In this first reel of the U.S. Navy training film This Is It, likely from the early 1940s, viewers watch as newly trained pilots arrive on a U.S. carrier, where they learn the importance of their operational training. The film uses incidents that are true and authentic, “based upon combat reports in USF 74” to convey the risks facing those who are cavalier about their training and operational protocol. The film opens with a shot of a U.S. carrier at sea (1:20). A commander addresses the issue of losing planes and pilots due to the young pilots failing to take their operational training seriously. New pilots arrive, landing Douglas SBDs, Grumman TBFs, and Grumman F6Fs on the carrier (02:45). The new pilots meet in the briefing or ready room of the carrier with the commander (04:58). The film cuts to the previous group of pilots flying bombers and fighter planes flying in formation on a fighter escort (08:58). A blindfolded trainee sits in a grounded fighter (likely an F6F) and is tested on the plane’s instruments (11:12). In a simulation room, a trainee climbs out of a test cockpit (14:15) where a woman reviews his mistakes made during the simulation. The film shows a number of other shots of the previous group of pilots during their training, including sitting in a classroom learning about radio signals (16:00). The film then returns to the present situation aboard the carrier at sea (18:59). The commander addresses the new pilots in the task force on the upcoming mission (21:44), then the pilots and other crew run to their stations (27:25) to prepare for takeoff. There is a shot of the control room (28:17) before the first reel of the film ends with a shot of the planes breaking formation (29:37) to engage in an attack on Japanese forces.

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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