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Atomic Bomb Test Drops - Albuquerque 1944

Public Domain Stock Footage Atomic Bomb Test Drops Albuquerque 1944

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keywords: wwii, albuquerque new mexico, kirtland field, project w-47, 509th composite group, silverplate b-29 superfortress, atomic bomb test drops, ballistic tests

Synopsis: Rare unedited footage of the 509th Composite Group and its special build of the B-29 Superfortress (code named "Silverplate") flying out of Kirtland Field near Albuquerque, New Mexico for "Project W-47", designed to ballistic test drop 10,000 lb. dummy Atomic Bombs in support of the secret Manhattan Project...(read more)

  • Date: 1944
  • Duration: 00:14:21
  • Sound: No
  • Color: Color
  • Type: Public Domain
  • Language: English
  • Location: United States

Atomic Bomb Test Drops Albuquerque 1944

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Atomic Bomb Test Drops - Albuquerque 1944

Ground crew member giving pilot signal to start #2 engine of B-29 "Silverplate" Superfortress, CU of plane engine turning over and starting. B-29 aircraft taking off and in low flight with 10,000 lb. dummy atomic bomb in bomb-bay. Ground-to-air rear view of B-29 "touching down", see smoke from tires. B-29 taxing toward camera. CU of plane shutting down engines. Officer with clipboard inspecting inside of open bomb-bay of B-29 and making note on form. Shot from inside bomb-bay; excellent footage of the "Fat Man" dummy atomic bomb being released from bomb-bay, in free fall, and striking ground; missing ground target image by just yards. Pilot's point of view (pov) of B-29 landing and taxiing to flight line.

Pre-flight procedure footage of B-29 crew "pulling the propeller through" on B-29 engine . Flight crew lines up for inspection by aircraft pilot. Ground crew member gives pilot signal to start #1 engine of B-29. Pilot starts #2 engine as ground crew stands-by with fire extinguisher. A B-29 aircraft takes off over camera. Scene of B-29 landing and return to flight line. Close-up of B-29 opening bomb-bay doors after landing, CU of bomb-bay doors closing. Bomb-bay doors open, plane starts to taxi. Pilot's point of view (pov) as B-29 takes off. Aerial view of ground target outlined with lime taken from bomb-bay of B-29. CU of port side (left side) engines of B-29 taken from cockpit. CU of B-29 crew "pulling the engine through". Pilot checking parachutes of flight crew members. Flight crew boarding B-29 aircraft.

Shot List:

00:00:23:05

B-29 Silverplate aircraft taking off and in low flight to test drop a 10,000 Lb. "Fat Man" dummy atomic bomb (shown later dropping from aircraft).

00:00:56:10

Ground-to-air rear view of B-29 "touching down", see smoke from tires.

00:03:11:25

Shot from inside bomb-bay; excellent footage of "Fat Man" dummy atomic bomb being released from bomb-bay, in free fall, and striking ground, missing ground target image by just yards.

00:03:58;08

Pilot's point of view (pov) of B-29 landing and taxiing to flight line.

00:05:22:01

B-29 crew "pulling the propeller through" on B-29 engine.

00:11:41:19

Pilot's point of view (pov) as B-29 takes off.