WINGS OF STEEL

e over our nation in ever increasing number fly the mighty birds of the Army Air cor Vigilant guardians of American freedom and today when all the world is looking Skyward thousands of young men from every Walk of Life join in the Great Adventure as flying Cadets in the United States Army aore the Cal Aro field one of the many preliminary training centers throughout the country for the Army's flying Cadet the [Music] wild you live be a wonder the theing men guarding the nation B will be there for nothing stop the Army Air for all who enter here have as their trust the tradition of the United States Army aircore and the honor of these Heroes to uphold Colonel OD Hunter major R luberry Captain EV rickenbacher you know when those guys were flying they'd have to hang out of the stick with one hand and hold a wing on with the other the job was tough all right but the records certainly give a fell something to shoot at take it easy buddy this flying business is a CCH it's just a game like football right after the kickoff you start pitching keep your head up and your tail down before the final gun you're over the goal line naturally boys I don't want to spread it on too thick but in years to come new Cadets will be reading the name Bucky Norton right there well how about it mrss as anybody told you you're supposed to remove your hats in the presence of those names well uncover Ms and as for you Mr dumb dodo you're reved up to 3,000 per you'd better turn off the breeze your Noble count looks familiar could it be that I've seen you someplace before could be I get around Jerry's Bucky Norton nor American football down why of course Mr Norton I've seen your picture in the papers I don't believe I caught your name straighten up Mr your detention and get this no matter how many times your pictures appeared in the papers no man's a hero has first day here or any day after until he's proved himself one and you'll find chasing a football is lots easier than chasing a clown remember that Mr Dum Doo better get yourselves ready inspection in 5 minutes little tough on the big boy won't you Bernette you think that's something say when I landed here I was twice as fresh as Mr All-American somebody had to straighten me out for my own good you know it wouldn't surprise me if you turn out to be as good a flly as you already thinks he is but from now on I'm claiming his nibs is my personal property I wish to extend a hearty welcome to the new Cadets you have come here to work and to learn we'll be together only 10 short weeks that is if you make the grave if you don't our time together will be even shorter some of you gentlemen will be sent back home or transferred to another branch of the air and you'll take it pretty hard but to give you a word of encouragement do the best you can give the best you have and you won't be blaming yourself so now good luck and happy lands take charge Mister company commanders dismiss your companies dismiss hey where does the F check in around here wait a minute you're Mr I'm Crocker this is Hennessy why of course the commanding officer told me to look out for you boys to extend his personal greetings and to say that he wants you both for tea this afternoon he did oh he's kidding what's the matter with you dumb Doos didn't anybody ever tell you to remove your hats in the presence of those names well un cover [Music] Ms marching along the flying line the new Cadets are on their way to hanger number six where they will meet their Chief flying instructor hey Hennessy did you send your girl a picture of you in that new uniform sure me and Crocker both oh he's just kidding this gentleman is an airplane and I thought it was a horse and buggy you may think you've seen a plane before but as far as the arm is concerned you haven't anyone can learn to take a plane off the ground Circle a field and land flying in the service is entirely different you have to be a Master Mechanic an expert at Radio navigation you have to learn Precision flying the ability to carry out orders unar in a military manner so to be sure you don't miss anything let's start at the beginning this then is a propeller slowly and systematically their training Begins the first few days are spent in purely fundamental instructions acquainting the new Cadets not only with the ships they will soon be flying but orienting them into the everyday routine in the life of a flying Cadet this is known as the Watchtower that flag means Dual Flying keep an eye on it if it's red no one goes up they're grounded because the weather's bad on this board the complete record of every flying Cadet is told the gold star means a perfect record throughout the entire course of training it entitles you to the cadet Hall of Fame the Silver Star designates the Hall of accomplishment it means a perfect record for the week the blue star entitles the cadet to the hall of horror a not quite perfect record for the week and the red star designates the student to the hall of Shame you see Ms just as the flying man's record is written in the heavens so it is on this board keep shooting at the stars the gold ones the first Big Thrill comes to the dodos when they are issued their flying helmets suits and goggles it would have have the bill out of 10,000 ft and this thing doesn't work oh that's easy bring it back he'll give you a new one how's he going to be oh you're this kid and a bigger thrill when they walk to the Flying line to meet their individual flying instructors look out oone here I come guys Bucky I'm getting a little shaky cut it it's a s here's where I get off go to it [Music] kid see you upstairs [Music] fellas wish me luck buggy I'll roll over on my back and wav you're going by [Music] I might have known it would be you Mr dumb Doo and since a doo is a bird that can't fly you're not entitle to wear your goggles on your forehead until you've soloed which if I'm only judge your personality will'll be a long long time from [Music] now here Mr Norton yes sir You' been assigned to me for instruction you'll be my student until you leave this training school good luck thank you now Mr Norton remember to be completely relaxed at all times any man who becomes tense excitable will never make an army fly take the stick lightly in your right hand now place your feet on the pedal control lightly exert no pressure I'll handle the ship but follow my movements with the controls so that you get the feel of the plane young men from all over America sprouting their wings for the first time in a new world of rolls Loops shandells spins some of them learn quickly but for others keeping your tail down seems a pretty tough proposition well a fine pair of Pals you Ms turn out to be moping in your room while the great Bucky Norton's making a perfect spot planing think of it only a week and I'm an expert you ask me the great Bucky noton will never be able to solo by that time is that'll be too big to get into a plane hey what's the matter with you two misters you going to a spin or something we've got a double load of bad news two of us don't seem to be doing so well in this flying business I don't see what's worrying you guys flying a