THE CAPE Part 6

Description

Film highlights events at the Cape during 1963 including missile launches, both successful and malfunctions; construction of Titan III facility; sequence covering Maj. Cooper's launch in MA-9 Faith 7 and recovery; dining-in ceremony honoring AF astronauts and Dyna-Soar pilots. Includes tour by Pres John F. Kennedy on 16 November and memorial for Pres Kennedy on 25 November, with assembled troops and scenes of Brig. Gen. Harry J. Sands, Jr. Vice Comdr., AFMTC, speaking. ECU of missile engine firing from remote camera. 21': CU of AFSC insignia. 23': THE AIR FORCE MISSILE TEST CENTER PRESENTS: THE CAPE 1963. 30': LS launch of Bumper No. 8, a German V-2/WAC Corporal on 24 July 1950. 38': AMLS of two F-106As in flight to right. 42': ALS of launch complexes. 52': LS of Titan II launch--shows climb, missile exploding and huge ball of fire. 75': LS launch of Titan II, programmed flight and separation of first stage--intercut with scene of tracking camera in operation. 89': Onboard footage from camera mounted on second stage of Titan II, showing first stage separation. 107': LSs of tracking stations down Atlantic missile range. 115': ALS of the USS H. H. ARNOLD missile tracking ship. 120': ELS of re-entry vehicle re-entering the atmosphere. 130': AVs of JC-130B equipped with trapeze structure snatching aero-kite balloon suspended from ship. 143': MS of sign on building: AF MISSILE TEST CENTER. 145': LS high angle of AF Missile Test Center. 148': INT scenes in EDP room with personnel at main console and checking magnetic tape--CU of manual on desk. 159': MS of Gemini being lowered inside building--several personnel watching. 165': Scenes of Lt. Col. John G. Albert, Chief of Gemini Launch Div., 6555th Aerospace Test Wing, entering gate--blockhouse in background and sign on fence: GEMINI/TITAN II MAN RATED COMPLEX MARTIN CO--shows Lt. Col. Albert checking Titan II and at launch control in blockhouse. 182': MSs of Titan III model. 194': ALS of Titan III launch facilities under construction. 197': MS and LS high angle of Atlas on transporter being backed up ramp to pad, missile being prepared for launch by 6555th Aerospace Test Wing personnel and research package being placed in scientific passenger pod. 232': Scenes of Atlas 134F with CS-1FT (REX-1) nose cone, launch and programmed flight on 1 March 1963--intercut with military and civilian personnel observing launch. 250': Scenes of Minuteman transporter arriving at launch pad, missile being lowered into silo with high angle shot of missile in silo. 275': LS of blockhouse silhouetted against sunrise. 276': LS night scenes of Minuteman No. 430 silo launch, missile blowing up and flaming debris falling (16 July 1963). 289': INT blockhouse of personnel working at consoles checking books and telemetry tape. 298': LS of Minuteman climbing after launch (Nov 1963). 310': LS launch and destruction of Polaris missile--pieces falling into ocean. 332': LS and AV of submarine in harbor. 338': ALS of USS WALLACE L. LIND DD-703 underway. 340': MCU of three USN officers talking. 341': ALS and AMLS of USS ANDREW JACKSON (SSBN-619) submarine underway and launch of Polaris missile--intercut with CU of Navy man speaking into microphone (26 October 1963). 359': Scenes of Army 2nd Missile Battalion of 44th Artillery conducting test under simulated operational conditions, showing mobile launcher and support equipment mounted on half track moving over scrub land at Cape Canaveral, at firing site with Pershing Missile being erected, personnel going through countdown and checking out missile and launch and tracking of Pershing missile. 393': AMS and ALS of B-52 carrying Hound Dog--shows missile drop from aircraft to right. 