This black & white, silent home movie shows a U.S. Army field exercise in 1936. The location is unknown as well as the precise unit involved, although there is a flag visible in the film at (:46) with the crossed rifle insignia of the infantry and the nomenclature “125 HZ”. We’re not sure but this is probably the 125th Infantry Regiment (if you can figure out this mystery we’d be grateful!) They are conducting a full scale military exercise, camping in the field, sleeping in tents, and operating tanks and armored cars in co-ordination with aircraft.
Opening: Military planes in the sky (:09), possibly Curtiss A-12 Shrikes or . A flag waves at base camp, it reads 125 HZ (:46), probably the 125th Infantry Division. Servicemen fool around for the camera; they smile, laugh, and goof around (:51). A soldier smoking a cigarette walks towards the camera (1:46). Smoke surrounds men near raised tents (1:59). Men on the field; two men play fight (2:30). Soldiers rest on the ground (2:41). At (3:00) is what appears to be a T10 “Palmer” Armored Car, designed byCol. Bruce Palmer. (If it is a T10 it was one of only 3 produced!) A soldier works on a howitzer (3:07). Brand new M-2 light tanks (first introduced in 1935) race by quickly on a road (3:17). At (3:43) they sit in a row with armored cars. Two men wrestle on grass (3:49). Soldiers march up a hill (4:00). View from a hill (4:15). Army cars — the Jeep had yet to be developed — and soldiers on a hill (4:52). Soldiers do maneuvers as seen from a hill (5:01). Soldiers lined up in front of their tents are inspected by officers (5:40). Tents (6:07). Soldiers mill about (6:33). Soldiers in a moving truck look at the camera; some fool around (6:41) while another sleeps. A car goes down the road (7:08). Soldiers stand around, some wave (7:19).
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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
