Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers (1930-1949)

In discharging its global mission in photography and television, the Air Force is seeking every means to get information faster and better and to put it to its maximum use in the shortest time. As you television engineers know the television circuit can be the shortest and speediest route from live action to finished film. This is of major importance to us today. As you engineers come up with new methods, new techniques, faster and better ways to accomplish our mission, you can be sure that the Air Force matches your zeal with our own desire. We are proud to serve with you in the search for better ways of getting the job done. It is a constant but exciting challenge. We are happy to be able to join you in it. As for the future, the course seems clear ahead of us. To coin a phrase, we have now become airborne and over our first and most difficult obstacles. As for the rest, the horizons are unlimited. Excerpts From Address by Capt. A. D. Frazer .... In the Navy, we use motion pictures extensively and the requirements for the use of television are continually expanding. Entertainment motion pictures provide probably our greatest morale booster. Every ship and station has movies and I can tell you from personal experience that when the movies do not arrive or they cannot be shown for some reason the boys are very unhappy. We are, of course, dependent on the motion picture industry for these films and are deeply appreciative of the service provided and the technical improvements that have been made to give us better sound and color for the adverse conditions encountered in shipboard screenings. In our military use of motion pictures, the largest single requirement is in the field of training films. We also use them extensively for test and evaluation of new equipment. This is especially true in the guided missile program where highspeed motion picture photography has become most valuable. Recording of Naval operations for historical purposes and evaluation is of great importance. There is a growing need for motion pictures in combat briefing. Boat crews that have to approach a hostile beach during an amphibious operation can learn a great deal from seeing movies of the beach area made previously. [Capt. Frazer spoke briefly of the Navy's training film program — this was described in detail by Cronenwett and Timmons in the July 1952 Journal.] In the development and test of new equipment, motion pictures have proven to be invaluable. This has been particularly true in the evaluation of equip ment that operates faster than the eye can follow or the mind record. A few examples are: Wind tunnel tests of sonic and transsonic airfoils; Instrument recordings of tests of new aircraft ; Recording of instrument readings of tele-metered flights of guided missiles; Determination of explosion; Phenomena of new types of weapons and explosives and their effect on naval equipment; and Verification of proper sequence and operation of a series of functions in various mechanical and electrical devices. Many of these uses will be discussed in detail in later sessions of your Convention. On our larger ships, and especially in aircraft carriers, we have motion picture camera equipment for recording various aspects of naval operations. These are used for historical recording, and for study to improve the execution of various maneuvers and to detect deficiencies in equipment. Training in the basic techniques of motion picture photography is given to all students at the Navy's photo school at Pensacola, Florida. A specialized course at the same location is also conducted for a limited number of advanced students. The motion picture industry in Hollywood very generously operates a comprehensive on-the-job training course for selected personnel. This program has proven to be most beneficial and provides a phase and completeness of instruction that is not possible of attainment in a service school. In the field of television, the Navy has 439