ship is just like taking kisses from a blonde now look when you get into a vertical Bank be sure that your left Rudder very interesting Mr Norton gentlemen it's quite obvious that Mr Norton the ex football hero is sprting his pin feathers Mr Norton suppose you illustrate some of your remarkable experiences in the air we might learn something gentlemen yes switch on Mister take off with explanations please well I taxi down to the end of the field open the throttle pulled back the stick and took off wonderful wonderful now let's see a vertial climb beautiful now let's see a spin [Music] mister Mr Davis being unable to control yourself on the ground perhaps you can do better in the air W you join Mr Norton for a little formation fly [Music] you too mrus that's enough Mr Bernette I don't mind playing your little games with you but Crocker and Hennessy have had a rough time today leave them alone I'm sorry phis but you're not washed out until the Czech pilot says so remember that and it's for you it's not customary for a doo to speak unless he's spoken to you know one of these days I'm going to be an upper classman too you're just the kind of guy I'd love to take a poan I'm scared to death you should let say that I forget it Mr Crocker I'll take you first yes sir rest gentlemen hey Crocker I've been looking for you I hear you're up for your Tech flight L you got nothing to worry about all you got to remember sure I know [Music] hey cut it Hennessy he'll make it all right he won't wash out Sid is not your [Music] party well anyway you're sticking together [Music] to be eliminated from army flying is no disgrace and cast no reflection on your Fitness for other work you gentlemen have failed to qualify as military pilots and you may return to civilian life if that is your desire but if you prefer to remain in the service this board will recommend you for another branch of the aircore and you'll be sent to another school let us have your decision in writing within the next week that's all gentlemen hey Bucky I was looking for you you know what I just found out sure Crocker and Hennessy tough luck yeah but something else I was standing out of the gate safe what you fell I got something kind of important my mind right about now Bo what is it look oh the white flag that means you're going to solo this is it save the cheers save the cheers Mr no the congratulations I'll be back in a few minutes with a perfect three-point Landing we be watching [Applause] [Music] all right Mr Norton she's yours now on the first solo all you're supposed to do is take off Circle the field and make a three-point Landing this flying business seems to come rather easy to you so I suggest you take plenty of altitude and do me a spin recover and land nervous oh know well maybe a little you'll get over it when you're upstairs happy Landing [Music] [Music] hey [Music] [Applause] that was a pretty fancy Landing but anyway you made it goodbye doto you're an upper classman now H well now that I am an upper classman I hope bernt's around just in the humor to meet that guy but that's what I was trying to tell you before Bernett was transferred this morning you mean he's not here anymore that's right I just saw him leave that's what I've been trying to tell you oh how do you like [Applause] that when a Dodo becomes a birdman he soon leaves the scene of his preliminary training and reports at one of the Army's basic training schools this one is March field here the men learn to fly faster in bigger ships and you can bet they're plenty thrilled the first time they taxi one of these new Pursuit jobs down the field painted in somber camouflage these single seaters are designed for lightning maneuverability and mount two machine guns which fire through the propeller but the bombing planes with their far spreading Wings dwarf the other aircraft graceful as a bird they lift themselves from the ground and they take off in droves blind flying is taught in the Army's newly perfected link trainer in this laboratory ship completely hidden in darkness the pilot learns to fly on instruments alone and he learns the intricacies of formation flying these streamline ships look like flying Torpedoes and although racing through the sky at Comet speed the pilot and his plan seem suspended over the roof of the world he is initiated into the beauties of mysteries of cross country flying every day during this period of training giant armadas sweep low over the nearby rooftops the immensity of these man-made machines their thunderous power the Precision of their instruments reacting to the Pilot's slightest touch makes them a miracle of a modern Century then in the shadow of the greatest bombing plane in the world today the Flying Fortress the Army aircore pilot is awarded the traditional and honorable symbol of an army Birdman he gets his wings fors me great pleasure to present you with these wings wings this comes as the most thrilling moment in the life of a man who would fly conquerors of another world High aoft these are no longer men of the Earth but appointed at this moment rulers of the sky Hey n did you send your girl a picture of you and those new Wings Hennessy what are you is doing here we're learning to drop bombs with this new bomb site we couldn't learn to fly a plane but we can still ride in one he ain't kidding keep your eye on that Target out there and I'll show you how to drop an egg into a pickle Barrel from 20,000 ft okay greetings Mighty thoughtful of you getting us assigned to your ship don't thank me I'm only the co-pilot than who is the first pilot of this buggy you know well it's an your servers Mr Dum Doo uh I was hoping we'd meet again because I want to tell you although you were a fresh Cadet I understand you've turned into quite a flyer Lieutenant so here sh I promised myself Mr Bernett that if I ever met you again I'd give you that poke in the jaw remember I uh wouldn't want the general to see that suppose we go over to the hanger I want to talk to you now before you start racing your motor nordon get this I felt it was my duty as an upper classman to give a fresh Cadet the works but I can see you'll never be satisfied until you resort to violence well now we're both officers and that makes us gentlemen so we can't hold a grudge not since we're working for the same guy Uncle Sam so I've got an idea just to get out of your system and maybe mine too we'll both take one good sock at each other and then shake hands for Keeps what do you say okay I'll give you the first sock thanks I uh I kind of hate to do this to you Norton you better make it a good one cuz I'm next what a wallet all right Mr Bernett prepare yourself for a forest [Music] Landing must be getting soft I can't do it funny what the Army will do to you yes it's a long hop from dodo to Army Birdman but the young men of America tens of thousands of them are making it every day all working for the same guy Uncle Sam all Partners in this great business of flying for the [Music] Army All Hail to these Mighty birds of the Army Air core and to the men who fly them wings of Steel watchful Sentinels in the sky standing forever guardians of our Bill of Rights