This U.S. Navy fire training film was produced by Technical Communications, Inc. in 1969 and is an overview of the fire fighting course for men assigned to carrier duty. Made in the wake of the disastrous fire aboard USS Oriskany in 1966 and the USS Forrestal fire in 1967, the purpose of this film is to educate the Hangar Deck crew on how to confine, control and/or extinguish a fire on a naval aircraft carrier.
The opening scene (0:14) is a naval aircraft carrier at sea — most likely USS Kitty Hawk CVN-63. It then zooms in on a naval aircraft being moved into a hangar. At (0:36) the narrator begins to talk about how every man on deck needs to be prepared to fight fire. A fire on a hanger deck moves fast and fire is shown at (44:16). At (1:04) an airplane lands of the deck of the naval ship. The Control Tower on the flight deck is shown at (1:16) and pans out to a view of the full deck with airplanes and heavy motor equipment shown. Footage of the Hanger Deck personnel is shown, while the Aviation Fuel Repair Team and fire hoses are featured at (1:56). At (2:02) men with protective ear gear can be seen holding fire extinguisher equipment, while a fuel valve is opened. Conflag stations are discussed next in the film. A Conflag station, also known as the lookout station is shown at (2:20) and airplanes are shown at (2:27). A fire on a tire is shown at (2:38). Between (2:45 to 3:52) the film shows how communication between the Conflag station and the Communication Center works; showing phone communication and the mapping of the fire location. The fire is extinguished at (3:19). Control panels are shown at (3:41).
The closing of large doors on the aircraft at (3:52 to 4:43) can be accomplished either electronically or manually. Operation of closing these doors is part of the basic training for hangar deck fires and is the first of three ways to extinguish a fire. A block and tackle rig is shown at (4:49).
The second way to extinguish a fire is by foam. This discussion begins at (5:00) and discusses and shows foam tanks, concentrate, foam injection and foam stations. Equipment and the actual piping and valves system (5:47), a foam monitor is featured at (6:05) and footage of extinguishing an airplane tire with foam is at (6:15). The Flight Deck School attendees are found at (6:20) as they watch a demonstration. The Carrier also contains a water and foam sprinkler system which is featured and discussed at (6:45). Sprinkler controls are shown being operated at (6:52). The water crib is featured at (7:06) along with the master switches. (7:34) shows the elevator doors.
The next scene discusses the Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (OAB) that each firefighter must wear to prevent smoke inhalation (7:42 to 8:07).
Finally, a mock Gallery Deck fire begins at (8:06). This segment features the Hanger Team working together two by two to trap the fire from both openings to the deck below. Working in tandem, the two teams ensure the fire is extinguished by slowly walking toward the fire from their respective side with the foam fire hose. Men in complete OBA gear are shown at (8:55). Foam cascading into the gallery deck is featured at (9:07), while the men entering the gallery in full OAB gear is found at (9:25). The men retreat from the fire back on deck at (9:48). Another team demonstration is found at (10:10) where a fire on the hangar deck where an aircraft is parked is extinguished.
An overview of the entire film starts at (10:31) showing the doors, sprinkler systems and men in reflective attire as well as OAB and continues to the end of the film at (11:57).
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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
