We Saw It Happen

Genre: Educational

Year Published: 1954

Creator: United Aircraft Corporation

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description: On the history of aviation, 1903-1953. Part 1 covers the period 1900-1910. Reel 1 shows the Wright home in Dayton, Ohio, the Wright Museum in Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Mich., the first glider flights (1902) and airplane flights (1903) in Kitty Hawk, N.C., and experimental European airplanes. Still pictures show the Wright brothers in their youth. The 1903 Wright housekeeper speaks. A bicycle shop worker tells how he made the Wright's first engine. The Wright's demonstrate an airplane over Fort Myer, Va. Lt. Law tells how he helped interest Army officials in the plane and how he first flew. Another officer tells how he flew from Alexandria to Fort Myer with Orville Wright in 1909. Reel 2 shows the early Martin and Curtis planes, French pilots in their early planes, the Wrights' taking off from Fort Myer in 1908, and experimental planes, including one with flapping wings, that couldn't fly. Lt. Law tells how he became the first Army pilot. Igor Sikorsky flies the first plane in Russ., poses with his first helicopter, and discusses pioneer aviation, Glenn Martin and Donald Douglas relate their early experiences in the industry. The first professional aero nautical engineer (M.I.T.) discusses aviation education, Part 2 covers the period 1910-1917. Reel 3 shows the first automatic pilot apparatus, early Martin planes, aerial views of College Park, Md., 1911 Army maneuvers, the funeral of Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand, various World War I battle scenes, Fr. and Ger. WW I planes, and WW I trucks and automobiles. Donald Douglas, Alan, Lockheed and others pose. Still pictures show Gen. Arnold circa 1911. The first Navy pilot discusses the 1911 beginnings of naval aviation. Glenn Curtis poses and takes off in an early seaplane. Igor Sikorsky discusses his and the world's first four-engine plane and still pictures show it. Reel 4 shows a Ger. submarine torpedoing an U.S. ship, a WW I aircraft factory, LaFayette Escadrilleunits, Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker in his WW I plane, WW I Navy airships, and planes taking off from the first Brit. aircraft carrier and from the first U.S. carrier Langley. A pioneer engine expert discusses early plane engines. Capt. Rickenbacker discusses his WW I experienced. Adm. Ramsey discusses early Navy aviation. Part 3 covers the period 1918-1926. Reel 5 shows WW I material being transported, a Liberty engine being tested, allied and Ger. planes engaging in dogfights, U.S. soldiers marching in a victory parade, stunt pilots performing at, a fair, Army and Navy planes taking off, a couple doing the Charleston, Babe Ruth circling the bases, Jack Dempsey training, Red Grange playing football,l, Army Mail Service planes in flight, and Gen. Billy Mitchell. Adm. Powers discusses his and the world's first transatlantic flight in the NC-4. A veteran of the Army Mail Service discusses his experiences. Glenn Martin discusses Gen. Mitchell's aerial sinking of a captured Ger. battleship. Adm. Ramsey discusses the air craft carriers Langley, Saratoga, and Lexington. Reel 6 shows the manufacture of planes in the 1920's, planes dropping bombs, and planes taking off from carriers. A pilot discusses increased aircraft speeds and flashbacks show the planes that set the records. Gen. Doolittle discusses his record flight of 1925, other record flights, and aircraft improvements. Dutch Kindelberger discusses the beginning of the Douglas Aircraft Co. and technical improvements made to planes by Sperry and other inventors. Aircraft engineer Frank Herring (?) discusses carburetors. Jack Horner (?)discusses aviation in the 1920's. Part 4 covers the period 1927-1939. Reel 7 shows Charles Lindbergh taking off on his flight to Paris and being mobbed by crowds, Clarence Chamberlain and Charles Levin posing before their 1927 transatlantic flight to Germany, Army planes, and a plane taking off from a carrier. Pioneer aircraft engineers discuss thedevelopment of radial air-cooled engines and super-chargers and flash