NAVIGATION TARGET APPROACH - GROUND RECOGNITION RUN NO. III

Year Published: 1944

Description:

"Navigation Target Approach / Ground Recognition Run No. III" is a 1944 U.S. Army Air Forces training film that may have been used in conjunction with a simulator. It was likely created to train bombardiers and/or navigators and pilots. The film shows a flight into and over a targeted location, and is intended to show ground features that can be used as aids to navigation while approaching designated targets. The flight appears to be a test run over parts of Florida including an air base we believe to be in Brevard County Florida. The film was made by the First Motion Picture Unit.

Aerial shots of an unknown city open the film (:37). The view runs over jagged flat country land cut with narrow rivers (1:33). Much of the footage is slow roaming over flat and mixed hilly, mountainous terrain and farm land. The airplane runs towards the harbor (3:24) and coastline. Light misty clouds cover the water (6:44). The air base in Brevard County, Florida (7:25) swings into view. The film concludes over the Pacific (10:36) and with the Official War Department seal (10:38).