U.S. AIR FORCE ACROJET FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION TEAM PRECURSOR TO THUNDERBIRDS WILLIAMS FIELD XD50684
Join this channel to get access to perks:
Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit
Visit our website
This sound film was shot by filmmaker Norman Schley sometime in the late 1940s / early 1950s (probably 1950). It shows activities at Williams Air Force Base in Maricopa County, Arizona, east of Chandler. The footage is “raw“ and basically unedited, but was apparently shot by Schley in anticipation of making a longer film about the Acrojets -- a U.S. Air Force aerobatics / acrobatic team that preceded the Thunderbirds. Officially known as the USAF Fighter School Acrojets demonstration team, the group flew four Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star planes and later - the training version aka Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star. The Acrojets were the first official demonstration team of USAF, the first demonstration team to take to the skies after World War II, and the first which flew jets. The first team included only flight instructors: Maj. Howard Jensen as the (also called the F-80) leader (11:24), Lt. Michael Smolen (11:53) as left wing, Capt. Jones E. Bolt (12:10) as right wing, Maj. Walter K. “Lefty“ Selenger in the slot and Capt. Robert Tomlinson as the spare pilot. In 1951, four of the “Acrojets“ team pilots were reassigned to Korean War units and only Michael Smolen stayed at the Fighter School to recruit new “Acrojets“ pilots. During the production of the 1951 film “Air Cadet“, the “Acrojets“ flew many of the flying sequences and Lt. Smolen was the technical advisor for the film. The Acrojets were disbanded in 1953, the same year the Thunderbirds came into existence. The Thunderbirds show still uses a maneuver pioneered by the “Acrojets“: the now well known “bomb-burst“ maneuver followed by a crossing maneuver. Though the history of the Acrojets was short, their impact was immense. Their aerial acrobatics and precision flying showed what jets could do and served as a recruitment tool to get people to join the Air Force.
Incidentally, later in life Lt. Col. Michael Smolen was involved in a diplomatic incident while serving in Caracas, Venezuela. He was taken hostage by rebels and briefly held before being exchanged.
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
1 view
0
0
2 months ago 00:37:34 1
Прибалтийские Джунгли: грандиозная афера британских спецслужб. Секретные материалы с Андреям Луговым
2 months ago 00:04:43 1
Сколько может гореть турбо-зажигалка? По заявкам зрителей
2 months ago 00:38:24 1
Незалежная банда. Главная тайна украинской независимости. Улика из прошлого
2 months ago 00:13:39 1
New B-52 Engines JUST Shocked Everyone: “It Will Fly For Over 100 Years!“
2 months ago 00:01:01 1
Andre Agassi 1995 Nike Guerilla Tennis
2 months ago 00:00:00 1
LIVE: RAF Lakenheath - Home to the USAF 48fw - F15s and F35s
2 months ago 00:11:21 1
Доклад “КАЧЕСТВО ВОЗДУХА И ЗДОРОВЬЕ В ГОРОДАХ 2022“. Комментарий Семена Гордышевского
2 months ago 00:18:40 1
Самая необычная механическая клавиатура - WORKLOUDER!
2 months ago 02:21:25 1
The Spiritual Battle For Our Humanity: Transhumanism, DNA, AI & Our Forgotten Past | Gregg Braden
2 months ago 00:13:27 1
Pennywise - Live at Wacken Open Air 2023
2 months ago 00:48:57 1
Время вперед. Фильм 5-й. Из руин к вершинам и звездам
2 months ago 00:01:18 1
Любимые средства для стойкой, объемной укладки на тонких волосах
2 months ago 00:07:28 1
😍Торт для Мужа.🍺Бисквит на пиве.🍫Черный велюр.🔵Оформление шоколадными шарами - Я - ТОРТодел!
2 months ago 00:06:49 1
Well, NATO, You Ask For IT: Russian Army Received The World’s First New Gen SAM S-500 ’PROMETHEUS’
2 months ago 00:07:33 1
Самый вкусный ПШЕНИЧНО-РЖАНОЙ ХЛЕБ/Получается всегда! /Хлебопечка Gorenje BM 900 WII
2 months ago 00:21:17 1
Создание карточки товара на Озон
2 months ago 00:01:59 1
Anchors Aweigh - U.S. Navy Song (WWII Version)
2 months ago 00:16:40 1
Мой Новый Спиннинг Для МОРМЫШИНГА | CF Nano Zero AIR
2 months ago 00:26:45 24
PROJECT SHADOW (2023) | Full Short Film (INTERNATIONAL Eng) -ft: @Freshfilmesoficial
2 months ago 00:04:55 1
Mig-105 Hypersonic Soviet Space Interceptor
2 months ago 00:22:44 1
Самый лучший мотор у харлея! Рассуждаю на что пересесть после KTM 1290 SAS
2 months ago 00:05:15 1
ЦИСТИТ.Как я вылечила Цистит за 1 процедуру лавровым листом//Быстро и Эффективно!!!
2 months ago 01:33:04 1
ARK ▶ ВЕСЬ СЕЗОН «ЛЮТЫЙ ТРАЙБ» НА ARK RUSSIA# (Ark Survival Evolved, Арк нон-стоп #4) #ark #арк