1968 U.S. AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIR COMMAND F-100 SUPER SABRE SQUADRON IN VIETNAM (SILENT) GG47015

Year Published: 1968

Description:

This silent film -- apparently a "rough cut" of an unidentified 1968 U.S. Air Force recruitment film, portrays months in the lives of the US Air Force pilots stationed in South Vietnam in 1968 during the Vietnam War. The unit is not easy to identify but they fly the F-100 Super Sabre or "the Hun", and what appears to be the Phu Cat air base is shown. This might indicate that the unit shown is the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (37th TFW) which began operations from the base in April 1967. The 37th TFW comprised the following F-100 Super Sabre equipped squadrons: 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron (416th TFS), and 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron (612th TFS). The film includes footage of the unit's operational tasks on base such as aircraft maintenance, training and pre-mission briefings, and combat -- primarily bombing Viet Cong and NVA positions. It also features footage of US Air Force personnel collaborating with Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) with medical care for civilians and construction of infrastructure. Lastly, it depicts pilots’ leisure time including relaxing on the beach in Hawaii, viewing music performances via the USO, and celebrating with alcohol as they return to base after a successful mission.

00:00 USAF combat pilot is congratulated by senior officers or "brass" after landing his F-100 An F-100D Super Sabre fighter jet takes off (00:34). Another F-100D Super Sabre fighter jet is directed across the airfield (00:42). USAF pilots walk past parked F-100D Super Sabre fighter jets (00:53). One soldier climbs one of the aircraft and speaks to the pilot (01:01). F-100D Super Sabre fighter jets take off (01:20). Views of the aircraft flying (01:38). Bombs are dropped causing explosions on the ground (01:49). Fighter jets landing (02:21). The landed jets are inspected and maintenance is performed (02:30). Air Force pilot speaks to the camera (03:13). A soldier reads out loud as other pilots listen (03:27). Pilots enter what appears to be the Phu Cat base chapel (04:11). They participate in a religious service (04:20). Waves crashing onto a beach in Hawaii during r&r (04:43). Pilots spend time on Waikiki beach (04:57). Signs of the distances to San Francisco, Seattle, Albuquerque, Chicago, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio (05:14). The consolidated mail room sign (05:23). A soldier smiles as he opens a letter (05:27). A pilot listens to a tape recorded message from his wife or girlfriend and smiles (05:37). A woman holding a baby (05:49). She listens to a tape recorder (05:57). Pilots audience a musical performance (06:07). U.S. Air Force and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) personnel work construction (07:20). Children watch (07:53). A sick Vietnamese child, possibly with cerebral palsy, is tended to by a US military doctor (08:02). Military strategies/mission-zones are explained by pilots using a map (09:29). Pilots have a meeting (10:44). Two F-100D Super Sabre fighter jets on wing (11:30). A North American Rockwell OV-10 Broncotwin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft flying (13:14). The pilot checks his map (13:37). A river (13:45). Pilot checks his map (13:49). A North American Rockwell OV-10 Broncotwin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft flying (13:55). Views of the pilot flying the aircraft (14:05). He flies over a river with a nearby fire (14:08). An aircraft drops a napalm incendiary bomb (14:13). Explosions on the ground around the river (14:20). Spotter pilot flying a North American Rockwell OV-10 Broncotwin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft (15:01). Post-explosion smoke clouds on the ground (15:24). Air Force pilots drink champagne as they return to base (15:44). Air Force pilots drink together in a bar (16:49).

Complete Record: This silent film -- apparently a "rough cut" of an unidentified 1968 U.S. Air Force recruitment film, portrays months in the lives of the US Air Force pilots stationed in South Vietnam in 1968 during the Vietnam War. The unit is not easy to identify but they fly the F-100 Super Sabre or "the Hun", and what appears to be the Phu Cat air base is shown. This might indicate that the unit shown is the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (37th TFW) which began operations from the base in April 1967. The 37th TFW comprised the following F-100 Super Sabre equipped squadrons: 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron (416th TFS), and 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron (612th TFS). The film includes footage of the unit's operational tasks on base such as aircraft maintenance, training and pre-mission briefings, and combat -- primarily bombing Viet Cong and NVA positions. It also features footage of US Air Force personnel collaborating with Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) with medical care for civilians and construction of infrastructure. Lastly, it depicts pilots’ leisure time including relaxing on the beach in Hawaii, viewing music performances via the USO, and celebrating with alcohol as they return to base after a successful mission. 00:00 USAF combat pilot is congratulated by senior officers or "brass" after landing his F-100 An F-100D Super Sabre fighter jet takes off (00:34). Another F-100D Super Sabre fighter jet is directed across the airfield (00:42). USAF pilots walk past parked F-100D Super Sabre fighter jets (00:53). One soldier climbs one of the aircraft and speaks to the pilot (01:01). F-100D Super Sabre fighter jets take off (01:20). Views of the aircraft flying (01:38). Bombs are dropped causing explosions on the ground (01:49). Fighter jets landing (02:21). The landed jets are inspected and maintenance is performed (02:30). Air Force pilot speaks to the camera (03:13). A soldier reads out loud as other pilots listen (03:27). Pilots enter what appears to be the Phu Cat base chapel (04:11). They participate in a religious service (04:20). Waves crashing onto a beach in Hawaii during r&r (04:43). Pilots spend time on Waikiki beach (04:57). Signs of the distances to San Francisco, Seattle, Albuquerque, Chicago, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio (05:14). The consolidated mail room sign (05:23). A soldier smiles as he opens a letter (05:27). A pilot listens to a tape recorded message from his wife or girlfriend and smiles (05:37). A woman holding a baby (05:49). She listens to a tape recorder (05:57). Pilots audience a musical performance (06:07). U.S. Air Force and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) personnel work construction (07:20). Children watch (07:53). A sick Vietnamese child, possibly with cerebral palsy, is tended to by a US military doctor (08:02). Military strategies/mission-zones are explained by pilots using a map (09:29). Pilots have a meeting (10:44). Two F-100D Super Sabre fighter jets on wing (11:30). A North American Rockwell OV-10 Broncotwin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft flying (13:14). The pilot checks his map (13:37). A river (13:45). Pilot checks his map (13:49). A North American Rockwell OV-10 Broncotwin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft flying (13:55). Views of the pilot flying the aircraft (14:05). He flies over a river with a nearby fire (14:08). An aircraft drops a napalm incendiary bomb (14:13). Explosions on the ground around the river (14:20). Spotter pilot flying a North American Rockwell OV-10 Broncotwin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft (15:01). Post-explosion smoke clouds on the ground (15:24). Air Force pilots drink champagne as they return to base (15:44). Air Force pilots drink together in a bar (16:49).