Boeing Aircraft Company’s Engineering Division produced this black-and-white training film, “The B-17 Flying Fortress,” for the United States Army Air Force’s (USAAF) Air Services Command in 1942. The film is coded as Training Film AAF-136. The film presents the engine startup procedures for Boeing’s B-17 heavy bomber and is subtitled “Starting the Engines.” The narrator describes specific procedures in detail while a mechanic crew carries out system checks. The majority of the film’s shots are closeups of B-17 gauges and controls, as well as demonstrating how personnel maneuver through the plane and cockpit. Boeing introduced the four-engine B-17 in 1938, and the model remained in production through 1945. This film’s test plane tail serial number is 124387. The film takes place entirely on a runway; two mechanics enter the bomber as pilots while the others remain ground crew outside the plane. For convenience, they are referred to as “aircrew” and “ground crew” in this description, though they are all mechanics.

Opens with a warning that the film’s contents concern national defense and transmission of its contents are restricted; invokes the Espionage Act of 1917 (00:15). Title appears over a shot of B-17 nose, engine propellers spinning (00:49). “Starting the Engines” title card (01:08). Crew of mechanics in jumpsuits approach a B-17 carrying tool boxes and fire extinguishers and inspect the plane’s exterior (01:27). Two men enter the bomber to act as aircrew (02:00). The aircrew make their way through the plane’s interior, walking briskly but slightly hunched in the cramped space; the interior is full of exposed girders and struts (02:03). They cross a narrow catwalk using hand cables for balance (02:16). The aircrew advance to the cockpit and sit in the pilot and co-pilot seats (02:34). Camera pans over cockpit flight instruments: many dials and levers (02:36). An aircrewman adjusts his seat and rudder pedals to his size (02:46). Aircrewman removes the steering control lock pin (03:03). The external groundcrew places chocks in front of the plane’s wheels (03:15). Ground crewman inspects the plane’s exterior, tugging and pressing on panels (03:33). Another mechanic walks under a wing, visually inspecting it (03:41). Ground crewman records fuel and oil in a log with a pencil (03:58). Aircrew begin turning on engine switches (04:09). Aircrewman twists open a valve to build hydraulic pressure (04:22). Shot of hydraulic pump vibrating (04:35). Shot of oil pressure gauges, needles slowly advance (04:39). Aircrew engage various levers (04:50). Exterior shot of a ground crewman watching flaps raise and lower; cockpit shots of flap controls (05:42). Aircrewman gives ground crew the OK hand sign (06:19). Ground crew manually rotates props (06:24). Throttle opened (06:52). Boost pump switches (07:00). Fire extinguisher selector knob (07:09). Aircrew pumping engine primer (07:12). Ground crewman standing with a fire extinguisher (“fire bottle”) (07:15). Aircrewman holds his hand out the cockpit window, signaling with one finger (07:25). First engine starts, propellor slowly spinning (07:40). Engine begins smoking as prop speeds up (07:54). Full engine start, propellers invisible, dust is stirred (08:04). Wide shot of ground crewman holding fire bottle, watching engine (08:20). Pilot holds out two fingers from cockpit (08:28). Number two engine starting, low angle shot from behind ground crewman (08:38). Pilot hold three fingers out cockpit window and ground crewman moves to observe third engine start (08:49). Pilot holds out four fingers (09:19). Faster montage of switches being flipped, pumps priming, oil gauge needles moving, and props spinning (09:20). De-icer switch engaged, de-icing boots on exterior of plane swell and deflate (10:31). Magneto and spark plug switches (11:31). Engine run-up process montage: superchargers, throttles opened and closed, tachometer RPM gauges, manifold pressure gauges, cylinder head temperature gauges, propellers a blur (11:50). Hatch opens and aircrew climb out, fold up steps, and place them back inside plane, closing hatch (13:29). Low angle shot of aircrew walking away from plane, large white stars (U.S. Army insignia) visible on underside of wing and plane fuselage (13:41). Mechanics assemble in front of B-17; crew chief examines engine check form; B-17 nose, cockpit, and two engines visible (13:46).

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