"FLIGHT TV SHOW" 1958 B-29 ALL WEATHER FLIGHT EPISODE "SHOW OF FORCE" STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND 86104

Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: / periscopefilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.
Consider becoming a channel member • Help us preserve more ...
"Flight" was a short-lived TV series that debuted in 1958 and only lasted one year. Hosted by Gen. George C. Kenney, the program focused on dramatic tellings of stories from the chronicles of the U.S. Air Force. Production company California National also produced "The Silent Service" which profiled the Navy's submariners, and "Navy Log". This particular episode tells the story of Col. Robert Evans, who in 1947 was involved in a special Cold War mission to prove that the Air Force's new Strategic Air Command could fly to any target in Europe with minimal notice, no matter what the weather conditions. We're not 100% sure of the episode title but believe it is "Show of Force". It was directed by Jean Yarborough, and written by Leonard Heideman aka Laurence Heath. It stars Douglas Kennedy as Col. Robert Evans, Ron Hagerthy as Capt. Tom Hughes, Chris Dark as G.C.A. Operatore, and Addison Richards as Baxter.
This episode begins with shots of Berlin during the Cold War and in particular the Berlin crisis (1:08-1:46). Berlin, Germany. Russians in Germany. Soviet troops. General Theodore Baxter talks with Col. Robert Evans of the 91st Bomb Wing (aka 91st Reconnaissance Group) in his office at the Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. The two discuss the situation in Berlin and the mission -- to show the Russians that the Air Force can fly anywhere in the world, in any weather, when called upon to do it (1:47-4:27). An officer takes a picture of his wife in her bathing suit near the pool when he is called to report for duty. He kisses his wife goodbye. Maintenance is performed on some planes. Col. Evans explains the situation to his men. Men load up to board a plane, two get into the cockpit (4:28-6:28). A Boeing B-29 takes off, followed by a few more behind it. B-29s in the sky. One of the pilots looks at the picture of his wife in her bathing suit, Col. Evans radios in. german people look at newspapers, Russian soldiers aren't pleased. Two officers discuss the weather deteriorating (6:29-8:30). Col. Evans radios in and the planes head for bad weather. They are in the clouds. Col. Evans talks with men at the Rhein-Main Air Base near Frankfurt, Germany on his radio about the weather (8:31-10:28). Col. Evans talks to his other planes about landing at Rhein-Main in bad weather with low fuel. Russian officer looks out of the window. Radar antenna spins. Rhein-Main radar. Men on the ground at Rhein-Main speak to Col. Evans and explain the situation. Col. Evans tells his men the situation via radio (10:29-13:05). The B-29 in the clouds. Bad rain on the ground. Russian officer picks up a phone. Ground men at Rhein-Main. B-29s move through the air. Communication between the ground and Col. Evans via radio. Nervous crewmen on the plane with Col. Evans (13:06-15:35). radio communication between the B-29 and the ground. Bad weather on the ground. Landing check is completed on the plane. Radar is watched on the ground. B-29 heads for the ground (15:36-17:18). Ground men talk with Col. Evans on his B-29. Radar is watched. B-29 descends. Very cloudy skies. The man at the radar relays information to Col. Evans about the proper coordinates to land, both are stressed due to the weather and low visibility, plane tries to land but pulls up at last moment, they were too far to the left (17:19-19:07). Col. Evans talks with his co-pilot about what he saw on the ground, they're going to try and land again. Man at the radar continues to speak with Col. Evans. Col. Evans radios he's going to try it again and land this time. B-29s fly. German people look up (19:08-21:11). Col. Evans flies, is nervous. Man on the radar radios Col. Evans and explains what he's facing in the bad weather to land. B-29 descends. Radar screen on the ground. B-29 is one mile from landing (21:12-22:43). Col. Evans looks down. B-29 in the air. Propeller spins. Col. Evans lands on the runway in the bad weather, all is well. Col. Evans radios the other planes Ground crew lands every B-29 in the wing. Russians at a table are "congenial" (22:44-24:33). General Kenney wraps up the episode, discussing the importance of flying by instrument (24:34-24:55). End credits (24:56-25:56).
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 and 2k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@margueritefan2797]

Thanks!

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks so much. Gifts like this help us preserve more films! Please consider visiting us on Patreon.com/periscopefilm

[@Ozark_Bule]

I still have the citation letter from General Kenney for my father who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the Battle of The Bismark Sea. Thanks for adding.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Amazing. God bless your Dad and all who served.

[@pcj3405]

Wow! After an ordeal like that, breakfast would taste better than ever. "And now we know.......The rest of the story." Love these old video's. Thank you!

[@colinsdad1]

As a former USAF SSGT who was stationed at Westover AFB in Chicopee MA I can vouch for how crappy the weather can be here (I still reside in the area). What a great film!

[@rickb1973]

I just had to go back and watch that final flyover in the starting credits a few more times....literally awesome.

[@timengineman2nd714]

F-102s & Thunderbird F-86s. The go-around at one point had an old film's early B-17 with the "bathtub' instead of a ball turret! Also, the B-29 on approach was obviously a model of an early version which were painted Olive Drab and Gray belly.

