U.S. Navy Educational Film ‘Hook Down, Wheels Down’
Produced in the early 1970s, “Hook Down, Wheels Down” was one of the most comprehensive (and expensive) films made by the U.S. Navy. It covers the history and development of the U.S. aircraft carrier, and does so through interviews with many of the men who made it happen. While dozens of aircraft carriers are featured, it is the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) that takes center stage — and the material shot on her deck looks like it is right out of “Top Gun”. There is wonderful flight op footage, great aerial flight footage, incredible WWII dog fightand bombing footage as well as endless aircraft carrier operational footage. Also shown in this film are very rare images of the first aircraft carrier USS Langley (CV-1) (formerly collier USS Jupiter AC-3).