The film Stratigic Air Command…

The jets were mainly for take-off and actual penetration bombing runs.

They were usually shut down during cruise flight.

Simply put, no need to go fast when you’re doing air-to-air photography.

I wonder what the camera plane was? Mantz usually used his modified B-25 but could it go that high (or where these shots taken at a lower than usual cruise altitude for B-36s?)

And remember, this was long before the days of private jets, or even turboprops.

Fascinating those images … contrails emanating from the piston engines but not from the jets

There is one sequence where the B-36 is shown contrailing with all ten engines running. See below:

It’s also shown accommpanied by four fighters.

There’s an interesting piece of privately shot 8mm film on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE8Xg3ez2qw&feature=youtu.be

A film that would have been vastly improved with one more B36 and one less June Allyson.

Thanks Stepwilk, I knew that but a very good/concise explanation.

And thank you Bager … and that explains why there are no contrails from the jet engines. TaVM.

The jets were mainly for take-off and actual penetration bombing runs.

They were usually shut down during cruise flight.

Contrails are produced by combustion, whether it’s in a gasoline-burning piston engine or a kerosene jet. It’s the condensation of water that is a byproduct of that combustion, as the water in the hot exhaust suddenly hits the very cold atmosphere. The main byproducts of combustion are water and carbon dioxide, and if atmospheric conditions are just right,contrails–short for condensation trails–are the result. Has nothing to do with whether it’s a piston engine or a turbine.

Contrails

Fascinating those images … contrails emanating from the piston engines but not from the jets … anyone care to explain how that works? Thanks D

I bought it on DVD about 5 years ago and that wasn’t a TV recording. I’ll have a look at the box on Monday to see if there are any details of a publisher.
Pete

I`ve just had a look at it and put it on. It`s perfectly good quality, but it could very well have been transferred from VHS and the label has been printed on an ink-jet. So it`s a copy of some sort.
If anyone wants any more info please PM me.

Pete

Some DVD’s may have been transfer from the released VHS tape (google links to some sellers of such copies)

I bought it on DVD about 5 years ago and that wasn’t a TV recording. I’ll have a look at the box on Monday to see if there are any details of a publisher.
Pete

hi,
but i belive he made 1 op over N.Vietnam in a B.52…how offical i dont know,but it might have been more.Did,nt Glenn Ford serve as a Rear Admiral in the reserves and possibly a stint in SE Asia?

regards
jack…

Yes, it was an official mission… but he went as an observer, and sat in a jump seat the entire flight.

Here is the story from the perspective of the aircraft commander, Captain Bob Amos:
http://www.historynet.com/mr-stewart-goes-to-vietnam.htm

That site refers to JS maintaining “familiarity” with the B-36, B-47, and B-52… this is quite different from gaining “qualification” on those aircraft. Flights as an observer is well within the definition of “being familiar” with those aircraft.

They were made in an era when the USAF/USN recognised the value of film as a recruiting tool and cooperated fully with the film makers.

“Top Gun” would never have been made without enormous help from both Grumman and the U.S.Navy. (I was doing some film work with Grumman at the time so was quite aware of what was going on.)

Edit, The torrent is indeed a TV copy, poor quality but watchable if nothing bettter is available.

There is a downloadable Torrent available for Strategic Air Command, but it is a recording from the TV. I don’t know if they put a camera on the TV or digitally recorded it. But, it’s out there.
Quality will not be as good as a TV broadcast though.

Superb photography. But the omnipresent repetitive background music began to grate on me after a while. True music was those B-36 engines……when you could hear them above the string section.

I waited as long for this movie to be shown again and finally sky movies showed it last week! took them long enough:)

There is one other B-52 film out there and it seems to be on DVD.

Bombers B-52… from 1958.

Old time NCO (a well cast Karl Malden) has a beautiful daughter (Natalie Wood) who is chased by hot shot pilot (Efram Zimbalist, Jr.).

Less authentic and with more romance than Straregic Air Command or A Gathering of Eagles, it nonetheless shows plenty of new B-52s.

There is also Tiger in the Sky but I have yet to find a dvd of that.

Three more must see films are “The Hunters”, F86 Korean action with Robert Mitchum and Robert Wagner, and “A Gathering of Eagles” for B52 fans, Rock Hudson and Rod Taylor. And of course “The Bridges at Toko-Ri”, William Holden and USN carrier action.

They were made in an era when the USAF/USN recognised the value of film as a recruiting tool and cooperated fully with the film makers. Lots of great stuff to see and enjoy.

hi,
but i belive he made 1 op over N.Vietnam in a B.52…how offical i dont know,but it might have been more.Did,nt Glenn Ford serve as a Rear Admiral in the reserves and possibly a stint in SE Asia?

regards
jack…