DITCHING PROCEDURES FOR C-54 SKYMASTER AIRCRAFT U.S. AIR FORCE AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND 11834

Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Browse our products on Amazon: This 1950’s era, black and white film was produced by the USAF Air Transport Command, to illustrate the steps that need to be taken in case of a water landing of a passenger airplane. The aircraft shown is a Douglas C-54 Skymaster. The movie opens with the plane soaring through the air. We meet the crew, first the flight engineer. His job is to manage the four engines of the plane. Next, the radio operator enters and speaks with the flight engineer. He keeps the plane in touch with land bases by radio. On the plane we see the Flight Traffic Clerk who represents the first pilot for the observance of all safety regulations and cabin discipline 1:00. The pilot, the commander of the plane, aloft or afloat. Then the co-pilot and the navigator are seen 1:11. Co-pilot draws his pointer over a map 1:28. The ATC crew is being trained 1:38 in order to complete the training they need one more man: that man is the passenger 1:43. Passengers need to learn a few rules in case they have to “ditch” 1:52. Ditching means landing your airplane on the open water 2:04. Officers board the airplane 2:25. The passengers take their seats 2:46. The Flight Traffic Clerk demonstrates how to use the safety equipment on the airplane 3:15. Carbon dioxide cartridges inflate the life vest or “Mae West“ vest 3:37. You can also inflate your vest - also known as the Mae West - by blowing through the tubes near your mouth 4:15. The life vest is improperly fitted; it is too loose 4:45. The Flight Traffic Clerk tests different measurements 5: marker package 5:25. Flashback. You shouldn’t sit on a “Mae West” as a cushion 5:55. Flight Traffic Clerk demonstrates ditching position 6:51. Emergency doors are tested 7:00. Bell rings when plane must ditch 8:05. Passenger sleeps and dreams of the plane ditching 8:12. All passengers put on their Mae West 8:40. Seat belts are tightened 8:55. Sharp objects removed from pockets 9:18. Mae Wests are prepared. The plane is going down 9:55. Preparing to ditch 10:37. The plane is stopped and rafts are inflated 11:26. Radio kit is loaded onto raft 11:46. Man enters the water and inflates raft manually 12:15. Man flips raft and climbs in 12:58. Rafts are tied together 13:40. Injured are treated 13:51. Cross seats are inflated by hand 14:20. Repair kits are available for raft punctures 14:45. The puncture is repaired with rubber cement and patch 15:25. Newer rafts have a metal repair plug 16:00. Lost air is replaced with a pump 16:33. Inventory of supplies is taken 16:50. Conserve food and water 17:00. Oars are fitted together 17:25. Oars can be used as a mast and boom for a sail 17:30. A kite or balloon can raise the antenna for the radio 18:00. An SOS is sent out from the raft 18:22. A mirror is available for signaling planes from the water 18:42. Leave clothes on for protection from the sun 19:15. Clothes can be soaked to cool you down 19:38. A tarpaulin is used as a canopy against the sun 19:55. A flare is fired to no avail 20:30. The SOS is sent again 20:54. Gargle with water before you swallow to hydrate your mouth 21:19. Ration your supplies carefully 21:30. Fishing can increase your food supply 21:52. Save some for bait 22:02. Catch as much rain as you can, being sure to rinse the tarp of any salt crystals 22:23. Drink all the rainwater you can comfortably hold 22:32. Sea plane takes off in search of the stranded passengers and crew 23:24. Seawater is dangerous to drink but it can be distilled 23:37. A rescue plane flies overhead, spots the men as the dye is released into the water 24:25. Flashback ends. The man wakes up and is sitting safely on the plane 25:05. You’ve learned how to ditch and live. The end. T.F. I-3456. Air Transport Command (ATC) was a United States Air Force unit that was created during World War II as the strategic airlift component of the United States Army Air Forces. It had two main missions, the first being the delivery of supplies and equipment between the United States and the overseas combat theaters; the second was the ferrying of aircraft from the manufacturing plants in the United States to where they were needed for training or for operational use in combat. ATC also operated a worldwide air transportation system for military personnel. 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