 8) MS men making exit from briefing room. 9) MS men making exit from 305th Bomb Wing Headquarters Building. 10) Pan with men as they walk away from building, sign: UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 305TH BOMB WING, MEDIUM WEATHER RAINY. 11) CS Air Force Captain Grant with heavy, bushy mustache conducting briefing session. 12) ECU of the captain as he talks, twirls end of mustache. 13) CS wall map Brize-Norton pin pointed upon map, pointer enters scene and traces aerial route that will be flown by the group to Sidi Slimane which is also pin pointed upon the map. 14) LS stationary B-47, engine starting, operations being performed upon plane, auxiliary power unit front of plane, weather very rainy. 15) MS crew and ground crewmen perform preflight inspection of plane before starting engines. Crew member walks up work ramp and checks air intake on the Jet engine. 16) CS Col. Kunkle, crew member of the B-47, writing information upon flight plan form. 17) CS Col. Greer peering into section of jet engine, pre-flight inspection. 18) MS Col. Kunkle as he makes visual check of wings and all component parts of the plane. 19) CS ground crewmen operating auxiliary power unit control panel for engine starting on B-47. (Heavy rain falling in scene.) 20) CS ground crewmen checking the rocket assist unit. 21) CS airmen making adjustment upon the release nozzle of the rocket assist units. 22) CS of colonel reading information on the check sheet. 23) CS ground crewmen holding hands over auxiliary power unit, warming same during engine warm up. 24) LS staff car driving up taxi strip, water covering taxi strip, heavy rain falling. No aircraft visible, Col. Kunkle, Col. Greer and Maj. Richards get out of staff car, walk towards camera. 25) CS of crew standing near nose of B-47 donning flight equipment prior to boarding aircraft. 26) CS colonel and crew conversing before boarding aircraft. 27) CS men as they check each others personal equipment. SLATE: 1 NOVEMBER. CAMERAMAN: LONGO. LOCATION: BRIZE-NORTON 28) MS stationary B-47, engine starting activity with auxiliary power unit in nose of plane. 29) LS full fv B-47 taxiing over water covered runway, jet blast blowing spray behind plane. 30) ECU ground crewmen giving hand signals to aircraft taxiing in parking area. Aircraft not visable. 31) CS ground radio control unit in half ton truck, operator of truck talking over radio phone. 32) LPS B-47 taking off from water covered runway, spray being blown behind plane, rocket unit set in. Rocket assist take off. SLATE: 28 OCTOBER 53. AERIAL REFUELING. LOCATION: MILDENHALL AIR FORCE BASE ENGLAND. CAMERAMAN: LONGO. Reel 4: 1) CS INT tanker aircraft, refueling operator's compartment, showing the fueling operators in prone position operating equipment. 2) CS taken from the fueling operator's position in nose section of B-47 showing the boom of KE-97 extended toward plane, water below, B-47 makes contact with boom. 3) AS B-47 approaching coastline, refueling boom lowers into position and B-47 makes its contact. Scenes taken from refueling operators compartment on the KC-97. 4) Several repeated aerial scenes taken from inside the refueling boom operator's equipment during the air to air refueling of B-47 from KC-97. Boom protrudes down into scene, B-47 approaches below and makes connection and when refueled breaks connections. Water below in some scenes, other scenes coastling, other scenes land. SLATE: 28 OCTOBER 53. REFUELING B-47. LOCATION: MILDENHALL AIR FORCE BASE. CAMERAMAN: LONGO. 5) CS INT KC-97 refueling flight team compartment, operators directing refueling operations from this compartment looking into scanning equipment and talking over intercom system. SLATE: 28 OCTOBER 1953. 6) Several scenes INT boom operator's compartment, B-47 nose section approaches for air to air refueling hook up, makes connection and breaks connection. 7) ALSV B-47 in flight at high altitude over scattered cumulus cloud formation. 8) AFSV of B-47 in flight. (Very good scenes). 9) APSV B-47 in flight, dips left wing and side flips over to left. 10) INT cockpit scenes, KC-97 in flight, pilot and co-pilot. 11) LPS of KC-97 takeoff from rain covered runway, plane equipped with external wing tanks. 12) PS L to R scene repeats. SLATE: 30 OCTOBER 53. CAMERAMAN: LONGO. B-47 SAC UNIT. LOCATION: BRIZE-NORTON AIR FORCE BASE. 13) LS B-47 stationary, PSV activity around plane as plane is readied for flight, auxiliary power unit, ground crewmen, one airman standing guard in front of plane. 14) CS ground crewmen checking front landing gear of B-47 aircraft. 15) CS coverage pre-flight visual inspection of aircraft before take off, men inspect engines, landing gear, fuselage, peer into access doors. 16) CU crew members, using flash lights, looking inside air intake in B-47 engines. 17) CS crewmen check wing flaps, wings tips, landing gear. 18) CS pilots signing clearance form for ground crewmen prior to boarding aircraft. 19) MS pilot and crewmen putting on personal equipment prior to boarding aircraft. SLATE: CAMERAMAN: LONGO. 30 OCTOBER 53. BRIZE-NORTON AIR FORCE BASE. 20) CS men checking chutes and equipment before boarding plane. 21) CS men boarding B-47. 22) CU pilot in cockpit of B-47 adjusting safety strap, donning helmets. Reel 5: SLATE: 28 OCTOBER 53. CAMERAMAN: MOYNIHAN. LOCATION: BRIZE-NORTON AIR FORCE BASE. 1) AS taken from interior nose section of a B-47 as it approaches tail section of KC-97 for air to air refueling using the boom method with telescopic lens. Plane makes connection and breaks connection, windshield wiper removes spray of gasoline from canopy after break away boom retracts and then is lowered. 2) AS fron INT B-47, front compartment of the three right wing jet engines. 