U.S. AIR FORCE DESERT SURVIVAL TRAINING FILM 28534

This somewhat ridiculous 1963 US Air Force training film from the series “Mountain and Desert Survival,” outlines principles of desert survival and procedures for promoting rescue and maintaining personnel health and comfort. The film opens with scenes of the hostile desert, with its bleak landscape and oppressive heat. At 1:32, an airplane is seen on fire and the pilot ejects (apparently this is real footage of an accident) followed at 1:46 with a process shot of a pilot in a parachute. As he descends the pilot attempts to spot terrain which might offer some shade and protection. At 2:24, the pilot is dazed from his landing, but apparently intact. From this point forward the pilot will struggle to survive until he can be rescued. At 6:40 the pilot drinks water from the survival kit, dons a hat, binds his injured knee and at 7:29, the pilot pulls his rubber survival raft along with him into the desert. At 9:13 he builds an improvised shelter using his parachute. At 13:00 he examines a survival booklet and learns that his odds of survival are not good unless he can find water. At 17:00, he places brush so that he can light a signal fire. At 17;20, he looks at a barrel cactus and considers cutting it open for water. At 18:58, he digs for water in a dry stream bed, but after digging 3' he finds no water. At 20:40, he tries to kill a rattle snake for food. At 21:00, he retrieves the barrel cactus by kicking it over. At 21:48 he cleans the snake for cooking, and even salts the snake "steaks" with salt tablets. At 22:40, he opens up the barrel cactus and pulls out a piece from which he wrings some liquid. (According to the Internet, this is not recommended. "Basically, you're ingesting a substance that your body has to process. You can drink from a barrel cactus, but only one of five varieties-the fishhook barrel-isn't toxic." ) At 24:00 the pilot lights his signal fire. At 25:40, the pilot makes a big "X" on the ground with rocks and brush. By 28:30, his second day, the pilot is beginning to hallucinate. At 29:00 he makes contact with air rescue using his survival radio, and lights his signal fires with flares. A rescue helicopter soon appears and the pilot's ordeal comes to a quick end.
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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@halon7476]

Love this old school stuff

[@pklose142]

This was my father’s work and that is my father acting they did not let him voice over

[@utp216]

Your dad is the Capt. Hammond character? That is awesome if that was him.

[@Digital_daze_]

You’re dads a real hero !

[@MarioMastar]

I feel for the guy. I'm sure they kept him hydrated, but I can't imagine how difficult it was for him sitting in this desert. Definitely deserves his medal for this!

[@paul7754]

'So I said self - stop sweating!' Classic survival skill - talk to yourself or your volleyball.

[@allgood6760]

I have a USAF survival manual a wealth of info.👍

[@daleburrell6273]

...that's ONE place where you can't do much harm when you start a fire-!

[@garyhilson7220]

This style of movie just brought back memories of those JIVE ASS grade school films back in 60s and 70s!!! LOL!!!!!

[@danielgorraz3820]

Your dad was, a brave man.

[@TokyoXtreme]

Sandstorms are very, very dangerous.

[@ballygeale1]

i watched this video a few times and they didnt say anything about useing his t shirt as a cover for his head or saving his water

[@bigskunk801]

A desert isn’t defined by being hot. It’s defined by the amount of precipitation. The fact is. Antarctica is the largest desert on the planet. Because of the reason mentioned above. The reason it has so much snow and ice has to do with the cooling of the atmosphere and movement of the plates in tectonic processes throughout billions of years

[@kaywatson6505]

He had his parachute. That could be folded and propped over head for some shade.

[@MarioMastar]

The "It was 105 degrees outside but under the chute it felt more like 90" after the night of cooling the ground kind of sets the tone pretty well. It seems more dry heat than radiative heat.

[@francisphillips53]

Too bad there wasn't more water in the kit. (But, water pretty heavy.)

[@istvansipos9940]

and rule #1: do not break your knee. it's a bad, bad omen

[@MarioMastar]

Homeboy will make darn sure that doesn't happen again. I'm sure he learned his lesson... XD (We're terrible XD)

[@billruss6704]

maybe the camera man has some water.

[@MarioMastar]

Always the most USEFUL guy around. Always there when you need them most!

[@gaboro.6602]

Anyone can identify the helicopter, whats the type?

[@ChaplainBobWalkerBTh]

I believe it is a Kaman Helicopter

[@Edinboron]

H-43 Husky

[@gaboro.6602]

@@Edinboron Thanks indeed, Steve!

[@txsraappraiser]

turtle in the desert

[@txsraappraiser]

desert tortoise, my mistake

[@wernesgruder1]

Good eating

[@MarioMastar]

@@wernesgruder1"I don't want to be near a snake pit" That snake later on kept him alive. The one time you WANT a snake pit.

[@BeryJensen]

1963.....just saying

[@bobbrooks80]

In 1963 I knew more than this guy and I was just a 15 yr old boy scout.

[@tombowers2020]

Really? You could fly a USAF jet, single handily navigate without GPS, punch out in an ejection seat, and fly a parachute to the ground?

[@mikehagan4320]

@@tombowers2020 the video is about desert survival not flying

[@francisphillips53]

@@mikehagan4320 that's right.. (Good point.)

[@MarioMastar]

@@tombowers2020ironically...neither could this pilot or he wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. bob might not be exaggerating. (no disrespect meant, just found the irony funny)