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U.S. Marine Corps "A Force in Readiness" (1961)

1961 · Short film · 25 min

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Synopsis

Produced by U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Voluntary Training Unit 12-36 and Lt. Col. William L. Hendricks, USMCR Commanding Officer, this 1961 film is narrated by American actor Jack Webb and gives viewers a look at the state of readiness of the United States Marine Corps. The film opens with Jack Webb spinning a globe in a Marine Corps office. A Marine Corps marching band plays as Marine Corps men march in full dress. A man walks from his home down the sidewalk in his uniform (01:20). Marines stand for inspection during training. The film shows Marines as they train with rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, artillery guns, and a flame thrower. A-4D Skyhawks fly through the air (02:40); viewers also see Douglas F4D Skyrays and F8U Skyraiders flying. A GV-1 tanker flies and several Skyhawks refuel during flight (03:24). A Skyhawk lands on a short expeditionary landing strip. The film shows footage of an 8-inch self-propelled howitzer (04:10), an M1 Abrams tank, and an M50A1 Ontos Tank Destroyer. Viewers also see the XM70 artillery gun, an Honest John rocket being launched, a Sidewinder missile as it is fired from a fighter jet, a Hawk ground-to-air rocket, and a RIM-2 Terrier guided missile. A Marine test drives an air-suspension platform vehicle (06:15). Another man flies a tiny Mixmaster helicopter. At the Marine Corps’ Ordnance School, an officer teaches cadets. Overseas, Marines watch a parade of bagpipers (08:05). Marines drill in full dress (09:38). Footage shows radar…

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Details

Running time
25 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

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