Other titles:LES SENTINELLES DE L'ESPACE (French title) [Alternative Title]
ABWEHRSCHLACHT IM WELTRAUM (German title) [Alternative Title]
AS SENTINELAS DO ESPACO (Portuguese title) [Alternative Title]
NATO DOCUMENTARIES [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: In the SHAPE Operations Centre ("SHOC"), Lieutenant General Sir Brian Horrocks describes the elaborate US-Canadian air defence system (NORAD) covering the whole North American continent on behalf of NATO.
Description: Sir Brian Horrocks introduces the film by noting that the future of warfare will be conducted in space. The film then moves on to describe how the space over North America is monitored for incursions by unknown aircraft, and those incursions responded to. The system, consisting of a long-range radar warning-system (operating through land-stations, picket ships, airships and aircraft) and an organisation for interception and counter-attack, is described using illustrative footage and graphics. The ability to defend against attacks is shown. A pilot of a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is shown suiting up, as are demonstrations of the aircraft's rockets, which may be fired remotely. The rocket tray of a North American F-86D Sabre is loaded, indicating preparedness. A F-86D then takes part in a recreation of a defence exercise. 416 squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force scramble to respond to an incursion, taking off in Avro Canada CF-100 Canucks. A United States Air Force Convair F-102 Delta Dagger identifies a further incursion as being by a private airline.
Horrocks then interviews Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, General Cortlandt V.R. Schuyler. Schulyer discusses the strength of retaliatory forces under NATO command, the role of Britain in such retaliation, and the possibility of being able to target intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) defensively. Horrocks then describes how efforts are underway to adapt missiles, such as the NIKE anti-aircraft missile, to counter an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The film then ends with views of the launching of two ICBMs.
Alternative Title:LES SENTINELLES DE L'ESPACE (French title) [Alternative Title]
ABWEHRSCHLACHT IM WELTRAUM (German title) [Alternative Title]
AS SENTINELAS DO ESPACO (Portuguese title) [Alternative Title]
NATO DOCUMENTARIES [Allocated Series Title]
Colour:B&W
Digitised:Yes
Object_Number:NAT 2028
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM NATO
Featured Period:
Production Date:1958
Production Country: NATO
Production Details: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Sponsor)
BBC (Production company)
Sandoz, Henry (Production individual)
Sandoz, Henry (Production individual)
Miller-Jones, Andrew (Production individual)
Brodsky, Bella (Production individual)
Curtis, Jacques (Production individual)
Thiriet, Maurice (Production individual)
Tadie-Cinema (Production company)
Horrocks, Brian Gwynne1895-09-071985-01-04Years of service: 1913–49
Horrocks served in the First World War and the Russian Civil War, was Prisoner of War twice, and competed in the pentathlon in the 1924 Paris Olympics. During the Second World War he commanded XXX Corps in North Africa and Europe. He was seriously wounded in 1943, but returned to command a year later.
Trustee of the Imperial War Museum (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage:; Running time: 28 mins 20 secs
