Osa Archivum Catalog

Cold War Film First Five Days of World War III NATO vs. Warsaw pact

Summary: Produced in the 1980s at the peak of Cold War paranoia, this Grumman Aerospace film discusses the theoretical first five days of air combat that would occur in the event of an outbreak of hostilities between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. It emphasizes the EF-111A electronic warfare and penetrating aircraft's capabilities as part of the tactical package, performing jamming of Soviet radars. The film showcases the capabilities of the USAF and its high tech weapons and examines the Soviet threat. It features a great deal of footage taken from Soviet propaganda films from this era to show the Warsaw bloc's capabilities. It includes assessments by General Thomas Swaim of the U.S. Air Force's Tactical Air Warfare Center. According to Swaim, the pressure that would be brought to bear on NATO forces by the Soviets would be immense in terms of numbers, with the Soviets holding a considerable advantage in strength. The USAF's high tech F-111, F-4, and F-16 aircraft and their technological edge would be key to fending off an enemy offensive. The first five days of the war would determine the winner in a non-conventional war in Europe.

Item Type	Current Location	Call Number	Status	Shelving Location	Public Note
Digital film	OSA Film Library	HU_OSA_10000844.mp4	Available		Access Copy, MP4 format