3) AS taken from interior nose section of B-47 during refueling and breakaway from refueling boom, spray covers canopy of plane. 4) ECU pilot control stick of B-47 fiying on automatic controls, no hands upon the control stick. 5) CS through nose section of B-47 during breakaway of air to air refueling with boom of KC-97, spray covers canopy, windshield wiper removes spray. 6) ECU taken from nose section of B-47 showing pilot's had upon control stick, pilot dressed in protective clothing wearing oxygen mask and crash helmet. 7) FV of pilot. 8) CU pilot operating B-47. SLATE: CAMERA: M0YNIHAN. 29 OCTOBER 53. 9) PS B-47 after take off. (Scenes from Brize-Norton Air Force Base.) Scenes taken from interior control tower unit, tower operators in scene. 10) Several scenes interior control tower showing airman operating same, men talking over ground to air radio mikes. 11) MS nose section of B-47, in bg is main control building at Brize-Norton Air Fee Base. CS of same. 12) PS of B-47 landing at Brize-Norton Air Force Base using parachute brake after landing. 13) MS airman pushing maintenance rack alongside jet engine of B-47 aircraft, climbs upon rack, opens access door from the engine, another airman standing upon nacelle of the engine, two men perform section of the jet engine. 14) CU men inspecting the jet engine. 15) MS same type scene, airman closes nacelle over the engine, climbs down from rack, moves rack out of area and then replaces bottom panel over the engine. 16) CS another airman standing on maintenance rack checking flaps on right wing of B-47. SLATE: 2 NOVEMBER 53. LOCATION: SIDE SLIMANE. 17) LPS down over rain-covered parking ramp, B-47 taxiing into scene, heavy rain falling in scene. 18) PS across airfield shying men standing around in rain awaiting arrival of B-47. 19) CS of airmen directing B-47 into parking area which is following a follow-me jeep, aircraft being directed into the underground refueling station. 20) Several MLS's aircraft being directed into the refueling station, airmen in fg giving hand signals. 21) LS ground crewmen activity during the refueling and maintenance operations performed upon the planes when they land. 23) MS ground crew chief opens door and attempts to lower ladder, unable to do so due to ladder being out of reach. 24) LS B-47 parked on taxi or maintenance strip, heavy rain in scene, activity around plane as they are maintained after flight. 25) MPS B-47 taxiing into refueling station. 26) MS airman attaching refueling hose to the plane. 27) CS flight line director using radio communications system during the maintenance operations. Flight line operators standing to exterior of plane talking to person in interior plane over radio phone. 28) LS B-47 taxiing into the maintenance area, already stationary B-47's being maintained along this sector of strip. Reel 6: SLATE: 1 NOVEMBER 53. BRIZE-NORTON AIR FORCE BASE. CAMERAMAN: GRIMALDI. 1) CS crew standing in front of plane before take off. 2) CS colonel talking to crew chief before boarding plane. 3) PS B-47 taking off from rain soaked runway, rocket engines cut in, rocket assist take off. 4) CS pilot signing preflight clearance form, before boarding plane hands pass to crew chief and boards plane. 5) MS group of men standing in front of B-47, preparing personal equipment before boarding plane. 6) CS men putting on chutes. 7) CS two men as they inspect each others equipment. 8) MS men as they board plane. SLATE: 30 OCTOBER 53. CAMERAMAN: GRIMALDI. LOCATION: BRIZE-NORTON. 9) MS pilot, co-pilot and crewman of B-47 put parachutes, check each others chutes and board plane. 10) MS pilot and co-pilot, each man's head is visible as they take seats in plane. 11) CS flight line, crew chief putting on headphone and talking over intercom system during engine starting on B-47. 12) CS men closing parachute compartment in rear of B-47. 13) CS crew chief writing information on preflight instructions form. 14) CS men during preflight inspection of plane. SLATE: 2 NOVEMBER 53. 15) LPS L to R three B-47's making rocket assist take off, one after the other. 16) LS B-47 starting up strip for take off. 18) PS three scenes, B-47 rocket assist take off from water covered runway. 19) GS showing runway conditions, water lying on same. (Quality Good.) 20) CS ground crewmen in jeep watching aircraft taking off. Reel 7: SLATE: CAMERAMAN: LONGO 1) MS and CU coverage, repeated scene of two airmen installing three rocket assist units inside compartment on B-47 aircraft. 2) CS men placing bottle in position, removing cap cover, running test on the unit and replacing access hatch cover over the compartment, only three units installed in the plane. 3) AS B-47 in flight, full sv. 4) AS taken from B-47 in flight, looking across right wing, another B-47 in bg. 5) LS RV looking down row of B-47's, approximately fifteen or more planes parked wing tip to wing tip. 6) PS up row includes other B-47's, and control tower at Brize-Norton in bg. 7) LS down FV of stationary B-47's as planes are readied for flight. 8) PS jeep driving up flight line to foremost B-47 mechanics performing maintance on jet engines. 9) CS three men working on jet engines of B-47. 10) MS stationary B-47's as crew of a B-47 enters scene, talks to ground crew chief, men all wearing Arabian type hats. (Scenes taken at SIDI SLIMANE.) 11) CU pilot checking aircraft maintenance record with crew chief. 12) CU pilot signing maintenance form. 13) CS crew and crew chief, crouching beneath B-47, discussing mission while pointing at map. 14) ECU finger tracing the aerial route pattern marked on map. (Last scenes in reel starting with the scenes of the long rows of B-47 are all taken at SIDI SLIMANE, French Morocco). Good

Collection

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

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities