https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/adb20632-0c96-4004-958f-44d37de32350 This film titled “The Sky is Your Target” is an Official Air Force Film presented by the United States Air Force and produced by Polaris Pictures, Inc. in 1955. It covers the work of the second Ground Observer Corps. The first Ground Observer Corps was a World War II Civil Defense program of the United States Army Air Forces to protect United States territory against air attack. The second Ground Observer Corps had very similar purposes and tasks, and was organized in early 1950 during the Cold War. Credits (00:08). “The Sky is Your Target” title banner (00:30). Bird’s-eye-view of landscapes (00:41). A flying Boeing B-29 Superfortress American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber aircraft (00:54). Point-of-view from a plane flying low to the ground (01:03). A flying Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber aircraft (01:08). An industrial area (01:16). Golf players (01:24). Map of the United States showing mountain ranges and a radar network encircling the country (01:38). Animations explain radars’ limitations, such as mountain peaks and stormy weather (01:57). Ground observers, Mr. and Mrs. Foster, notice a plane (02:25). They discuss the plane type from an observation tower (02:32). Mrs. Foster makes a call (03:14). A Boeing B-29 Superfortress aircraft (03:15). The call is answered at the Air Defense Filter Center (03:30). Views of the Fosters standing in their observation tower (03:54). USAF Ground Observer Corps representatives visit the Fosters and discuss setting up an observation post on the Foster property (04:13). Mr. and Mrs. Foster learn how to report observations (06:05). The report’s columns are explained starting with requesting the number of aircraft (06:45), the type of engine or number of the aircraft (07:04). The Fosters speak with the USAF Ground Observer Corps representatives (07:52). The third column on the form requests the functions of the aircraft (08:00). A fighter aircraft (08:08). A multi-engine bomber plane (08:13). A cargo/passenger plane (08:16). A seaplane (08:20). The Fosters speak with the representatives (08:35). The fourth column on the form requests an estimation of altitude (08:43). Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers flying at different altitudes (08:47). Aircraft vapor trails (09:34). The Fosters speak with the representatives about time delays when calling the Air Defense Filter Center (09:47). A figure explains how to compute time delay to fill out the fifth column (10:09). The Fosters speak with the representatives about the sixth column (12:08). The representatives hand the Fosters an orientation card (12:23). He explains how to orient it towards the true north to estimate distance to the aircraft (12:47). The orientation card can be assisted by local landmarks (13:09). The card is also used to determine the direction of the plane (13:35). The Fosters learn to report the distance and direction of the flight (13:43). The representatives explain the ‘Special Remarks’ column (14:27). An aircraft drops bombs (14:46). Aircraft drop parachutes (14:51). Aircraft crashing (14:55). A blimp (15:03). A helicopter (15:07). Aircraft in combat (15:14). The fosters and the representatives walk into the Fosters’ house (15:19). The Fosters are shown how to phone in a report (15:48). Mrs. Foster attempt (16:23). They discuss the ground observers’ tasks and what planes to report (17:25). The Fosters’ observation post is authorized and documented (18:46). Mrs. Foster is sitting in the observation tower (18:57). Mr. Foster runs up to her (19:00). They see a Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber flying (19:13). Mrs. Foster calls the Air Defense Filter Center and reports the observation (19:21). Mr. and Mrs. Jones at another observation post also report the same aircraft sighting (19:53). The Air Defense Direction Center is notified about the observed Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber aircraft (20:26). The Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber is intercepted by a North American FJ-4 Fury swept-wing carrier-capable fighter-bomber aircraft (20:35). The objectives and tasks of the Civil Defense program are explained (21:00). Ground observers and posts (21:26). “The End” text overlay (22:09). Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. 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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGAgQ6barWs Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:28:27 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/adb20632-0c96-4004-958f-44d37de32350 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.