This 1944 color restricted film about being an “Aviation Metalsmith” is part of a “Your Job in the Navy” series of recruitment films presented by the U.S. Navy. It opens with a plane hitting the landing hard on aircraft carrier, breaking the landing gear (:20-:28). The Aviation Metalsmith uses a power saw to cut tempered steel needed to repair broken metal pieces while onboard the carrier (:29-:52). Another puts protective glasses on and welds a landing gear brace bar (:53-1:12). Two others make molds for metal parts. The cast for a Catalina bomber speed ring is first cast in plaster of Paris to make the mold for the die. They move it into a wooden box, wipe it off, and cover it in a special sand. They lift the hardened metal lower half of the die out. Antimony lead is poured to create the upper half (1:13-2:28). Two Aviation Metalsmiths feed a metal sheet through a machine to cut it. A drop hammer then stamps the sheet metal into the proper shape. (2:30-3:38). The speed ring is assembled and then placed on the bomber (3:40-4:00). Two sailors work on a ring formed from tempered aluminum alloy upon which a gun turret will be secured. It is then riveted onto the bomber (4:02-4:44). A sheet of heated Plexiglas is removed from an oven. Four Metalsmiths apply simultaneous pressure to mold it around a turret frame. The completed Plexiglas top is installed to protect the gunner (4:46-5:31). A nose turret is installed and shown turning in different directions (5:32-5:50). The bomber moves down the carrier’s flight deck (5:52).

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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