This U.S. Air Force highlight reel from 1959 showcases a parade of innovation and spectacular achievement. The film begins with a parade of the “Century Series” fighter aircraft performing at Ellis Air Force Base, plus almost every other aircraft in USAF inventory including C-130s, B-58s, B-47s and B-52s. The U.S. Air Force Academy graduates its first class of 207 cadets. The Thor IRBM is tested and the Atlas ICBM becomes fully operational, and the Bomarc interceptor is seen. (See a spectacular explosion at the 5:30 mark of an Atlas booster). The first Atlas launch by a Strategic Air Command crew is shown. Operation Dark Cloud / Pinecone II is shown, a mass airborne exercise. The U.S. Air Force football team is shown at Yankee Stadium in “combat” with the West Point football team. The film ends with spectacular footage of the X-15 making rocket powered flights with Scott Crossfield in the cockpit.

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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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com