Made in 1968, “The Eighth Mission” is a U.S. Coast Guard film about the USCG mission. Official summary: A fast moving presentation of highlights of the major missions of the Coast Guard: Search and Rescue, Merchant Marine Safety, Aids to Navigation, Marine Law Enforcement, Oceanography, Meteorology and Polar Operations, Military Preparedness and Operations, Reserve Training and “SEMPER PARATUS”, the eighth mission: the “ALWAYS READY” capability to serve better the needs of the domestic and international maritime community and the marine sciences.

In 1790, Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels in order to enforce tariff and trade laws to prevent smuggling. A tanker sinks (1:16). Another vessel erupts in flames (1:25). Two men operate controls at the Coast Guard Radio Station (1:37). An SOS signal from a ship in danger (1:42). The distress message is (1:57) fed into the teletype system (1:59). Two men receive notice at the Rescue Coordination Center (2:04). One of the operatives plots the position of the SOS mission on a map (2:12). The controller makes a call to the AMVER Center (2:15). AMVER has it’s roots during the time of the RMS Titanic disaster of 1912. It is a global voluntary reporting system sponsored by the US Coast Guard. An IBM 1403 printer (2:28) prints the report. Coast guard rescue forces man the Grumman HU-16B (3:01). The Lockheed HC-130 flies to reported positions (3:13). The Commanding Officer of an ocean stationed vessel (3:34) receives alert. The USCGC Duane (3:46) is pictured from above. The USCG Reliance medium endurance cutter (3:49) is ordered to assist the distressed vessel. A merchant ship of the American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines is in distress (4:07). USCG men arrive in boats (4:13). Injured man is carried up on a litter (4:21). A USCG Lifeboat pushes off from harbor (5:07). A 30 inch utility boat (5:14) precedes a 40 inch utility boat (5:23). A duty officer at the Coast Guard Air Station (5:34) sends out signal. The Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard takes off (5:44). Flare smoke spills from the distressed boat (6:01). The 52-foot motor lifeboat tears through rough waters (6:45). USCG search through flooded lands (6:50). Coast guard officers and technicians (7:41) examine blueprints (7:46). USCG inspectors ensure materials and equipment are up to par (7:59). A certificate of inspection is presented for a freighter; the Seminole Victory (8:05). A USCG license (8:12) follows. The USCG makes an inspection (8:24) and watch over emergency drills (8:41). Various types of lighthouses (9:55). A marker bobs in the water (10:19). Various seafarer sign posts follow (10:41). The Chesapeake lighthouse is pictured (10:50). Crew within maintain the structure (11:12). The structure flashes (11:22). Seagulls flock from a Super Sea Buoy (11:32). Coast guard workers man LORAN-C stations (11:59). One of the station’s exterior is pictured (12:03). A Coast Guard blunt nosed river tender fitted with icebreaker bowels (12:21) cracks thick sheets. The USCGC Mackinaw moves through the Great Lakes (12:35). A pneumatic iceberg appears (12:43). The Titanic is mentioned (12:54). A commercial fishing operation unloads its catch (13:50). Alaskan fur bearing seals bob in the water (14:06). An inspector checks storage and cargo (14:40). Coastguards’ men investigate an oil spill (15:15). Chemical cargoes are monitored (15:27). A boating safety team boards a personal pleasure boat (16:23). A sign notes an inspection conducted in 1968 (17:12). A coastguardsmen holds a weather balloon (17:29). A probe is sent down to inspect the deep sea (17:58). A sample is pulled from arctic waters (18:10). The Tupolev Tu-16 (18:16) appears. A sample of sea life is gathered (18:32) from a converted WW2 navy seaplane. An oceanographic buoy is dropped (18:49). A weather balloon is launched (19:33). Ice breakers lead cargo vessels through the Arctic (20:28). USCG men load shells into long range guns (21:04). Military training (21:17) begins at the training and receiving stations. An 82 foot cutter (22:24) is put to work near southern Vietnam. A mortar fires at the shoreline (22:58). Medical aide (23:22) is delivered to southern Vietnamese people. Reservists march (23:52). Citizen sailors were organized in 1941 (24:10). Port security patrols put out a fire (24:43). The final mission motto “semper paratus” is explained (25:35). The seal of the US Dept. of Transportation (26:11). A 210 foot cutter appears (26:32). 82 footers operated in the Vietnam War (26:45). The C-130 appears (26:58). This film was produced by the US Coast Guard Motion Picture Branch (28:27).

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