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Summary: Development of the air arm of the US Navy, now a "full partner" of the surface fleet.
Description: Film of the "best of America's young manhood" at Chapel Hill Preflight School, then of the archives of the Navy Department and the aircraft building of the Smithsonian Museum. Their film and exhibits cover very early days, including Curtiss 'Pusher' (first USN aircraft) and first landing on a ship by Ely (USS Pennsylvania, 1911). Rôle of Captain Chambers, as pre-WW1 prime instigator of development of seaplanes. Explanation of main classes of naval aircraft. Record flights across Atlantic and to Hawaii. Spectacular development of catapult and arrester wires. First carrier, 1922 - USS Langley. 1924 - enough money for R and D programmes (eg wind tunnel) and sophisticated training. Development of airships, backed by Admiral Moffat, to carry Scout aircraft. First USN fighter squadron - specialisation of aircraft. Torpedo planes. Curtiss Helldivers in action. Lexington and Saratoga, laid down as battleships, built as carriers. Long range patrol bombers take over functions of ships for scouting and marine patrols. The carrier has become rated as equal to the battleship.
Production Details: United States Navy (Production sponsor)
March of Time (Production company)
Bureau of Aeronautics (Production company)
De Rochemont, Louis (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Chambers (Captain) (person)
United States Navy (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, United States naval - combat: Curtiss Pusher (object name)
operations, United States naval - routine (object name)
ships, United States naval - battleship: Pennsylvania (1911) (object name)
ships, United States naval - aircraft carrier: Langley (object name)
ships, United States naval - aircraft carrier: Lexington (object name)
ships, United States naval - aircraft carrier: Saratoga (object name)
society, United States naval - history (object name)
training, United States naval (object name)
USA & <Chapel Hill Preflight School> (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 2
Footage: 1710 ft; Running time: 19 mins