“AIR FORCE NOW“ 1982 USAF MAGAZINE COLD WAR NUCLEAR ARMS RACE, ICBMs, AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING 82484

Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference. Subscribe and become a channel member This episode of the U.S. Air Force news magazine “Air Force Now“ dates to 1982. It contains opening remarks by Bob episode features the Cold War and the arms race for nuclear weaponry between the United States and the Soviet Union. A competition ensued to build the largest collection of ICBMS. An image of the mushroom cloud from the atomic bomb follows the title screen (1:10). The Cold War, beginning in 1947 and ending in 1991, brought a new fear of nuclear warfare. Colonel Gary Curtin (1:24) speaks from the F.E Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. He speaks to the 40 year old US policy of deterrence (1:37) in order to keep any invading forces at bay. The Minuteman Missiles were designed to be launched rapidly after confirmation of a launch (within minutes) carrying a 1.2 megaton nuclear warhead. These were to hit distances of over 6,000 miles within a half hour of it’s intended target. After the third was deployed (2:20) the Soviet Union had developed five new of their own missile heads. The USSR and the US missiles are compared (2:31). Some of the Soviet missiles built were the SS-24 and the SS-25 (2:40). An ICBM is deployed (3:10). The LGM-118 Peacekeeper arrived on the scene in 1985 (3:14) and became a cornerstone of the Air Force’s modernization program. Air Force System’s Command is seen as they sign permission to give responsibility of the Peacekeepers to the Strategic Air Command at the F. E. Warren Air Force Base (3:34). The mission began with 10 missiles on alert in December of 1986 (3:45) and the final 50 were to be completed by December of 1988. Captain John Holcutt; a field engineer with the deployment of the Peacekeeper Missile System, speaks as technicians conduct a practice transfer (4:07). The Peacekeeper Missile head is viewed (4:32). The development program began in 1983 (4:41) at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Eight above ground launches were conducted here (4:46). Below ground launches followed (4:59). The Peacekeeper was considered to be one of the most successful missile development programs thus far although the President’s deterrence policy called for the completion of another 50 (6:05). The film turns to show footage originally broadcasted from on A Soviet television (6:19). The film was photographed by Combat Cameramen (6:34). One of the many crafts flying out from the Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base was the Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star; also known as “Big Eye” (6:48). Crews are viewed within the “Big Eye” (7:06). Operators track an enemy plane located by radar (7:17). These aircraft and crews were members of the Air Defense Commands 552nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing (7:30). Strategic Air Command B-52 are readied at a base in the western Pacific (7:45). Parachute rigors are seen inspecting and repacking a massive drag chute after a bomber has landed (8:06). B-52 missiles are preloaded onto special racks (8:28) in order to enable rapid loading. An F-100 Super Sabre is viewed (8:58) equipped with a cameraman from the 600th photo squadron. The payload is released (9:04) as photographs are collected for further study. Bomber pilots (10:34) are viewed in succession discussing the deterrence policy as well as what it takes to ready the crafts for missions. Combat oriented maintenance units check over the crafts (11:16). Pilots aim towards the runway for take offs (12:23). Staff Sergeant Randy Charlotte (12:27) of the 94th AMU 1st TFW, Senior Master Sergeant Saville (12:31), and Lieutenant Jeff Reardon; Assistant Officer in Charge of the 94th Aircraft Maintenance Unit (12:38) close out the film. These men are of the Eagle Keepers of the Langley Air Force Base (12:58). Previews for the following month’s episodes (13:16) show a peek into ACMI (Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation) as well as a trip to the Philippines with the 17th Surveillance Squadron (13:28). This film was presented by the US Air Force (13:52). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ 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