FLIGHT TV SHOW B-29 TYPHOON CHASERS AIR WEATHER SERVICE 82654

Produced by California National, FLIGHT was a much beloved aviation TV show that unfortunately only ran for one season 1958-1959 (38 episodes total). Featuring dramatic stories from the annals of the U.S. Air Force, the series starred Gen. George C. Kenney. California National also produced SILENT SERVICE, a wonderful drama about submarines. In this episode,TYPHOON CHASERS, the crew of a Guam-based B-29 weather aircraft survives Typhoon Marie and in the process, Capt. Art Crowley is able to provide vital information to fellow airmen. The show is based on real events from the Korean War. Typhoon Marie in September 1954 was one of Japan's most devastating storms and killed 1,361 and left 400 missing after hitting the northernmost island of Hokkaido. After passing Okinawa typhoon Marie went into the strait of Hormuth between Kyushu and Hokkaido and
caused a naval disaster with the sinking of the ferry boat Toya Maru, which claimed over 1400 deaths.
The show was directed by Jean Yarbrough, written by Leonard Heideman, edited by Henry DeMond, and shot by Robert Stillman. It starred George C. Kenney as himself, John Archer, Gary Vinson, Morgan Jones, Don Haggerty, Ken Wales, Jim Bridges, Stuart Wade and John Bryant.
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[@johnpsymqepdfq8492]

The acting, the script, the music, the drama... hard to say which was more 1950's.

[@scuddrunner1]

Here's a email I sent to my dad. He was a WB-50 weather pilot in Guam in '62 to '63. The B-50 was the latest version of the B-29. Typhoon Karen blew over Guam with over 200mph winds when we lived there. Did you earn the “old shoe” flying into Typhoon’s 10 times? In this movie they kept the planes on the ground and rode out the storm, why didn't you do that during Typhoon Karen? Also, they measured the winds in knots? I thought it was MPH. My dad says, That's the first time I've heard about the "old shoe". When we were stationed at Yokota we evacuated the B-50's to Misawa AB in the north end of the Japanese Islands. We no sooner got there when the storm changed course and headed directly for us. It was too late to evacuate again so I, and the other crews, spent the night, on the airfield, engines running, maneuvering the airplanes into the wind to prevent damage---so it depended on the situation, on Guam we had time to evacuate and that's the safest situation for the airplanes. We measured everything in knots, but they used MPH for press releases since they are higher and more impressive. BTW, I had 63 typhoon penetrations--we used to put them in the flight log. Why, I don't know!! Crazy stuff!

[@josemoreno3334]

Love these old Air Force story,s. I watched all of them. Air Force History in black and white. Love it.

[@sarjim4381]

The series was produced by Airborne Productions Inc. California National was the company that packaged the show and sold it to the TV networks and stations.

[@macchiM416]

We had the same series transmitted in Italy (dubbed in italian) in the early sixties and titled "piloti coraggiosi". I was 6 years old and with my beloved father, we waited each week for the next show. I hope to see more episodes here! Thank You

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Interesting!

[@bobwilson758]

Cool

[@model-man7802]

I loved this Show!!!!

[@garypmarquis]

I've been through these typhoons on "the rock", back in the late seventys....was locked in the baracks for days at a time...C-rats tasted great....violent outside,...did not open the doors,... c-rats and the p-47 can opener after that, kept me fed for days...and those little cans of fuel to heat food came in handy...

[@stylinstylist2005]

I think you mean the P-38 can opener....lol

[@Perktube1]

I think there was a larger version available as well.

[@hertzair1186]

The premise of actually flying through a hurricane on the surface is sound….in Gordon Taylor’s autobiography “The Sky Beyond”, he tells of being trapped in a bay at Clipperton Rock in the Pacific and flying his PBY Catalina on the surface of the lagoon through the high winds of the hurricane successfully.

[@rickey5353]

I'm having difficulty remembering this series. Thanks for the upload.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

+rickey5353 It's definitely quite obscure!

[@johnmoore8016]

I read this story many years ago when I was stationed in Japan I think. I saw part of this movie also som years ago t his is the timst time I see it at 100%. I will say this took some guts and gonads the size of basket ball to do something like this with B-29's

[@redtobertshateshandles]

What an episode. Whoda thought.

[@stoneblue1795]

Wow, enjoyed it.

[@barryhopesgthope686]

I weathered Typhoon Fred at Kunsun A.F.B. ROK.

[@macchiM416]

No other episodes further to the 5 available here?

[@TheIndianaSD]

Anyone who has learned to fly has practiced slow flight and if the wind is strong enough you can go backwards. Wouldn't advise trying the typhoon,method.

[@barryhopesgthope686]

Good thing they're wearing there brown military drawers!

[@Perktube1]

How many Flight films were produced? I think I'd like to see them all.

[@michaelmakes1225]

Debris strikes would have crippled most of the squad..

[@michaelbauers8800]

were these based on true stories?

[@bobwilson758]

Ole worn out B - 29 in a Caine at 500 ft. Sounds like a great idea! F this

[@sarge505050]

13:55 a B-29 lands and magically turns into a B-17.

[@bazonka1]

Well no, no it doesn't.