This black and white documentary film, Air Force Story Chapter 1, was produced around 1953 by the Department of the Air Force. The Department of the Air Force was formed September 18, 1947, within the Department of Defense. Musical score is by The U.S. Air Force Band under the direction of Lt. Col. George S. Howard, commander and conductor of the band from 1944-1963. The film traces the development of U.S. Airpower through World War I.
The Air Force Story, Chapter I (0:16-1:14). A Hot Air balloon from Civil War days (1:15-1:20). As early as 1898 the War Department was interested in aircraft. Octave Chanute’s glider (1:21-1:27). Wilbur and Orville Wright’s 1903 Flyer (1:28-1:47). The Wright engine (1:39-1:41). Video of Orville Wright smiling then flying the 1903 Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (1:48-1:52). Wilbur Wright went to Europe in 1908 to prove flight to the Europeans (2:01-2:09). Wilbur Wright and the King of France (2:10-2:16). Wilbur showing France his aircraft could fly hoping for a sale (2:17-3:09). President Theodore Roosevelt (3:10-3:17). Wright Brothers test flights of the airplane built to Signal Corps’ specifications (3:18-3:30). U.S. Army Airplane 1 (3:31-3:39). 1913 Gold Military Aviator Wings (3:40-3:53). Photo of Lt. Henry Arnold, Hap Arnold, Chief of the Air Corps from 1938-1941 (3:54-3:57). View of Glenn Curtiss, aviator, who made the first long-distance flight in the U.S. (3:58-4:14). The Lafayette Escadrille, a volunteer pilot unit in 1916 (4:15-4:35). Rookie Cadets (4:42-4:54). Marching cadets (4:55-5:00). Making plaster bombs (5:01-5:07). Lewis machine gun, or Lewis Automatic Rifle (5:08-5:10). Preparing to fly (5:19-5:42). America’s first airmen (5:54-6:03). Newton D. Baker Jr., Sec. of War, 1916-1921 (6:04-6:11). President Woodrow Wilson signs a bill (6:12-6:19). Red Cross Girls send off the pilots (6:18-6:28). Dazzle camouflage, or Razzle Dazzle, ship of WWI, ready to carry troops (6:32-6:40). Troop Barracks in France (6:46-6:56). Advanced pilot training (6:59-7:08). Biplane fighter airplane (7:10-7:31). First Aero Squadron, established in 1913 (7:32-7:49). Commander Benjamin Foulois (7:50-7:56). Colonel Frank Lamb (8:01-8:04). 103rd Aero Squadron’s ace victories (8:05-8:39). Eddie Rickenbacker, or Fast Eddie, WWI American fighter ace (8:40-8:43). Airplane assembly plant (8:44-9:50). Each aircraft test flown, taken apart, and shipped to the front (9:51-10:16). In France they were reassembled (10:17-10:29). Airco DH.4, two seater biplane bomber, introduced in 1917 (10:30-10:45). Bombs fused and loaded (10:46-10:57). Airplane moved to air field by pushing it (10:58-11:13). Battle of Saint-Mihiel, September, 1918 (11:22-13:49). DH.4 airplanes take off for battle (11:30-12:25). DH.4 in flight (12:26-12:28). Battle scenes (12:30-13:49). Meuse-Argonne Offensive, September, 1918 (13:50-14:02). U.S. Aircraft flying overhead, we had won with airpower (14:01-14:35).
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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
