Dating to mid-to-late WWII or early post-war, this color silent film shows ordnance tests with the hull of a Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber. The weapon being tested is described in a title card as a “V.A.R.” — most likely meaning Velocity Aircraft Rocket, and the tests seem directed at determining whether these missiles can be launched without endangering the aircraft. It’s possible that the footage is from summer of 1943, when the United States Navy launched a high-priority project for the development of an anti-submarine rocket. The weapon shown at 5:57 closely resembles a “Mousetrap” rocket bomb, which was widely used for anti-submarine warfare aboard ship. The Mousetrap weapon used a rocket and rail system that created almost no recoil, which made it well suited for aircraft use, as opposed to the more famous Hedgehog system (which was also much heavier). It’s not clear that Mousetrap rockets ever made it into the fleet, as the most common weapon deployed on the Grumman TBF was the 3.5-Inch Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket, or 3.5-Inch FFAR. The FFAR’s first “kill” of an enemy submarine took place 11 January 1944.

The film begins in the desert, possibly at China Lake, as a TBF Avenger, is launched from a ground catapult that simulates a flight deck. Title card: Catapult test in slow motion, Take-off normal (:09). Title card: Destructive Tests of V.A.R. (1:54). A wrecked TBF Avenger test plane, hull 26-GS-18; the undercarriage of the plane (2:37). The plane was lashed with a steel cable and a round was moved about 4 inches, no damage is shown (3:34). Military men stand around and look (4:37). Rail is twisted 90 degrees (4:57). A round is fired and drops to the ground (5:22). A man points to a round (5:56). Title card explains what occurred (6:10). Undercarriage of the TBF Avenger plane (6:39). A test round is fired from the plane as it is stationary on the ground, and the round hits the ground (7:16). A man shows a round piece of steel that fits into a hole that is missing (8:00). A man looks at the side of a plane (8:32). TBF Avenger plane fires off a round, as it sits on the ground, and the round hits behind in the dirt (8:50). Underneath a TBF Avenger plane, the wheel is prominent (9:13). Smoking round on the ground (9:29). A round is fired from the stationary TBF plane (10:13). Men stand and look at the side of the plane (10:32). A man in a suit inspects underneath a test plane (10:58). The TBF Avenger fires off a round on the ground (11:57). Aftermath of the test on the ground, rounds shown expended (12:04).

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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