1.
GV INT Officer briefs U.S. pilots at Beale Air Force Base in California (2 shots)
0.08

2.
CU Pilots listen (2 shots)
0.13

3.
LV Pilots talking among themselves
0.14

4.
TV Pilots and families arrive at airfield in cars
0.19

5.
SV Pilots' luggage offloaded
0.27

6.
SV Pilots with families (3 shots)
0.38

7.
GV Crew of B-52 walk to aircraft
0.46

8.
CU INT Cockpit--pilot climbs in and puts on helmet
0.56

9.
SV Controller waves aircraft along tarmac
1.01

10.
SV B-52 taxies for take off (2 shots)
1.25

11.
GV B-52 takes off.
1.41



Initials BB/1409 DME/AW/BB/1346



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Officials of the United States Defence Department revealed this week that for the first time aircraft and men of the strategic deterrent force have been sent to South-East Asia.

The aircraft have been flying to the Western Pacific from bases in Louisiana and California (including Beale Air Force Base which is shown on this film).

The heavy B-52 bombers of the strategic reserve are reinforcing the B-52s already being used in South-East Asia by United States forces. Each of the aircraft can carry about thirty tons of bombs--about five times the weight carried by a tactical fighter-bomber. The B-52s are also very fast: they can fly at 650 miles-an-hour (1046 kms-per hour) at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,200m).

The strategic reserve is a back-up force based in the United States. At any one time about 40 per cent of the force is meant to be on alert.