 proudly we hail from New York City where the American stage begins here is another program with the cast of outstanding player public service time has been made available by this station for your army and your Air Force to bring you this story as proudly we hail the United States Army our stories entitled sky sweeper this is the story of Sergeant Tom Adams whose but one of the thousands of skilled technicians officers and men who serve in the Army Ordnance Corps at Arsenal's at the Aberdeen Proving Ground and around the world our first act curtain will rise in just a moment but first the man who measures up will succeed anywhere for a life of excitement and adventure join the United States Army the Army is the proving ground the place where the men and the boys part company where in a few short months you'll learn more about how to take care of yourself and how to lead others then you could in a lifetime of civilian activity in the Army your opportunities for advancement and leadership are unlimited but you've got to have what it takes the man who measures up here will succeed anywhere can you measure up if you think you can then here's an opportunity for you to serve your country and build a man-sized career for yourself that will take you as far as you want to go visit your local U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force recruiting station now and now your Army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production sky sweeper Aberdeen Maryland the Army Ordnance Proving Ground where the latest weapons armor and transport of the United States Army get the searching rugged testing involved in final stages of development these are the weapons of free peoples that are being forged the weapons designed to help keep us strong and free and at the workshops and firing ranges of Aberdeen unceasingly new ordinance gets a grueling going over rarely matched even under combat condition yeah we got more coming over haven't we about three or four as I make it on those first ones were we on target all the way Tom all the way when the jet stepped the target up to 480 it didn't matter it could have been weather balloons up there floating along at no miles an hour we weren't off by the width of an egg show from the time you picked up the target you know Jonesy I'm almost ready to say we've got a gun here keep your fingers crossed Tom here comes the next target honor Jonesy let's go Jonesy wait up a minute you're looking pretty sharp edit in for town this afternoon yeah I guess so how'd it go today well how'd what go come on Jonesy you can tell me I was one of the detail hauling ammo out there for you this morning you better ask the sergeant here did we give him a fill in town sorry Phil all performance data's off the record till the wraps come off major Holland's order oh well look Tom I've been trying to get transferred over to your testing crew and with any kind of a break I might be on it with you next week see all I was wondering well you get that transfer and you can stop wondering about what's going on no kidding Tom if I get the green light to switch over you won't turn me down Saturday Phil and I've got a weekend pass starting in about an hour you catch me feeling this good next week and how could I turn you down you heard him Jonesy I'm in provided you get the green light I'll get it if Tom Adam says I'm in I'm in all right for me to take off now major I finished checking that third set of computations operation Baltimore again sorry not Baltimore this weekend sir Judy and I are going out to a fishing camp on the bay fishing camp this early in the scene we're just opening it up and getting set for later on place belongs to Judy's folks and they're meeting us out there tonight well an afternoon out on the bay with your girl Tom you'd better get out of here before I think up some way of trading places with you thank you sir up you'll find this morning's results in the field safe case you want to check them over before Monday oh thanks I'll be getting at them now oh but Tom that reminds me you don't need rebriefing on security but as we get toward the end of this project I'm asking everyone to be more careful than ever I've tried to be all along mate well if anyone gets point blank about it you're on a routine job I haven't had trouble with anyone but Judy's father he's quite a talker himself when he gets firing off questions I mean questions that you haven't oh no no no sir as far as mr. Wellington's concerned I'm on the most routine job any soldier ever had matter of fact he's beginning to think I ought to have more ambition and start trying to make something out of myself in the arm a fine fine well my best of Judy Tom and have a good weekend thank you major that's who's starting to swim into it sure again I wouldn't dream of moving Judy after the paint job and the mopping up inside all I'm going to do to your dad mother turn up is watch the ducks tend to their housekeeping you call it housekeeping just a swim around out there all right all right let's get to some housekeeping that you will give the name to what about ours this was supposed to be make up our minds weekend remember look at the ducks now Tom don't try to throw me off Judy once your father gets here I'll be lucky to get in three words at a time till tomorrow night and I've got something here to show it will you take this ring and wear it till we can get married Tom I I I know it's not too big a diamond and maybe you'd call a setting kind of plain but darling it's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen in my life well honey that's the way I was hoping you take it but what about it does this mean oh wait a minute Tom there's someone coming I love all the time here keep the ring for now we'll talk about it later yeah but look Judy all I want to know is what some what mother and I brought up with this picnic dinner tonight we can hear the car pulling oh are you mr. Wellington mr. Wellington oh Tom it's a pleasure to see you again I hope Judy hasn't been working you too