This is Redstone Arsenal was produced in late 1962 shortly after the establishment of Army Material Command or AMC (and one of AMC’s first subordinate commands, the U.S. Army Missile Command or MICOM). The film was designed to promote US military prowess as exhibited by the Redstone missile development compound in Huntsville, Alabama.
The film begins with overhead views of Huntsville and a narrator’s description of its agrarian origins. Shots of cotton production shift to an impressive rocket test and main titles (1:04). Footage of Huntsville follows, showing its bustling activity circa the early 1960s. The narrator trumpets the town’s growth since the military’s relocation of its rocket headquarters to Huntsville in 1950: “Huntsville now is Rocket City, USA.” A montage shows some of the professions being put to use in Postwar Huntsville, including scientists, engineers, computer technicians and others (1:38). The mix of old and new is emphasized, newer examples of infrastructure include an airport (2:20) and a modern visitor’s center. The US Army Missile Command is shown from overhead. The Army Missile and Munitions Center and School (3:01) is shown, a specialized scientific training center for technicians and military men. The Nike-X Project Office (3:22), and propulsion and chemical research corporations Fico Chemical and Rohm and Haas are briefly discussed as part of the compound at Redstone. NASA’s George C. Marshall Spaceflight Center is shown along with some of their accomplishments including the “mighty Saturn Space Vehicle” (3:39). Large rockets are shown being tested (3:56).
“Action is the essence of the missile program,” declares the narrator. Missile parts are shown on the go, via trucks, trains, barges and planes (4:47). Giant cargo-planes dominate an airfield. A montage of scientists and specialized personnel performing duties in various labs follows a sequence of Redstone commuters. The Redstone Ballistic Missile is discussed along with shots of a test launch (6:30). The film cuts to the Jupiter-C Launch Vehicle used to orbit Explorer 1 (6:52). “But that was yesterday,” states the narrator—today’s concern is missiles and rockets. A soldier with a rocket launcher destroys a helicopter (7:17), followed by shots of a helicopter firing rockets. A high tech control room is shown (7:59) and a drawing room filled with weapons systems engineers (8:12). Missile system components are shown in transport, readying a portable missile for launch (8:28). Diverse US factories are shown performing component assembly. A boardroom of military management debate budgetary decisions— “the army, like the housewife, shops for quality at low cost” (9:45). A man in a business suit assembles a rocket launcher (9:52). The film shows the McMorrow Missile Laboratories (10:22), interiors of high-tech labs filled with testing apparatus in action (10:45). Redstone’s Scientific Information Center is shown (11:48). Rigorous testing for circumstances in weapons use is discussed, (12:10) preceding footage of missile tests. A woman walks the aisles of a library of computer tapes to a bank of “electronic brains” (14:32). Classroom education is again emphasized for “constant readiness.” The film winds up with shots of Eisenhower (15:47) and Kennedy (15:49) visiting Redstone and JFK pronouncing Redstone a symbol of “a strong great country” (15:55). Rockets fire as “THE END” title appears.
U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) is the primary provider of materiel to the United States Army. The Command’s mission includes the management of installations, as well as maintenance and parts distribution. It was established on 8 May 1962 and was activated on 1 August of that year as a major field command of the U.S. Army. Lieutenant General Frank S. Besson, Jr., who directed the implementation of the Department of Army study that recommended creation of a “materiel development and logistics command”, served as its first commander.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
