This WWII pilot training film “Your Safety Harness” is a product of the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Forces and dates to 1944. Lt. Col. John J. Wilson, M.C. provides information and instructions for using safety belts and shoulder harnesses to provide pilots safety during flight and landing. The film dates to an era when such devices were novel (three point auto seat belts for instance did not exist) and not well understood by the public.

Credits (00:09). “Your Safety Harness” title banner (00:27). Lt. Col. John J. Wilson, M.C. speaks about pilot safety and aircraft accidents (00:36). He introduces the safety belt and shoulder harness (01:11). He and an assistant demonstrate their functions using a human-sized doll and shock-simulator of forced landings (01:38). The shock results in the doll falling out of the machine when not secures by belt and harness (01:56). Lt. Col. John J. Wilson speaks to the camera about the reported statistics of accidents like what the simulator presented (02:13). The simulator experiment is repeated using only the safety belt to secure the doll (02:36) resulting in face injuries to the doll (02:41). The footage is replayed in slow-motion (03:03). Lt. Col. John J. Wilson speaks to the camera about the safety belt’s incomplete ability to provide safety alone (03:15). The simulator experiment is repeated using both the safety belt and shoulder harness (03:56). Lt. Col. John J. Wilson speaks about the results of the experiment (04:15). He takes his jacket and hat and leave his office (04:44). He enters a North American O-47 aircraft monoplane (04:52) and demonstrates how to correctly secure both the safety belt and shoulder harness (05:01). A lever on the side of the seat adjusts the shoulder harness (05:47). He demonstrates how to open the belt and harness in case of emergencies (06:53). He exits the plane (07:03) and speaks to the camera about the importance of the belt and harness (07:10). Lockheed P-38 Lighting fighter planes flying (07:35). A Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter plane (07:57). Lt. Col. John J. Wilson continues to speak about the importance of the belt and harness (08:16). A Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter plane landing roughly (08:26). Lt. Col. John J. Wilson explains how the belt and harness saved the pilot from injuries during the rough landing (08:54). Lockheed P-38 Lighting fighter planes flying (09:02). “The End” text overlay (09:10).

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