One in a series of films made by the Signal Corps about Basic Signal Communication, “Field Wire Line Construction” describes how to build a communications wire network in the field. In addition to this series, the Signal Corps produced and distributed thousands of motion picture films during the war. Much of the work included training films such as this as well as newsreel footage and other propaganda aimed at maintaining public and industry support. These brief films today provide a glimpse into what military training and combat was like during the 1940’s.

The film opens over the US Office of War Department seal (:11). It was produced by the Signal Corps in 1941 (:14). The title screen appears over a telegraph (:28). Field wire is pulled out from the spool (:39). The camera pans out to show two men in the back of a jeep laying the wire in a combat zone (:43). Reel units are depicted (:59). The wire laying team continues down the line (1:15). The team salutes the Communications Signal Officer (1:26) prior to beginning the job. General routes are outlined (1:30). The wire team truck peels out from the trees; well hidden among the foliage (1:52). Reel units pass a Signal Corps soldier operating a switchboard (2:06). The unit enters the command post area (2:17). The end of the wire is passed off to the wire chief (2:24) and connected to the switchboard (2:26). Extra wire is tied to a support (3:05). Another truck moves in (3:16). The portion of the unit with the reel unit continues to lay line (3:40). The unit pauses and adjust slack in the line (3:53). Tags are marked with the name of the unit and the number of the circuit (4:23). The line is stuck around the inside of the curves to avoid detection (5:09). The reel appears close to exhaustion (5:38). The end of the wire is readied for splicing (5:57). Another reel is spliced into the line (6:12). The test telephone line is connected to the line (6:31). The line’s continuity is tested (6:41). The Signal Corps officer makes a call back to the switchboard (6:51). Loading coils are employed (7:04). A diagram notes the designated spacing between the loading coils (7:20). The C-114 coil is shown (7:42). Conductors are fastened (7:49), the binding post is tightened (7:56) and the connection is established. A team member ties the wire to a support (8:26). Line is laid over a stone bridge (9:14). The line is pulled to make the crossing (9:29). Lines are cut, tagged (9:44) and readied for splicing (9:50). The wire is passed through the culvert (9:57). Lines are spliced together (10:10). Once completed, the truck moves on (10:31). How to lay lines at a railroad crossing follows (11:09). The lines are passed under the rails (11:17). The wire is spliced (11:27). A trench is dug (11:36) and the wire is set (11:43). Lines are tied off to a stake (11:50). An overhead tie is set at a road crossing (12:10). At a secondary dirt road, the wire is buried (12:48). They gut a trench across the road (13:05). Wire is laid loose in the trench (13:25). An overhead crossing is made over a stream (13:49). Secondary teams move in (14:40). Protection tape is used (14:55). A high stake keeps the line from coming in contact with the water (15:08). Tags are placed (15:12). At the railroad track, wire is fastened and buried (15:31). Signal Corps forces strap on their line equipment (15:55) in order to complete the overhead tie. They climb up the trees (16:10) and use the loop knot (16:24). A pair of lance poles are used in place of trees or telephone poles (17:10). At the trench, the line is buried (17:36). The line is pictured hanging over a stream (17:57). The unit truck reaches its destination (18:04). Extra line is tied off (18:15). A test call is made (18:24). Tagged lines are delivered to the operating detail (18:38). He attached these to the switch board (18:43). A final test is conducted (18:49). A member takes off to inform the detail of the location of the lines (19:01) and the film concludes (19:10).

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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