hard getting things open here working him too hard mother this younger generation doesn't know the meaning of work I don't say Tom's any worse than working our heads off most of the afternoon and there's your boat to prove it all scraped coughed and painted hmm that does look to be an improvement I guess you youngsters haven't been wasting all the afternoon out here can I give a hand with anything in from the car mrs. Wellington thanks Tom there are a few bags to come in but there's no rush about them we man will tend to the bags mother you and Judy take charge in the kitchen start things going in there come on Tom baggy detail front and center all right there does it in the baggage Tom and now then let's get down and look into that new dog project I was telling you about I'd like to sir but I thought if Judy needed no KP for us Tom we've got some serious dog planning to do first though I'd like to know whether you've taken any steps along the lines I was suggesting to you last week steps mr. Wellington about getting ahead in the army if there's anything more important than ambition and good playing hard work it's taking time enough beforehand to be sure that you know what you're aiming for I guess you're right mr. one you've admitted you're on a routine job not much change one week after another I didn't say I didn't find my job over at Aberdeen interesting sir you're putting a good face on it but what else can it be but a blind alley let's face up to things as they are well a thing is mr. one thing is Tom Adams it's time you stirred yourself and made a move of course this old trick back of mine kept me from ever being in the army myself but I pride myself for knowing a little something about it is a long time observer as far as I can see all a man has to do is talk about it man-to-man with his first sergeant or company commander the thing is I like the work I'm on I haven't been asking to get shifted out of ordinance like it Tom when you told me yourself well maybe we better be going down and having a look at that dog time enough my boy time enough for that are you where you haven't told me yet how the anti aircraft situation is going any aircraft situation I didn't say I was ideas of mine son that I asked you to suggest your superiors over there to Aberdeen was I did oh oh oh you mean you mean about the kite we're not just kites boy but big ones with long barbed wire tails on them throw up a couple hundred barbed wire kites around every city and how could the enemy planes ever get in huh any 10-year-old boy can hold a kite string can't he yes I suppose that's so mr. willing and what about the high-level flame thrower yes sir I put both those suggestions in through channels mr. willing channels you didn't go right to the top as a sergeant sir that wouldn't have been according to Hoyle there's just one limit that I can see Tom and that's your lack of get up and go here you're handed two brilliant new ideas and what do you do you just start mumbling something about two channels don't you have any imagination and ambition Tom you afraid Judy might stumble over the edge of this rickety old doctor what the way you two are holding hands the man who think you're afraid of going overboard dad you well you might say that's what we haven't been doing going overboard dad can't you see here I'm a no no I promise mother I tell her first Tom I'll go find it I'll be right there was I supposed to notice Tom some new way Judy's doing a hair I think Judy wanted to tell you herself mr. willing to tell me what speaker boy have you and Judy been choosing a location without even hearing how I figure it out how you figured it out the new dog the new dog boy what else are we talking about oh yes yes sir yes sir yes sir the dog now the way I see a term the chief trouble with this old dog is the side of the Cove that is on if the people who put it there just use the heads a little to start with they use their heads how built the dock in the far side boy well it's got more sun all day that's how explain it's two times two isn't it I don't know mr. Wellington the way most of your wind comes that far side of the Cove it seemed to be pretty unprotected unprotected well do you think you're dealing with full ocean surf right here Tom this is just just a big bag I know but when some of these storms kick up even in the bay Tom are you deliberately trying to put your judgment above mine I didn't mean it that way I thought you wanted my opinion but I'll be very glad to have it but I want a reasoned opinion not just some irrelevant talk about a few showers that might come along mr. Wellington's your dock and I'm not trying to tell you how to Tom I'm ordering the new dock pilings driven on the far side of the Cove and if you don't think that's exactly the place they ought to go then all I can say is that you don't please give over playing engineer long enough engineer mother after all my years of experience you heard the news news don't you even see the ring now with Judy holding it in front of your eyes of course now that you dad couldn't you tell when you came down before what Tom and I just decided they're engaged Jonathan now can you gather your wits and give Judy your blessing while I kiss my new son-in-law to be oh Tom it's a pity to catch her halfway through your Sunday supper but that phone call I just took it for you for me Mrs. Wang it's long distance from Aberdeen oh thanks I keep some waffles hot for me Judy huh hello this is Major Holland Tom I'm sorry to be breaking into your weekend time anything wrong major no no no but I wondered if you knew yet what time you plan to be back here tonight about ten sir the Wellington's were going to drive me around but if anything's come up no no ten will be fine and I'll appreciate it if you drop by at my office then before you turn in glad to sir but if you'd rather have no no stick to your schedule there's some points I want to go over with you before I lay out tomorrow morning's run but they won't take us a quarter of an hour to clear up I'll be