Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. BOMBING THE USS VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY

ArchivalResource

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. BOMBING THE USS VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. BOMBING THE USS VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY

1923

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/65197

Summary: Demonstration of the striking force of the Air Force against naval vessels of battleship class operating from temporary bases. Gen. Billy Mitchell, Gen. Pershing, Adm. Shoemaker, Gen. Patrick and Asst. Secretary of War Davis, observers of the operation from aboard the US Navy cutter "San Mihiel". Gen. Mitchell, CEO. of Operations. Air Service, Engineering Division, U.S. Army, 1923. Bombing planes operating from Cape Hatteras and Langley Field, Va. Bombed Discarded Battleship, USS New Jersey and Virginia, Sept. 1, 1923. Army Air Service demonstrates its forces can protect any coastal point by operating from emerency landing fields at Cape Hateras. 1) CS airmen preparing the 1100 lb. bombs, bomb lying on ground. Men assembling tail section onto the missile. 2) CU two 1100 lb. bombs attached to underside of unidentified plane. Airmen checking same. 3) CS attaching 2000 lb. bomb to underside of unidentified plane. 4) CU General Mitchell and unidentified airman crouched beneath the plane looking at the 2000 lb. bomb. The San Mihiel. 5) ADS navy cutter type vessel, the San Mihiel, at anchor at sea. Observers on the San Mihiel: Gen. Pershing, Adm. Shoemaker, Assistant 5ecy. of War Davis, and Gen. Patrick, Chief of Air Service. 6) CU the four men standing on the deck of the cutter vessel. 7) ADS battleship New Jersey at anchor, showing bombs striking near ship. Bomber flying 175 miles from Langley Field score five direct hits with six 100 lb. bombs from an altitude of 11,000 feet. 8) LS taken across water showing bomb strikes on the "New Jersey". 9) AS same. 10) LS aerial and water-level shots of bomb strikes or the battleship New Jersey. A smoke curtain is dropped by a bomber from 1000 Ft. 11) ALS unidentifiable aircraft, flying in line with the New Jersey, laying a smoke screen across the water. 12) AS excellent coverage of smoke curtain hanging over water and down to water level obscuring sight of the battleship. 13) ADS showing bomb strikes near and upon the battleship "Virginia". 14) ADS direct hits scored by 1100 lb. bomb on deck of "Virginia". 15) ADS showing condition of deck of battleship resulting from direct hit by 1100 lb. bomb. Ship listing over on side, about to sink. 16) ACS camera plane flying immediate above and across deck of battleship "Virginia", showing effect of bombing of same. Plane flies back and forward across ship showing it listing over on side and sinking. Ship rolls completely over and floats for short time and then sinks. With the Virginia on the bottom, the bombers return for final attack on the battleship New Jersey. 17) PS taken from boat-alongside the "New Jersey" showing condition of same from previous bombing. 18) AS taken from boats showing direct hit by 1100 lb. bomb on battleship New Jersey. 19) ADS battleship "New Jersey" listing over on side turns completly over and floats short time bottoms up, then sinks. Good

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National Archives at College Park