[@jeramiebradford1]

I've only seen 4 or 5 episodes of this show, I always hoped I'd find this one again.

[@peterperez3860]

Love watching that show when I was a kid ..... Good story's back then .

[@rogerbartlet5720]

in 2022 Europe still can't take care of itself.

[@jagboy69]

Today we call this an PAR approach. The controller can see the aircraft on the radar and calls out distance, rate of descent and course deviations. Yes, it is a bit nerve racking the first time you do it in the soup. A calm controller with a smooth cadence goes a long way to making this easy. Can't imagine doing this with old school equipment.

[@rickb1973]

"Maintenance procedures that normally took hours were compressed into minutes...." **Me, with my eyebrows raised in mild alarm**

[@margueritefan2797]

My husband would have loved this entire series. He was in SAC Hope at some point (when time and monies allow) Flight: Outpost in Space will be available. Thank you....

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Wish we had that episode...

[@margueritefan2797]

@@PeriscopeFilm I wish to thank you for responding. Best of luck to you in your quest to bring some incredible shows to your viewing audience.

[@irish89055]

The Prestige of American Air power has never been close to zero

[@ChasOnErie]

Once upon a time !!!!

[@jimmartin4430]

And nobody was offended in the making of this movie.

[@francissaker8644]

Looking back at what we watched on TV in the 1950s it was laughable, Not much better today.

[@michaelmakes1225]

Every cast member of each episode of "Flight" also appeared on "Perry Mason" at one time or another..

[@johnmorykwas2343]

If my copilot was watch me, and not outside the aircraft or the instruments, that'll be last time he would fly.

[@ALSNewsNow]

Why didn't they use synthetic vision

[@unr74]

If the flight took 17 hours to get to Berlin, and the people at Rhein Main knew they were coming , and the weather was initially clear, why didn’t they use that time and those conditions to calibrate the GCA?

[@frankkoslowski6917]

wow! Flying blind without a proper electronic blind man's stick. it's way way better than current Western Australian TV. They were still trying to find a way of playing Russian Roulet safely in one of them mindless shows.

[@timengineman2nd714]

Clint Eastwood as GCA: "Well punk, do you feel lucky?"

[@timengineman2nd714]

If I remember correctly (from what I've read, and seen/heard historical videos) the B-29s were sent to England after taking off from Massachusetts. This way they had extra fuel upon arriving. Also, this put them out of range of a tactical fighter bomber attack from the USSR. They weren't "Silver-plate" B-29s with the modification to drop the newest version of the Fat Man Bomb (first version was dropped on Nagasaki). But they were loaded up, after arrival, with a lot of GP and Incendiary Bombs, and Truman promised Stalin if one of our Cargo planes flying to or from Berlin got shot down, that he would not hesitate to give the order to burn Moscow to the ground!!! Plus, this mission wouldn't be announced until after arrival!

[@rickb1973]

@@braininavatnow9197 You can say that again.....The general in the beginning just ordered them to fly B-29s from Arizona to Germany without refueling!

[@timengineman2nd714]

@@braininavatnow9197 I was. pointing that out, along with what really happened!

[@timengineman2nd714]

@@rickb1973 There was a modification where the B-29 could mount the B-50's (which was a B-29 with some modifications) Very Large drop tanks. But yeah, they probably would have refueled on the (US or Canada) East Coast before flying to Britain, and then flying to Germany....

[@banditeastlick2471]

I think this was the dambusters

[@tombraider7825]

Who'ya gonna call? Dam Busters defined the formula of the bombing run, which was later used as a template for the first Star Wars movie. (It should be noted that UK cinema also helped define the movie formula for defusing bombs / mines, etc.) The org. Dam Busters movie was surprisingly unpopular in the US when first released as were many UK war movies of that year. (see wikipedia and the article from Variety linked in that entry) But when I looked at this, I couldn't help but notice Douglas Kennedy, the same actor who played, "The Incredible Transparent Man" which I saw just 2 days ago here on the y-tube! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpLOnWpsnLOZa9k

[@Robert-ro5tb]

gambling is EVIL 💔

[@muttonchopsgayever]

Blind man’s buff

[@jeffd4056]

When men were men and women were gorgeous

[@frank6842]

You need to get off the internet if you think people are unattractive now

[@C-130-Hercules]

No… when men and women still were men ….and women.

[@danielmalone4446]

@@frank6842 they are

[@jagboy69]

When men drank beer and F'd women. Today they drink bottled water F each other! :-O I had a crusty old C-130 instructor pilot tell that to a couple of herk drivers in a sim one day. I fell out of my seat lmao!

[@irish89055]

Is the pilot in command blind? he had to ask co pilot how far down the runway they were

[@gcopter1963]

"Flight TV Show", was this something regularly broadcasted back then?

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Yes this was a short lived, syndicated TV show.

[@arturboras6615]

Haber ?

[@russpeck1320]

Funny, I found nothing laughable about this.