working through here to well after 11 so I'll see you when you get here Tom whatever you say Julian whatever you say mother I call it outrageous Jonathan dear you're getting worked up over nothing we drop Tom back at Aberdeen at the time we meant to and he said himself the phone call was no more than pass it off mother but I say if Tom was on an important job there he wouldn't be at the back of college your way off the thing is Judy I've been trying to get Tom to make something of himself in the army and now that he's actually coming into our family I'd say it's time I took some action and dad please don't spoil things like oil things Judy why I'm going to fix them up for you and Tom I'll get over to Aberdeen myself to Aberdeen to Aberdeen and I'll see major howler myself and see if we can get Tom Adams a decent assignment in this man's army you're listening to the proudly we hail production sky sweeper will return in just a moment for the second act don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes was the command at Bunker Hill so our musket men of 75 held off until the enemy closed in and then they let them have it locked stock and barrel well the army's come a long way in the last 178 years nowadays our soldiers can track a jet plane 10,000 feet overhead and flying at 600 miles per hour with the army supersonic equipment skilled army technicians can help protect our towns in our country from the enemy with army radar and electronics our soldiers get the best kind of training training that you'd have a tough time trying to duplicate anywhere else you can learn to be a man of the hour yourself by enlisting directly for one of the army's technical schools like the fire control repair school for instance your local US army and US Air Force Recruiting Station will be glad to help you join the army the team with 178 years of proud achievement join the army and make your country proud of you you are listening to proudly we hail and now we present the second act of Sky Sweeper the following day on the firing range of the Aberdeen proving ground what you taking this morning Tom computer radar I'll take the computer Jonesy I'm on target Tom all set all set I'm commissioned officer's club at Aberdeen tonight's later hi Tom hi Phil you're not writing a letter to that girly yours tonight huh just cause she gave in and said she'd marry up with you you're late Phil I wrote and mailed tonight's later an hour ago thanks Jonesy I see around yeah hello Judy how are you no Judy he can't come barging over here as if you look Judy if your father starts bending the major's ear and the major ever thinks I had anything to do with it after Judy called last night I did now now just take it easy Tom you can't be blamed for what someone else decides to do and when the gentleman's your future father-in-law I can see how your hands might be tied I just wish my tongue could have been tied sir before I ever let him get hold of your name yes major Holland speaking right send him in Kennedy major Holland you're not gonna let him now at ease what you told me I'm not sure I'm not going to enjoy meeting Mr. Wellington major Holland I am J.B. Wellington I'm glad to know you sir have a chair thank you why Tom I didn't see you there at first how are you Mr. Wellington I asked Sergeant Adams to stand by Mr. Wellington as I understand it it was about the sergeant you wanted to see me oh well I have nothing I couldn't say before Tom Major Holland but I had expected to speak rather frankly more or less than a man-to-man basis Major Holland if I can clear out no no no hold on Tom it wasn't you had in mind Mr. Wellington well it's a little awkward to say in front of Tom but as his perspective father-in-law I have a natural interest in what he's doing and what he expects to do with himself that's understandable look Mr. Wellington major Holland's a busy man he can't take up his whole morning if you don't mind I'd say we'll move faster on this without interruptions now you tell me you're interested in what the sergeants doing within the limits of what's classified and what isn't of course now them as I understand it he's on pretty much of a routine assignments good going Tom I beg your pardon nature well in this particular section Mr. Wellington we don't encourage too much shop talk outside oh incidentally I might tell you we found Tom Adams to be a good soldier I glad to hear that major the sergeant was recommended for offices candidate school a month ago and I took pleasure in endorsing the papers myself nature Holland you didn't tell me you'll go when you finish the job you're on Tom and that'll be sooner than you think the point is Mr. Wellington what Tom's been doing here is about as far from a routine job as an assignment to be even on a high priority project and doing excellent work at it oh well I am glad to hear that I'm glad to know I'll even go a little further Mr. Wellington if you and Mrs. Wellington and your daughter would care to see exactly what Tom's been working on I'd suggest you make use of the passes I've asked Sergeant Kennedy outside to prepare for you they'll be ready as you leave your Holland you've been hammering security into us ever since we're taking the wraps off T83 E1 and T69 as of next week Tom here have a look at this order that came in this morning 25th major major we're actually giving a public showing on the sweeper over at Fort Mayer on the 25th 25th and if your affairs allow it Mr. Wellington I hope your wife yourself and that fine daughter of yours will be at Fort Mayer next week well of course if you get there Mr. Wellington and say you may feel a little better about how Sergeant Adams and quite a few more have been putting in their time the project Tom Adams had been helping complete final tests on an Aberdeen was the sky sweeper the Army's new rapid-firing radar control 75 millimeter anti-aircraft gun and it was astonishing to more than the Wellington's on the day press and public had their first look at this marvel of modern American ordinance nature Holland I