This color silent footage was shot during the training of U.S. Navy aviators in the early to mid-1950s (but prior to 1956) at Pensacola, Florida. It seems that this was some sort of open house or show for the public, as many civilians are visible throughout the film. It features footage of various demonstrations, including rescue at sea, as well as various aspects of flying in the SNJ-4 advanced trainer, including practice landings aboard the USS Monterey (CVL-26). The Monterey, which was decommissioned in 1956, was a WWII era Independence-class light aircraft carrier. The North American SNJ-4 Texans shown are single-engine, tandem cockpit monoplanes which were developed as a design modification from the BT-9 basic training aircraft first adopted by the Army Air Forces in 1935.

Jets perform a low pass in the blue sky. An intentionally set fire is seen, with U.S. Navy firemen showing how they put out the flames. Simulation of a rescue at sea of an aviator in a life raft by helicopter. A group of civilians observe as a Piasecki HUP Retriever/H-25 Army Mule is shown performing the rescue operation. (The Retriever is a compact single radial engine, twin overlapping tandem rotor utility helicopter). HUP-1 flies out over the water and performs a rescue maneuver on a person in a raft. Helicopter takes off and does a 360. Drops out of the sky hard onto the tarmac to deposit the pilot “victim” and get him to a waiting military ambulance. The helicopter goes into the sky, flies, comes in fast for a landing, spins around while hovering above the ground, flies off again.(:09-3:11). Motorcycles escort a Twin Coach military bus, frequently these were used as a mobile command post or hospital. Crash-into-water simulator (3:27) slams into a pool. Radar tower on USS Monterey bedecked with battle stars and silhouettes from its extensive WWII service (3:12-4:23). People walk around. Navy band plays. Black smoke plume from USS Monterey as the ship gets underway. Moving footage taken from a ship, passing by other boats and docks. A group of Retriever helicopters in the sky. Helicopters fly by. A Retriever lands on the carrier, in preparation for having to perform rescue duties in case one of the cadets has to ditch (4:24-6:59). Chinook lifts off and then lands quickly. Another helicopter comes in and lands on the deck of USS Monterey. A Texan takes off. Another SNJ-4 lands and then takes off (7:00-8:46). Beechcraft T-34 Mentor lands, men rush over. Another SNJ-4 aborts landing and keeps flying. Beechcraft T-34 Mentor lands hard onto the deck quickly followed by one that does a flyby. SNJ-4 plane lands hard on the Carrier. Another goes around. SNJ-4 has a hard landing. Another SNJ-4 comes in for a landing (8:47-10:10). SNJ looks like its coming to land but turns outward. SNJ-4 lines up and lands on the Carrier. Another SNJ-4 follows behind. SNJ-4 lands perfectly and men rush over to it. It starts up and takes off again. SNJ lands. Texan goes around. Another lands on the carrier. USS Hickox (DD-673) a Fletcher-class destroyer is visible in the distance (10:11-11:57). SNJ-4 is waved to land by landing signal officer (LSO) on the deck. One plane on the deck, another flies over. Radar antenna. SNJ-4 flight activities continue (11:58-15:03).

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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