Presented by Martin Orlando, “Bullpup: A Pilot’s Missile” is a color U.S. Military film from the late 1950s or early 1960s detailing developments in firing capabilities of the AGM-12B Bullpup. The film opens by detailing how the Bullpup developed out of a need for the military to move away from dive-bomb technology and ends with footage of various experiments at different U.S. Military bases seeking to improve the Bullpup.

Developed in the 1950s, the AGM-12B Bullpup became the first successful guided tactical air-to-ground missile used by the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. The radio-guided, rocket-propelled Bullpup missile could accurately hit a small, heavily-defended target like a bridge

Film opens, opening credits, animal noises in background as camera pans jungle foliage at dusk (0:07). Camera zooms into palm tree revealing climbing monkey, drops coconuts on man standing below (0:31). Progression of dive-bomb technology: Plane takes off (appears similar to French Nieuport 28 C.1 biplane), pilot drops monkey wrench (0:53). Plume of smoke and fire consumes sky as 1930s plane dives and drops bomb (1:56). WWII development of highly accurate anti-aircraft weapons, barrage of artillery shoots up into sky towards plane (2:13). U.S. Navy tests of early forms of glide bombs i.e. ‘Bat’ and earlier variant ‘Pelican’ (2:33). U.S. Army experiments further with ways to lower attrition rate during Korean War, need for missile guided by pilot to hit target, led to development of Bullpup (2:51). Two men work on attaching a AGM-12B Bullpup missile to wing of plane while narrator compares benefits of Bullpup missile over dive bombing: Low attrition rate, pilot control of target, warhead effectiveness (3:25). Technical evaluation of Bullpup firing using different planes at Naval Air Missile Test Center at Point Mugu (Naval Air Station Point Mugu): First plane, North American FJ-2/-3 Fury takes off (4:48). View of three Bullpups as they are launched from North American FJ-2/-3 Fury, hit target (5:27). Another North American FJ-2/-3 Fury takes off, piloted by Lieutenant Wayne Smith (first fired Bullpup during Operation Snowball 1957) (6:03). View of three Bullpups as they are launched from North American FJ-2/-3 Fury, hit target (6:29). Interview with Lieutenant Smith, opinions on Bullpup Missile system (7:53). Evaluation of Bullpup continues with firing from Republic F-84 Thunderjets; Seeking to improve launch range, target identification (9:08). Target visibility studies to determine maximum distances at which pilot can identity target conducted at Vision Research Laboratories at University of Michigan’s Engineering Research Institution, supported by Defense Department and administered by Army Signal Corps (9:29). Observer sits in chair and approaches scaled terrain model, chair stops moving when target identified (9:52). Example of pilot’s normal view at 35,000 ft; Compared with same view except pilot wearing specially made glasses (10:30). Development of new warhead specifically for Bullpup at United States Naval Proving Grounds Dahlgren, Virginia (10:51). Examples of produced scale models of warhead in different shapes, forms (11:01). Scale models tested to determine best shape, test fired through different thicknesses of steel plate held at various angles; Model heads recovered from railroad cars filled with sawdust; Extent of damage analyzed (11:06). Experiments at Naval Ordnance Laboratory Corona, California to develop new fuse; Fuses tested along 1500 ft. track at Naval Ordinance Test Station China Lake, California; Concrete blocks and steel arena set up (11:35). Personnel gathered in fire control room to observe test firing; Steel arena completely crumbles and impact studied (12:40). U.S. Navy tests of Bullpup under combat conditions (13:53). Narrator discusses U.S. Army’s future plans for Bullpup (14:08). Closing credits (14:37). Film ends (14:53).

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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