am looking at it and I still can't believe it you say that gun finds its own moving plane targets and throws 45 12 and a half pound shells a minute at them just like a well just like an artillery machine gun yes that's pretty much what it is Mr. Wellington the Army's largest caliber automatic artillery weapon far as we know it's the first cannon in the world with radar computer and gun on one carriage the first one with gun and minute major you say that radar rig on the left side of the gun can spot enemy planes as far as 15 miles away yes and under certain conditions it can spot moving tanks Mr. Wellington normally the radar scanner sweeps the whole sky automatically once every 40 seconds if it picks up a hostile plane that throws the target data over to the computer and keeps tracking it to within range the computers in that console there you see on the right side of the gun where the second operator is the other just beyond time yes right now one man's on the radar one on the electronic computer once the guns touched off and keep reloading and firing itself automatically what was it you said the computer does after the radar finds a target major Holland it works out rain speed and course of the target plane instantaneously Mrs. Wellington and feeds that data to the power control now not where the target is at any moment but where it's going to be at the exact second the shell reaches it or shooting ahead of right again except in this case the computer isn't going by guests and maybe it keeps correcting course and holds the moving gun locked on that target until it's destroyed now out with a target meeting can do all that corporate look miss Wellington that sky sweeper can do everything but pass out cups of coffee to the guy's handling it I suppose I should know this couple but what happens at night or in a heavy fog if the plane comes in fast you can't even see this Wellington that radar finder doesn't know darkness and fog from high noon on a sunny day midnight a morning high a low either side of the sound barrier it can pick up any enemy plane and knock it down up to four miles away Kerrville I almost feel sorry for any enemy pilots who try coming in against something like that but they wouldn't have a chance well let's hope they feel sorry enough for themselves not to try coming in no planes have to take over this gun for I'm still clogging major you say that this 10 tons set up here can be hauled anywhere and be in operation five minutes later on rougher level terrain Mr. Wellington emplaced and with radar functioning within five minutes can even be carried by plane and all the while I thought Tom Adams was marking time and some routine duty he's been he's been on this yes he and quite a few hundred more Tom's been one of the testers since we got it at Aberdeen Mr. Wellington but the development of this gun began back in 44 the ordinance Corps first started making up its specifications for the Sky Sweeper during World War two when plane speeds began stepping up at Watertown Orson honey I'll have a 20 minute break as soon as we get the gun jacked up and back on its mind you think your folks would like to get some coffee over at the post if you tried to get away today without letting dad shake your hand I honestly think he just got that much of a kick out of seeing the gun kick out of it darling he's back there trying to tell people his future son-in-law practically invented designed and made the sky sweepers single hand ordinance technicians were sweating out all the tough details on this long before I ever got in the army at arsenals at factories all over the town you'll have to go easy on dad he's just learning how to be as proud of you as I've always been wait a minute Julie after today I think it's the army you'd better start getting proud of I am proud of the army but I'm marrying just one sergeant named Tom Adams and all I can really think about maybe a better concentrate in that coffee break look I'll see you in about 10 minutes I'll get dead and mom we'll be over by the barrier more coffee dad no no thanks Julie I I think I have a phone call to make a phone call Mr. one yes on that new dog out of the fishing camp Tom you remember I thought it would be put on the far side of the cove and you thought it should stay on the near sign well I don't see as it matters too much one way or the other Mr. one if you rather have it on the far side look here now do you think I don't know good advice my good man when I get it I'm calling that contractor and telling him the dock goes on the near side and if Tom says they run the dock clear out of the middle of the bay that's exactly where it's going to go I'll be back in a minute Tom and if you and Judy you put up with me I'd like to do some listening while you tell us more about that reading writing and arithmetic figuring gun that you and the army have got out there young man if you're a high school graduate if you have a leaning toward the world of science there's a big opportunity waiting for you in the United States Army if you're qualified you can now enlist directly for guided missile schooling you'll get eight weeks of basic training at the famous Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland then you can choose whether to go into guided missile repair work or into the field of electronics you'll be assured of life long employment because your highly specialized training will make you stand up your technical skill will make you a valuable asset to the whole industry of electronics visit your local US Army and US Air Force recruiting station get all the details on how you can qualify to enlist in the army for guided missile training this has been another program on proudly we hail present transcribed in cooperation with this station proudly we have is produced by the recruiting publicity center for the United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting service this is Kenneth Banghart speaking and inviting you to tune in the same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we have