406': Scenes of crews at Cape Canaveral checking out and firing of Mace (CGM-13B) in practice launch. 430': Scenes of ASSET ASV-1 on handling trailer being moved to pad, hoisted to top of gantry, atop SLV-11 and night launch (18 September 1963). 460': MS and LS of Delta missile on launch pad. 467': Scenes of Delta Syncom launch and tracking of programmed flight (AMR Test No. 3710, 26 July 1963). 483': Scenes of scientists placing a measuring device for ion band on payload, payload mated to SLV-1, SLV-1 launch and tracking of missile, including blockhouse scenes. 518': Shows Robing sounding rocket being inserted into launch tube, tube raised and rocket launching. 531': Scenes of Nike-Cajun being prepared for launching. 543': Scenes of Nike/Smoke being mated to gin pole-type launcher, launch and smoke contrail (Nike/Smoke is used to study wind shear). 569': Sequence showing Maj. Leroy Gordon Cooper suiting up, putting on space helmet, going to NASA transfer van, pre-dawn ride to pad, well wishers, Cooper going to elevator, elevator lifting, McDonnell technicians shaking hands with astronaut, then he squeezes into Faith 7 capsule--shows ignition, lift-off and climb of MA-9 (Atlas 130D) on 15 May 1963. Scenes of ABC-TV, NBC and CBS cameramen at work-and Maj. Gen. Leighton I. Davis, Comdr. AFMTR observing launch. Shows capsule splash-down, Navy recovery team, USS KEARSARGE as capsule is hoisted aboard and Maj. Cooper egressing from Faith 7. 729': Scenes of dining-in ceremony at Officers' Club, Patrick AFB honoring astronauts and Dyna Soar pilots on 2 March 1963--seated at head table (left to right) Col. Henry Dittman, Base Comdr.; Dr. Kurt Debus, Maj. Gen. Leighton I. Davis; Secy. of AF Eugene Zuckert; Col. Swanson; Mr. Walt. Williams; Mr. Lee S. Harding; and Brig. Gen. Harry J. Sands Jr.--immediately in front of head table are honored guests, astronauts and Dyna Soar pilots: Maj. Donald K. Slayton, Capt. Virgil I. Grissom, Maj. Leroy Gordon Cooper, Milton O. Thompson, Maj. James W. Woods, Maj. Russell J. Rogers, Maj. Henry C. Gordon, Capt. Edward H. White II, Capt. James A. McDivitt, and Secy. of AF Zuckert speaking. 751': Scenes of Saturn on pad, launch and programmed flight--intercut with cameramen in action. 772': Scenes of arrival of Pres. John F. Kennedy by VC-137C and tour of Cape on 16 November 1963--shows Pres. Kennedy in car with Maj. Gen. Davis, Comdr. AFMTC and James E. Webb, NASA Administrator; astronauts Maj. Cooper and Maj. Virgil I. Grissom, in civilian clothes, briefing Pres. Kennedy on Gemini, and the president with Sen. George A. Smathers and Werner von Braun at base of Saturn. 807': Sequence showing Pres. Kennedy boarding USMC VH-3A, helicopter taking off, landing on USS OBSERVATION ISLAND, Pres. Kennedy, wearing sailor jacket, meeting commander of ship, observing Polaris AMR test No. 7678 from USS ANDREW JACKSON submarine on 16 November 1963, and Pres. Kennedy giving short congratulatory speech. 863': Shows Pres. Kennedy talking to Maj. Gen. Davis and Dr. Kurt Debus, launch Operations Div. for NASA, then he boards the VC-137C. 875': MS of American flag at half mast. 877': Scenes of troops assembled on ramp and Brig. Gen. Harry J. Sands, Jr., Vice Comdr. AFMTC, speaking at memorial services for Pres. Kennedy (25 November 1963). 915': Night launch of Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP) satellite, test No. 6900, using a Delta launch vehicle (26 November 1963). 927': Launch of Centaur II, Test No. 5175, on 27 November 1963. 935': Shows map of the cape with new name: Cape Kennedy. 943': Total footage in reel.

Collection

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

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities