Paul Shull: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST TERRIFYING WEAPONS IN EXISTENCE.
CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING A JET OF BURNING FUEL
WELL OVER 100 FEET,
THE FLAMETHROWER BATHED ITS TARGETS
IN A 2,200-DEGREE WALL OF FIRE.
TODAY, FEW REMAIN.
IT'S SO RARE.
Man: RARER AND RARER EVERY DAY.
THEY WERE POKING BIG HOLES IN THEM LIKE THIS
AND CRUSHING THEM.
Shull: AND MOST OF THE ONES THAT DO CAN'T BE SAFELY FIRED.
CAN WE FIRE THIS?
Man: UH, NOT A CHANCE.
Shull: NOW, IN WHAT COULD BE MY MOST DANGEROUS QUEST EVER...
THIS IS INSANITY.
I'M TURNING TO SOME INCREDIBLE COLLECTORS...
WHOA.
TO HELP ME DISCOVER
HOW IT HELPED TURN THE TIDE OF WORLD WAR II.
BUT IN THE PACIFIC THEATER, THIS WAS THE GAME CHANGER.
AND EXPERIENCE ITS DEVASTATING POWER
FIRST HAND.
FIRE IN THE HOLE!
[EXPLOSIONS]
ALL MY LIFE, I'VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH MILITARY HISTORY.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO JUST READ ABOUT THE PAST.
I WANT TO TOUCH IT,
FEEL IT.
I WANT MY HISTORY LESSONS TO LEAVE A MARK.
I'M PAUL SHULL.
AND NOW WITH THE HELP OF SOME INCREDIBLE COLLECTORS,
I'LL TRY TO GET MY FINGERS ON THE TRIGGERS
OF SOME OF HISTORY'S MOST AMAZING WEAPONS.
[RIFLE COCKING]
[METALLIC PLINKING]
I LOVE MY JOB.
I'VE GOT TO HOLD, TOUCH, AND USE
SOME OF THE GREATEST PIECES OF MACHINERY ON THE PLANET.
[BOOM]
BUT NOTHING I'VE DONE HAS ACTUALLY FRIGHTENED ME.
IT'S GOT MY ATTENTION,
BUT IT HASN'T FRIGHTENED ME.
WHAT TERRIFIES ME THE MOST...
IS FIRE.
I'M GONNA TRY TO GET MY HANDS ON
THE MOST INSIDIOUS, DANGEROUS, AND SCARY WEAPON
EVER DEVISED BY MANKIND.
I'M GONNA TRY TO GET MY HANDS ON A FLAMETHROWER.
♪
IT IS NOT GONNA BE EASY TO FIND A WORKING FLAMETHROWER.
THESE ARE REALLY RARE.
AND REALLY SCARY.
IN 1978, THE U.S. MILITARY OFFICIALLY STOPPED USING THEM.
THEY DESTROYED EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY COULD,
AND THE ONES THAT WEREN'T DESTROYED
BASICALLY DESTROYED THEMSELVES.
SEALS GO, VALVES GO, TANKS RUST, BLOW UP.
STUFF LIKE THAT.
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T KEEP IN A CLOSET
AND JUST BE LIKE, "OH, HERE'S A FLAMETHROWER."
BUT HERE'S THE BIG PROBLEM.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I ACTUALLY FIND A WORKING ONE?
DO I GOT THE STONES TO ACTUALLY USE IT?
WOULD YOU?
BUT YOU CAN'T JUST GOOGLE "WORKING FLAMETHROWERS."
TO FIND ONE,
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME SERIOUS DETECTIVE WORK.
I'VE HEARD A RUMOR
THAT A COLLECTOR WHO LIVES JUST NORTH OF TORONTO HAS ONE.
NORMALLY I DON'T PUT TOO MUCH STOCK IN RUMORS,
BUT I'VE GOT A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS LEAD.
♪
THIS IS BROCK JOLIFFE.
AS WELL AS BEING A HARDCORE COLLECTOR AND RESTORER,
HE'S A SPECIAL-EFFECTS WHIZ WHO DOES A LOT OF PYROTECHNIC WORK.
CLEARLY, HE'S USED TO PLAYING WITH FIRE.
Shull: SO, HOW DID THIS START FOR YOU?
Brock Joliffe: WELL, BACK IN 1974,
I MET SOMEBODY WHO HAD AN ARMY JEEP,
AND HE WAS WILLING TO SELL,
AND I BOUGHT.
AND IT TURNED OUT THAT ONE ARMY JEEP WASN'T ENOUGH,
SO FROM ONE IT WENT TO SEVERAL
AND THEN JEEPS WEREN'T ENOUGH,
SO I STARTED BUYING OTHER VEHICLES
AND COLLECTING AN ASSORTMENT OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT.
♪
Shull: THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
I NEED A SHOP LIKE THIS.
Joliffe: WELL, DOESN'T EVERY GUY?
HERE WE HAVE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A U.S. MARINE CORPS JEEP.
IT'S CALLED A MIGHTY MITE.
IT'S A BIT OF A RARE ITEM.
THEY DIDN'T MAKE VERY MANY OF THEM.
Shull: NOW, HOW MANY WERE MADE?
Joliffe: 3,922 IS THE OFFICIAL FIGURE.
FOR A MILITARY VEHICLE IT WAS A PRETTY SHORT PRODUCTION RUN.
1959 TO '62.
ALL-ALUMINUM BODY.
THEY WERE DESIGNED TO BE AIR TRANSPORTABLE.
Shull: DROPPED OUT OF AIRPLANES OR FROM HELICOPTER?
Joliffe: I DON'T THINK THEY KICKED THEM OUT
THE BACK OF AIRCRAFT,
BUT FOR SURE THEY WERE MEANT TO BE UNDER-SLUNG
ON THE HUEY HELICOPTER.
Shull: AND JUST DROPPED INTO LOCATION?
Joliffe: AND THEN THEY WOULD DROP IT DOWN INTO LOCATION.
THEY'RE MEANT TO BE ABLE TO BE PICKED UP BY GUYS
AND MOVED OUT OF MUCK.
THEY GOT IT DOWN TO ABOUT 1,700 POUNDS.
AND OVER HERE, ONE OF MY PRIDE AND JOYS
IS THIS M29-C.
IT'S CALLED A WEASEL.
AND IT'S A SECOND WORLD WAR PIECE.
Shull: THESE AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES
SAW HEAVY ACTION DURING THE PACIFIC WAR.
THEY CARRIED TROOPS, SUPPLIES, AND THE WOUNDED.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE ENGINEERING WAS SO ADVANCED
THAT THESE ACTUALLY HAD DETONATION SYSTEMS IN THEM.
Joliffe: YES, THE VEHICLE WAS CLASSIFIED TOP SECRET
FOR THE LONGEST TIME.
AND THE INITIAL FEW THOUSAND HAD DEMOLITION BLOCKS INSTALLED
SO THAT THE OPERATOR COULD BLOW THE THING UP,
AND SO IT COULDN'T BE USED IF IT WENT INTO ENEMY HANDS.
Shull: FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD,
BROCK COLLECTS MORE THAN JUST VEHICLES.
IT'S TIME TO SEE IF THE RUMORS ARE TRUE.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE?
LIKE WHAT ELSE, YOUR COLLECTION--
HOW VARIED IS IT?
Joliffe: WE HAVE RADIO GEAR
AND KIND OF THE ASSORTMENT THAT COLLECTORS ENJOY COLLECTING.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I HAVE FOUR FLAMETHROWERS.
Shull: WELL, I'D LOVE TO SEE THEM
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY FLAMETHROWERS.
THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY COMMON.
Joliffe: NO, FOR SURE THEY'RE NOT COMMON.
AND I HAVE ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I'D LOVE TO SHOW YOU.
Shull: I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT.
♪
Joliffe: 1945, LIFEBUOY.
Shull: NAMED AFTER ITS DISTINCTIVE SHAPE--
IT LOOKS LIKE AN OLD-FASHIONED LIFE PRESERVER--
THE LIFEBUOY WAS CARRIED INTO BATTLE BY BRITISH TROOPS
IN THE SUMMER OF 1944.
AND THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE IN PRIVATE HANDS
IN NORTH AMERICA.
OH, MY GOD.
I'VE JUST NEVER, I'VE NEVER SEE ONE.
Joliffe: DON'T TOUCH IT.
Shull: OK. I WON'T, I WON'T TOUCH IT.
Joliffe: NO, THAT'S OK. I'M JUST JOKING.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANOTHER ONE AGAIN.
SO EXPERIENCE THIS ONE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN TODAY.
THEY WERE EN MASSE DESTROYED.
THEY DIDN'T WANT THEM OUT IN PUBLIC HANDS.
AND IT'S A COMPLETE UNIT, WHICH ALSO IS VERY UNCOMMON.
Shull: THIS IS...
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
IT MAY DATE FROM WORLD WAR II,
BUT IT'S A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF ONE OF THE FIRST FLAMETHROWERS
EVER CARRIED INTO BATTLE.
IT WAS MODELED ON A CAPTURED GERMAN UNIT
FIRST USED IN WORLD WAR I.
WHILE IT LACKED THE RANGE AND ACCURACY
OF MACHINE GUNS OR ARTILLERY,
IT HAD SOMETHING ELSE GOING FOR IT:
THE POWER TO INSTILL ABSOLUTE TERROR.
IT'S JUST A SCARY PIECE OF MACHINERY.
Joliffe: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL END OF IT IS INCREDIBLE.
Shull: FEBRUARY 1915.
THE GERMANS LAUNCH THE FIRST FLAMETHROWER ATTACK IN HISTORY.
THEIR TARGET?
A STRETCH OF TRENCH HELD BY THE FRENCH ARMY.
FOR MEN WHO'VE ALREADY SUFFERED
THROUGH MONTHS OF TRENCH WARFARE,
THE THOUGHT OF BEING BURNED ALIVE
IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH TO TAKE.
THE LINE BREAKS
AS PANIC-STRICKEN TROOPS FLEE THE INFERNO,
ALLOWING THE GERMANS TO TAKE THE POSITION WITH EASE.
♪
IN THE WAKE OF THE ATTACKS,
THE ALLIES BEGIN TO DEVELOP FLAMETHROWERS OF THEIR OWN,
AND BY WAR'S END,
MODELS LIKE THE LIFEBUOY WERE SEEING ACTION.
HOW DOES THIS ONE WORK?
Joliffe: THIS IS THE PRESSURE VESSEL.
2,000 PSI IS CONTAINED IN HERE.
Shull: 2,000 PSI?
Joliffe: YEAH.
WHEN THIS VALVE IS OPENED,
IT ALLOWS 200 PSI OF PRESSURE
TO BE DELIVERED INTO THE FUEL CYLINDER,
WHICH CONTAINS FOUR IMPERIAL GALLONS OF GASOLINE.
Shull: AS THE GAS IS SHOT THROUGH THE NOZZLE,
IT'S IGNITED BY A SPARK.
ONCE ENGAGED,
IT COULD LAUNCH A JET OF FLAME WELL OVER A HUNDRED FEET.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD THIS ON?
Joliffe: I HAVE PUT IT ON.
Shull: CAN I GIVE IT A TRY?
Joliffe: OH, YEAH. TOTALLY. YEAH.
Shull: PUT THIS PART ON. ONE...
OH, I SEE.
Joliffe: AND IT JUST HOOKED IN.
Shull: OK.
Joliffe: IT WAS ONE OF THOSE,
"I'VE GOT TO GET IT OFF AND RUN AWAY" THINGS.
Shull: YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S ON FIRE.
THIS THING WAS DEVASTATING.
NOW I HAVE IT ON MY BACK.
AND I'VE GOT 2,000 POUNDS OF PRESSURE
WITH STUFF THAT BLOWS UP.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM:
YOU CANNOT HIDE WITH THIS.
"HI, I'M THE GUY SHOOTING A FLAME AT YOU."
LIKE, I'M THE TARGET.
CAN WE FIRE THIS?
Joliffe: UH, NOT A CHANCE. Shull: OH.
Joliffe: UNFORTUNATELY, THE PRESSURE BOTTLE HAS ISSUES WITH IT,
AND I'M NOT GOING TO FIRE IT OFF UNLESS I KNOW
THAT IT'S GOING TO ACCEPT A PRESSURE
IN A SAFE MANNER, RIGHT?
AND IT'S AN EXTREMELY UNCOMMON PIECE,
AND I'D LIKE TO KEEP THIS PIECE OF HISTORY JUST AS IT IS.
Shull: BUT THE LIFEBUOY
ISN'T THE ONLY FLAMETHROWER BROCK'S MANAGED TO COLLECT.
AS WORLD WAR II PROGRESSED,
BOTH THE AXIS AND THE ALLIES
BEGAN TO PRODUCE LARGER VEHICLE-MOUNTED FLAMETHROWERS.
Joliffe: WE'VE GOT TWO, QUITE RARE.
THESE ARE VEHICLE-MOUNTED.
THIS ONE IS CALLED THE CREE,
AND THIS ONE IS CALLED THE IROQUOIS.
THEY'RE BOTH CANADIAN.
IN TEST TRIALS THEY GET OVER 300 YARDS.
Shull: THIS CAN SHOOT A FLAME 300 YARDS?
Together: THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS.
Joliffe: IT WAS THE GUN
THAT I DECIDED TO TRY AND GET TO WORK.
AND IT'S THE GUN TODAY
THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR TEST FIRE PROJECTIONS WITH.
Shull: CAN WE FIRE IT 300 YARDS TODAY?
Joliffe: NO, I DON'T HAVE 300 YARDS TO SHOOT.
Shull: I WILL TAKE WHAT I CAN GRAB AT THIS POINT.
BRILLIANT!
Joliffe: ROLL IT OUT. Shull: LET'S DO IT!
Shull: BUILT FOR THE CANADIAN MILITARY
AFTER THE WAR ENDED,
IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE FIRED FROM INSIDE AN ARMORED VEHICLE.
THIS GAVE THE OPERATOR MORE PROTECTION
AND GOT THEM QUICKLY TO POTENTIAL TARGETS.
BROCK'S RARE UNIT IS ONE OF JUST A HANDFUL EVER MADE.
Joliffe: LET'S GET THE REST OF THE KIT.
Shull: ORIGINALLY FITTED
TO A MASSIVE 75-GALLON DRUM OF GAS,
FOR SAFETY REASONS, WE'RE GOING WITH A MUCH SMALLER TANK TODAY.
THERE WE GO.
NOW, I'M NOT FIRING THIS TODAY?
Joliffe: NO. IT'S OUR INITIAL TESTING.
SO, I'LL PUT MYSELF AT RISK.
Shull: SO, HOW DOES IT WORK?
Joliffe: WE'RE GOING TO PRESSURIZE THE FUEL
THAT'S CONTAINED IN THIS POT.
THE PRESSURE WILL ALLOW THE FUEL
TO BE MOVED ALONG THROUGH THE FUEL DELIVERY HOSES
AND THROUGH THE MAIN PROJECTOR.
A COIL SPARK, WHICH IS AT THE BUSINESS END OF THE NOZZLE,
ALLOWS THE PILOT FLAME TO BE INITIATED,
WHICH THEN ALLOWS THE FUEL PROJECTION STREAM
TO CATCH FIRE.
Shull: HOW MUCH PRESSURE ARE WE TALKING?
Joliffe: WE'LL PUT ABOUT 50 PSI IN.
THE SYSTEM NORMALLY RUNS AT ABOUT 300.
WE'RE NOT GONNA GO TO 300
BECAUSE WE'LL BE OFF THE PROPERTY WITH FLAMES.
Shull: WHICH WOULD BE NEAT TO SEE,
BUT PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR RIGHT NOW.
Joliffe: NEIGHBORS.
ALRIGHT, LET'S TEST THE PILOT.
SPARK INITIATION.
Shull: OH. Joliffe: NICE!
Shull: I CAN FEEL THAT ALREADY.
Joliffe: A GREAT PILOT WE'VE GOT.
Shull: IS THAT THING ON FIRE?
Joliffe: UH, THAT'S WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO, PAUL.
Shull: FOR THIS TEST,
I MIGHT JUST STEP AWAY A LITTLE BIT, IF THAT'S OK.
Joliffe: OH, TOTALLY.
Shull: ALRIGHT, SO, I'M GONNA KINDA HANG HERE FOR THE EVENT,
A LITTLE BIT.
Joliffe: YEAH, THAT'S FINE,
YOU CAN BE NEAR AN EXTINGUISHER FOR ME
IN CASE THERE'S ANY ISSUES.
Shull: COPY THAT.
Joliffe: OK, YOU CAN OPEN THE MAIN FUEL VALVE.
[HISSING]
Man: THE VALVE IS OPEN. YOU HAVE PRESSURE.
♪
Shull: STAND BY.
♪
Shull: I'M ON A MISSION TO FIND AND FIRE
ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST TERRIFYING WEAPONS--
THE FLAMETHROWER.
AND AFTER STRIKING OUT WITH A RARE BRITISH MODEL...
CAN WE FIRE THIS?
Joliffe: NOT A CHANCE.
Shull: A COLLECTOR HAS OFFERED TO SHOW ME
JUST WHAT I'M GETTING MYSELF INTO
IF I DO MANAGE TO FIND ONE TO STRAP ON MY BACK AND FIRE.
Joliffe: STAND BY WHILE I PRESSURIZE THE POT.
Shull: HOLY...
OH, NO!
OH, BOY!
IS THAT WHAT THAT DOES?
EVEN AT LESS THAN A QUARTER OF ITS NORMAL OPERATING PRESSURE,
THE RESULTS ARE AWE-INSPIRING.
IT INSTANTLY GENERATES A JET OF FLAME
THAT BURNS AT OVER 2,000 DEGREES.
IT REDUCES OUR TARGET TO SCORCHED TWIGS IN SECONDS.
IT IS JUST ALL FIRE.
EVERYTHING'S FIRE.
IT OVERRIDES YOUR SENSES.
Joliffe: IT'S INCREDIBLE BEING AT THE OPERATING END OF THIS,
AND IT WOULD BE VERY SCARY BEING AT THE DELIVERY END. WOW.
Shull: NOT ONLY THE DEVASTATION,
BUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SIDE OF THIS.
I WAS LOOKING TO STRAP ONE OF THESE,
LIKE A VERSION OF THIS TO MY BACK.
I FIGURED, YOU KNOW, COMING HERE AND SEEING THIS THING IN ACTION,
THAT IT MIGHT KINDA LESSEN OR QUELL MY FEARS A LITTLE BIT.
MY FRIEND, QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT TERRIFYING DEMONSTRATION,
BROCK HAD ONE MORE THING TO SHARE WITH ME--
A LEAD ON A COLLECTOR
WHO JUST MIGHT HAVE A WORKING PORTABLE FLAMETHROWER.
♪
I HAVE TRAVELED RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I'M NOW IN OREGON.
I'M GONNA MEET WITH A COLLECTOR NAMED STEVE PRESTON.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, TOP OF THE HEAP.
LIKE, THIS GUY HAS AMASSED PILES OF THINGS THAT I LOVE.
SO, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS
WHERE YOU GO TO MEET A NEW COLLECTOR,
IT'S ALMOST LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING
WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE PACKAGES.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S INSIDE.
BUT THEY'RE RIGHT THERE.
AND YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO GETTING YOUR HANDS ON THE STUFF.
I MAKE MY PILGRIMAGE THROUGH THESE AMAZING FORESTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN TO OREGON,
BUT THE TREES HERE ARE HUGE.
THIS IS THE PLACE.
THIS IS COOL.
JUDGING BY WHAT'S PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY,
I'VE CLEARLY COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
MEET STEVE PRESTON.
WHEN HE'S NOT RUNNING HIS OWN TOWING COMPANY,
HE'S CHASING DOWN RARE AMERICAN MILITARY ARTIFACTS.
HE TAKES HIS COLLECTING SO SERIOUSLY,
THAT EVEN HIS WORK TRUCKS GET CAMO.
♪
WHOA.
STEVE...
THIS IS INSANITY.
Steve Preston: THIS IS MY MILITARY VEHICLE COLLECTION.
THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
Shull: WHERE DO WE START?
Joliffe: LET'S START WITH THIS ONE.
THIS IS MY 1943 GMC CCKW.
THIS IS THE TRUCK THAT HELPED US WIN WORLD WAR II.
IN FACT THIS TRUCK ACTUALLY WAS OVER IN EUROPE
AND FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II
AND VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE RED BALL EXPRESS.
Shull: THAT WAS THE LOGISTICS TRAIN AFTER D-DAY.
Preston: CORRECT.
THAT WAS LIKE A TRAIN OF THESE TRUCKS
BRINGING SUPPLIES TO OUR TROOPS.
SO, THIS IS A HISTORIC TRUCK.
I KNOW IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT.
Shull: SO, IS THIS WHAT STARTED IT FOR YOU?
Preston: ABSOLUTELY.
I CAN REMEMBER BEING A KID IN SCHOOL, YOU KNOW,
DRAWING PICTURES OF TANKS
WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO BE LEARNING AND STUFF.
I ALWAYS HAD AN INFATUATION WITH THE TANK,
SO WHEN I GOT THIS, I'M LIKE, I NEED THE TANK.
SO I STARTED LOOKING.
AND WHAT I FOUND WAS NOT A TANK, BUT EVEN BETTER:
A TANK DESTROYER.
IT'S RIGHT OVER THERE.
♪
Shull: M18 HELLCAT, RIGHT?
Preston: IT'S THE BEST VEHICLE.
THIS IS THE FASTEST PRODUCTION TRACKED VEHICLE OF WORLD WAR II
OF ANY ARMY.
TOP SPEED 60 MILES AN HOUR, WHICH IS CRAZY FOR A TANK.
Shull: IT'S LIKE A SPORTS CAR ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
Preston: THIS HAS A HYDRAULIC TURRET ON IT,
SO THEY COULD ZOOM AROUND BEHIND AN ENEMY TANK,
WHERE THEY WERE THE WEAKEST SPOT,
AND QUICKLY TRAIN THE GUN ON THE OTHER TANK
AND SHOOT HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES
AND THEN GET OUT OF THE WAY
BEFORE SOMEBODY COULD AIM AT THEM.
Shull: HIT, HIT HARD AND MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.
BUT STEVE OWNS WAY MORE THAN VEHICLES.
WHAT DO WE GOT IN THERE?
Preston: LET ME SHOW YOU.
COME ON IN.
♪
Shull: WHOA!
STEVE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME RIGHT NOW?
Preston: SO, THIS IS MY COLLECTION.
Shull: HOW MANY GUNS DO YOU HAVE?
DO YOU KNOW?
Preston: I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY.
I WOULD SAY AROUND 500.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL GUNS,
BUT EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN STORY AND ITS OWN HISTORY TO IT.
I'VE GOT ALL DIFFERENT STYLES OF AMERICAN SNIPER RIFLES
FROM WORLD WAR I ALL THE WAY UP TO CURRENT ISSUE STUFF.
Shull: WHAT'S THIS?
Preston: THAT IS THE VERY FIRST AMERICAN NIGHT VISION SCOPE
FROM EARLY 1944.
Shull: SO, BATTERY OPERATED?
Preston: BATTERY OPERATED.
THAT CORD THAT YOU SEE HANGING DOWN
WENT TO A BACKPACK WHERE THEY CARRIED A 20,000-VOLT BATTERY
THAT PUTS POWER TO THIS SCOPE FOR THIS INFRARED LIGHT SOURCE,
AND THEN IT TAKES THE POWER FROM HERE
AND PUTS IT UP THROUGH THE SCOPE SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE.
SO, IT'S THE VERY FIRST INFRARED.
♪
Shull: WHAT DOES YOUR WIFE THINK ABOUT ALL THIS?
Preston: THE TWO COMMENTS THAT I GET
WHEN PEOPLE COME IN AND SEE MY COLLECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THE ONE IS, "WHEN THE BIG ONE HITS,
WE'RE COMING TO YOUR HOUSE." RIGHT?
AND COMMENT NUMBER TWO IS,
"WOW, YOU MUST HAVE A VERY UNDERSTANDING WIFE."
AND THE ANSWER IS, "YEAH, I DO."
Shull: THIS PLACE IS BURSTING WITH RARE ITEMS
THAT TELL SOME INCREDIBLE STORIES.
Preston: OK, SO CHECK THIS OUT.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?
I JUST PICKED THIS UP.
I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR ONE OF THESE FOR TEN YEARS.
Shull: IS THAT A HORSE GAS MASK?
Preston: IT'S A HORSE GAS MASK. Shull: SERIOUSLY?
Preston: THEY ARE THAT HARD TO FIND.
SO, IN WORLD WAR I AND EVEN UP INTO WORLD WAR II,
EVERY SOLDIER HAD HIS GAS MASK,
AND WHEN THEY WERE USING CAVALRY,
WHAT ABOUT THE POOR HORSE, RIGHT?
SO, THEY CAME UP WITH A GAS MASK FOR THE HORSE.
SO, IT GOES OVER THE SNOUT,
JUST LIKE THAT.
AND THEN THE HOSES GO TO THE CHARCOAL CANISTERS
WHICH HUNG ON THE HORSE'S CHEST.
THAT FILTERS THE AIR SO THE HORSE COULD BREATHE.
WHATEVER GAS WAS GOING ON, THIS SAVED THE HORSE.
Shull: POISON GAS WAS ONE OF THE NASTIEST INVENTIONS
OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR.
BUT ON A TABLE BEHIND STEVE,
I SEE ANOTHER TYPE OF WEAPON
THAT MADE ITS DEBUT IN THAT CONFLICT.
AND IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE OBJECT
I HAVE TRAVELED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SEE.
♪
Shull: SINCE WE CAME IN HERE, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE COOL.
BUT IS THAT AN M1 FLAMETHROWER?
Preston: IT IS.
Shull: CAN WE HAVE A LOOK? Preston: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
Shull: RUSHED INTO PRODUCTION
FOLLOWING AMERICA'S ENTRANCE INTO WORLD WAR II IN LATE 1941,
THE M1 FIRST SAW ACTION THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
Preston: THIS WAS OUR VERY FIRST ATTEMPT
AT AN AMERICAN FLAMETHROWER.
SO, THEY WERE VERY PRIMITIVE, YOU KNOW.
THEY WERE USING JUST SPARE PARTS ON HAND.
THEY WERE LIKE, WELL, WE NEED A TANK, WE NEED A WAND,
WE NEED A HOSE, WE NEED PRESSURE.
Shull: IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT THE INITIAL COMPANY THAT WAS MAKING THESE
WAS A FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY.
Preston: THEY PICKED FIRE EXTINGUISHER BOTTLES,
AND THEN THEY JUST MODIFIED THEM.
Shull: IT WAS THE 90-DAY WONDER.
THE GOVERNMENT CAME DOWN AND SAID,
"YOU HAVE 90 DAYS TO GET US A FLAMETHROWER THAT WORKS.
GO!"
AND LIKE MOST RUSH JOBS,
THE RESULTS WERE LESS THAN PERFECT.
FAILED TO IGNITE,
BLEW UP,
SEALS WERE A PROBLEM,
LEAKY,
COULDN'T RELY ON THE WEAPON.
Preston: DESPITE THEIR BEST ATTEMPT, IT WAS A POOR DESIGN,
AND IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG FOR THEM TO REALIZE,
HEY, WE GOT TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER.
Shull: WEAPONS LIKE THIS ARE INCREDIBLY RARE.
FOLLOWING THE WAR,
THE GOVERNMENT WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS
TO KEEP THEM OUT OF PRIVATE HANDS.
THEY DESTROYED SO MANY OF THESE.
Preston: RIGHT.
Shull: PUNCTURED THE TANKS,
YOU KNOW, JUST GOT RID OF THEM.
HOWEVER, THIS IS PRETTY COOL,
JUST TO, TO SEE AN EARLY VERSION OF THIS.
IS...CAN WE FIRE THIS?
♪
Shull: MY QUEST TO PERSONALLY PULL A TRIGGER
ON A FLAMETHROWER
HAS BROUGHT ME TO THE HOME
OF SUPER COLLECTOR STEVE PRESTON.
AFTER CHECKING OUT HIS MIND-BLOWING COLLECTION
OF MILITARY ARTIFACTS,
HE JUST ROLLED OUT
ONE OF THE RAREST AMERICAN WEAPONS
OF WORLD WAR II.
IS THAT AN M1 FLAMETHROWER?
Preston: IT IS.
Shull: TIME TO SEE IF WE CAN LIGHT IT UP.
CAN WE FIRE THIS?
Preston: I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
THE TANKS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE NEVER BEEN DE-MILLED,
THEY'VE NEVER BEEN PRESSURE TESTED,
I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE INTEGRITY.
IF THERE'S RUST INSIDE OF THEM OR WHATEVER,
THERE'S A CHANCE THAT THEY COULD EXPLODE.
AND THE WAND MAY HAVE SOME ISSUES ALSO,
AND I JUST DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE
FOR EITHER ONE OF US TO TRY AND SHOOT IT.
Shull: FAIR ENOUGH. I GET IT.
BUT BEFORE I GET TOO DISAPPOINTED,
STEVE HAS ONE MORE PIECE HE WANTS TO SHOW ME.
Preston: CHECK THAT OUT.
Shull: THE M2.
Preston: THE M2.
Shull: THIS THING IS
KIND OF LIKE THE CADILLAC OF THE FLAMETHROWER.
ALL THE LITTLE PROBLEMS AND BUGS OF THE M1
HAD GOTTEN TAKEN CARE OF.
Preston: NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE.
THEY FINALLY MADE A FLAMETHROWER
THAT WAS ACTUALLY A FUNCTIONING, RELIABLE WEAPON
THAT THEY COULD DEPLOY OUT IN THE BATTLEFIELD.
Shull: AND THIS SERVED A PURPOSE,
NOT SO MUCH IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER,
BUT IN THE PACIFIC THEATER THIS WAS THE GAME-CHANGER.
Preston: EXACTLY.
BECAUSE THE FIGHTING WAS SO DIFFERENT
OVER IN THE PACIFIC COMPARED TO OVER IN EUROPE.
Shull: 1945,
THE ISLAND OF IWO JIMA.
THE PACIFIC WAR RAGES ON.
U.S. MARINES MUST DRIVE OUT OVER 20,000 JAPANESE SOLDIERS
FROM AN UNDERGROUND NETWORK OF FORTIFIED BUNKERS AND TUNNELS,
ALL BUT IMPERVIOUS TO BOMBS AND BULLETS.
THESE BUNKERS CLAIM THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS MARINES
TASKED WITH TAKING THE ISLAND.
BUT THE M2 HELPED TURN THE TIDE OF THE BATTLE.
THE MARINES HIT THE BUNKERS WITH M2s.
A COUPLE OF FLAMETHROWERS WOULD BLOW IN THE TOP,
DISPATCHING EVERYBODY WHO WAS IN SIGHTLINE.
Preston: SURE.
Shull: YOU WOULD KNOCK THEM OUT
ONE AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER.
THESE THINGS BECAME INDISPENSABLE
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
EVEN THOSE NOT NEAR THE FLAMES DIED,
VICTIMS OF A LETHAL SPIKE IN CARBON MONOXIDE.
THE CARBON MONOXIDE WOULD SIT 7 TO 10 MINUTES IN THE HOLE,
KILLING ANYBODY INSIDE.
THERE WAS NO PLACE TO HIDE FROM THIS.
Preston: WOW!
Shull: FLAME IS NOT A GOOD THING.
Preston: DEATH BY FIRE IS A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE.
Shull: BUT HOW MANY U.S. LIVES DID THIS THING SAVE
BY DISPATCHING THOSE HOLES?
Preston: THEY WERE FIGHTING TO THE VERY END.
Shull: BIG QUESTION, MY FRIEND:
CAN WE FIRE THIS?
Preston: THIS ONE HAS NEVER BEEN DE-MILLED.
SO THE TANKS ARE GOOD, AS FAR AS I KNOW.
THERE'S NO HOLES EVER BEEN POKED IN 'EM,
SO THE INTEGRITY SHOULD BE GOOD,
ASSUMING THAT THEY'RE NOT RUSTY INSIDE.
THE WAND IS LIVE.
TECHNICALLY IT SHOULD FUNCTION.
IF WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY
THAT CAN CHECK IT OUT AND PRESSURE-TEST IT
AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO LEAKS
AND THAT NEITHER ONE OF US WOULD ERUPT INTO A BIG BALL OF FLAMES,
I'D LOVE TO TRY SHOOTING IT.
Shull: I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO
IS WE NEED TO JUST FIND SOMEBODY,
LIKE A FLAMETHROWER REPAIRMAN.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF THEY EXIST.
Preston: I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHO'S THAT?
♪
Shull: THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF HITS FOR FLAMETHROWER REPAIRMAN
ON GOOGLE.
BUT AFTER REACHING OUT TO SOME OF MY COLLECTOR PALS,
I'VE HEADED TO A CORNER OF UPSTATE NEW YORK
TO MEET THE NEXT BEST THING.
♪
CHARLIE HOBSON.
ONE OF THE WORLD'S FOREMOST EXPERTS
ON FLAMETHROWER HISTORY, DESIGN,
AND YOU GUESSED IT, REPAIR.
♪
CHARLIE'S OBSESSION WITH THIS WEAPON
DATES FROM 1993,
WHEN HE WAS ASKED BY A MUSEUM
TO TRY TO RESTORE ONE FOR A DISPLAY.
Charlie Hobson: AND THEN I REALIZED
THE LACK OF INFORMATION.
IT BECAME A CHALLENGE.
AND I'M A CHALLENGE-ORIENTED KIND OF GUY.
AND IF IT COULDN'T BE DONE,
I WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD DO IT.
THEN I GOT ONE ACTUALLY WORKING FOR THE ARMORED FOUNDATION.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE DAY I GOT IT ON MY BACK.
AND YOU HEAR THAT HISSING, AND IT SCARED ME TO DEATH.
AND I FIRED THE DARN THING,
GOT IT OFF MY BACK AS FAST AS I COULD
AND SAID, "I'M NEVER TOUCHING ONE OF THESE THINGS AGAIN."
THEY'RE DANGEROUS.
Shull: BUT AFTER THAT FIRST FIRING,
CHARLIE WAS HOOKED.
AND IN THE PAST TWO DECADES
HE'S HELPED RESTORE AND FIRE SEVERAL RARE FLAMETHROWERS.
AND WE'RE HOPING HE CAN BREATHE LIFE INTO ONE MORE.
Hobson: I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE,
I'VE BEEN WAITING TO SEE STEVE'S UNIT.
HE COULD HAVE A VERY VALUABLE FLAMETHROWER.
JUST FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, IT COULD BE REAL VALUABLE.
Shull: I GUESS THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
Hobson: OK, SO JUST LOOKING AT IT INITIALLY,
IT LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGINAL WORLD WAR II PAINT JOB.
THAT'S THE ORIGINAL WORLD WAR II FRAME.
LET'S PUT IT OVER HERE AND TAKE A REALLY CLOSE LOOK AT IT.
LET ME GET IT WHERE I CAN SEE IT.
WELL...
THOSE ARE WORLD WAR II BUCKLES.
BUT, UH, YEAH, THESE ARE A REPRODUCTION.
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BRASS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OK.
THAT'S OK.
THAT'S ORIGINAL.
Shull: HOW CAN WE TELL? BRASS?
Hobson: BRASS AND THE WAY IT'S SOLDERED ON.
Shull: OH.
Hobson: YEAH, THAT'S AN ORIGINAL.
SEE, IT'S REALLY NICE.
SOMEBODY SOLDERED ALL DAY LONG AT A FACTORY FOR YEARS.
YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY AN ORIGINAL.
BEAUTIFUL JOB.
THE OTHER THING IS, YOU SEE THAT GLAZE THERE ON IT?
THAT'S ACTUALLY GLASS.
THEY SOLDERED AND THEY HAD TO GLASS OVER IT
TO KEEP IT FROM OXIDIZING.
Shull: AND THEY STOOD UP, AND THEY DID THE JOB?
Hobson: THEY DID.
THEY LASTED VERY WELL.
THE M2 WAS BY FAR THE BEST FLAMETHROWER IN WORLD WAR II.
Shull: HOW MANY OF THESE ARE IN EXISTENCE?
Hobson: WORKING?
PROBABLY LESS THAN 20.
FIRING REGULARLY? UH, PROBABLY SEVEN.
FIRED EVERY YEAR? PROBABLY FOUR.
Shull: SO THERE'S NOT THAT MANY.
Hobson: NOT THAT MANY AT ALL.
IT'S PRETTY RARE TO SEE ONE FIRED, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
Shull: WELL, I'D LOVE TO SEE
IF WE CAN GET THIS THING UP AND RUNNING.
Hobson: WE CAN MAKE IT FIRE AND RESTORE IT TO ORIGINAL.
IT'S A REALLY NICE PIECE OF HISTORY WE CAN PRESERVE.
Shull: FINGERS CROSSED,
WE CAN ADD STEVE'S M2 TO THAT SMALL LIST OF WORKING UNITS.
Hobson: BUT DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP.
ONLY ONE IN FOUR PASS HYDRO.
LET'S GET THIS PRESSURE VALVE OFF FIRST.
Shull: THE HYDRO, OR PRESSURE TEST,
IS THE MOST CRUCIAL PART OF ANY FLAMETHROWER REBUILD.
SO, WE'RE READY FOR THE HYDRO TEST NOW?
Hobson: WE'RE READY.
THEN WE KNOW WHETHER YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE WORK,
OR DO YOU HAVE A WALL HANGER.
Shull: UGH. Hobson: COME ON.
Shull: TO MAKE SURE THE TANKS CAN HANDLE
THE 250 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH OF PRESSURE NEEDED FOR FIRING,
CHARLIE MUST TAKE THEM ALMOST TO THEIR BREAKING POINT.
Hobson: WE'RE GONNA HYDRO TEST TO 600 PSI.
Shull: EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ONLY GOING TO...
Hobson: 250. EXACTLY.
YOU GOT IT. PERFECT.
Shull: I LIKE IT.
Hobson: I DON'T WANT TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR
WHERE IT'S GONNA FAIL.
Shull: SO, IF WE HAVE A FAILURE,
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US?
Hobson: IT MEANS WE CAN NEVER MAKE THEM SEAL AGAIN.
WE CAN'T WELD THEM, WE CAN'T PATCH THEM.
Shull: IT'S DONE. Hobson: THEY'RE DONE.
IT COULD GO TO A MUSEUM, BUT THEY CAN NEVER BE FIRED.
Shull: OK. SO, LET'S GET STARTED.
Hobson: ALRIGHT! THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR.
NOW, WE GOT TO GET HER DOWN ON THE GROUND,
AND WE GOT TO FILL HER UP WITH TEST FLUID.
Shull: THE TEST FLUID IS A NON-COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID
THAT WILL STAND IN FOR THE DIESEL OR GAS.
Hobson: NOW, THERE'S NO AIR IN THIS SIDE.
Shull: AFTER A PRESSURE GAUGE HAS BEEN ATTACHED,
IT'S TIME FOR BUSINESS.
Hobson: IT'S A LITTLE HEAVIER, ISN'T IT?
Shull: A LITTLE BIT. Hobson: THERE YOU GO.
WE'VE GOT TO GET UP TO 600 PSI.
THESE WOULD BURST AT A HUNDRED AND A QUARTER,
SO WE'RE GOING TO START TO KNOW SOMETHING REALLY SOON.
Shull: OK.
Hobson: IF WE GET TO 600,
WE ARE ABSOLUTE GOLD.
Shull: OK.
Hobson: SO, THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
ALRIGHT, READY?
Shull: READY.
CHARLIE WILL NOW TRY TO PUMP HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF PRESSURE
INTO THESE 70-YEAR-OLD TANKS.
I'LL CALL THIS OUT?
Hobson: EVERY 50 POUNDS.
Shull: EVERY 50 POUNDS. GOT IT.
Hobson: RIGHT. HERE WE GO.
IT'S STARTING TO BUILD UP PRESSURE.
Shull: I'M OVER 50. I'M OVER 50.
I'M JUST SHY OF 100.
I'M AT 100.
Hobson: ALRIGHT, I'VE SEEN 'EM FAIL AT 110.
Shull: I'M AT 150. 150.
200.
Hobson: I'M RUNNING ABSOLUTELY PERFECT ON THIS.
RIGHT ABOUT WHERE IT SHOULD BE--250.
Shull: 250.
300.
Hobson: WE MIGHT START RUNNING INTO SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
Shull: IF SOMEONE HAS REPAIRED THE TANKS
AND TRIED TO PASS THEM OFF AS ORIGINAL,
WE'LL SOON FIND OUT.
OK. 350.
Hobson: WELL, WE'RE BETTER THAN HALFWAY THERE.
Shull: TO FIX STEEL, YOU NEED TO WELD IT.
400.
Hobson: BUT THE HIGHER WE GO, THE MORE THE CHANCES.
Shull: YEAH, I KNOW.
BUT THE HIGH HEAT
ACTUALLY WEAKENS THE METAL AROUND THE REPAIR.
450.
Hobson: SHE'S STILL PERFECT.
Shull: AND ONCE PRESSURIZED,
THE TANK WILL BE RIPPED APART.
OK, WE'RE AT 500.
Hobson: OK, LET'S GO A LITTLE SLOWER NOW.
WE'RE AT THE CRITICAL POINT.
Shull: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Hobson: IF IT'S GONNA BLOW,
IT'S GONNA HAPPEN JUST BEFORE 600.
Shull: AFTER FINALLY TRACKING DOWN
A COMPLETE WORLD WAR II FLAMETHROWER,
I'M MEETING WITH FLAMETHROWER EXPERT CHARLIE HOBSON
TO SEE IF IT CAN BE SAFELY FIRED.
IF THESE TANKS CAN HOLD
UP TO 600 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH OF PRESSURE,
WE'VE GOT A REAL CHANCE.
550.
♪
OK, WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
OK, ALMOST, ALMOST, ALMOST, ONE MORE.
♪
600. 600. WE'RE THERE.
Hobson: WE'RE GOLD. LET'S SEE IT.
YEAH. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WE GOT 600 ON TWO GAUGES.
Shull: WE HAVE TANKS.
Hobson: NO MATTER WHAT, THOSE TANKS ARE GOOD.
Shull: AMAZING.
Hobson: AND THE WAY THEY WORK,
I'VE ONLY SEEN THAT TWICE THAT THEY ARE THAT GOOD.
SO THOSE ARE IN INCREDIBLY GOOD SHAPE.
LET'S FIND OUT IF THAT WAND'S ANY GOOD AT ALL.
Shull: AFTER PASSING THIS CRUCIAL TEST,
OUR REBUILD IS DEFINITELY IN BUSINESS.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO NOW
IS MAKE SURE THE FIRING WAND IS WORKING.
THE WAND CONTROLS THE FLOW OF FUEL FROM THE TANKS
AND IGNITES IT AS IT LEAVES THE NOZZLE.
TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF FIRING THE M2,
THIS MUST WORK PERFECTLY.
Hobson: WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS FRONT END OFF
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GET TO THE NOZZLE AND BARREL ASSEMBLY.
BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN PAINTED OVER,
I'M SUSPICIOUS.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UNDERNEATH.
WHY DID THEY PAINT IT?
Shull: WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT.
Hobson: WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT REAL QUICK.
♪
Shull: CHARLIE NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE FIRING NEEDLE.
AND TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO PULL THE BARREL APART.
Hobson: TOWARDS ME. Shull: YES, SIR.
Hobson: THERE'S A LOT OF RUST IN THERE.
THERE WE GO.
♪
Shull: UGH.
Hobson: THERE'S THE ANSWER.
LOOK AT THE RUST.
Shull: ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S A PROBLEM.
IS THIS BENT, TOO?
Hobson: YEAH, PRETTY BAD.
AND I SUSPECT THE RUST DOWN HERE GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
Shull: THE FIRING NEEDLE
CONTROLS THE FLOW OF FUEL FROM THE TIP OF THE WAND.
IT MUST BE PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AND RUST-FREE,
OR THE FUEL WILL LEAK AFTER FIRING.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS GONNA WORK.
♪
Hobson: IT COULD.
IT COULD WORK.
IF WE CAN STRAIGHTEN THAT NEEDLE,
THERE'S A CHANCE OF SAVING IT.
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE OF SAVING IT.
Shull: THIS IS A LOT OF WORK HERE.
THIS BIG JOB IS BECOMING BIGGER.
Hobson: BIGGER, BUT NOT SO BIGGER
THAT I WOULD SAY THERE'S NO HOPE.
Shull: YOU'RE AN OPTIMIST, AND I LOVE IT!
Hobson: I MAKE A LOT OF THESE WORK.
WE MAY BE ABLE TO REBUILD THE WAND.
Shull: CHARLIE SAYS HE'LL NEED A FEW DAYS
TO FIX THE PIN AND RE-SOLDER THE BARREL.
BUT HE THINKS WE'VE GOT A GOOD SHOT
AT GETTING THIS THING BACK IN ACTION.
SO, BEFORE I LEAVE,
CHARLIE WANTS TO SHOW ME JUST WHAT I'VE SIGNED UP FOR.
HE'S GOING TO USE HIS M1,
THE FIRST FLAMETHROWER GIVEN TO GIs IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
BUT SINCE IT'S NOTORIOUSLY DANGEROUS,
HE'S NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES.
I SEE WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HERE TO HELP US OUT.
SAFETY FIRST, RIGHT?
Hobson: ALWAYS.
THIS IS WHY I'M FIRING, AND NOT YOU.
AND THIS IS WHY I BROUGHT BACK-UP.
NO OFFENSE TO YOUR SKILLS OR INEXPERIENCE...
Shull: NONE TAKEN.
Hobson: THIS THING, YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYBODY WITH IT.
Shull: LIKE MOST FLAMETHROWERS,
THE M1 KINDA WORKS LIKE A DEADLY WATER PISTOL.
WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?
ONCE I OPEN THE NITROGEN BOTTLE,
THE TANKS HOLDING THE DIESEL ARE PRESSURIZED.
Hobson: TURN ON THE FUEL.
Shull: OK.
Hobson: AND I'M GOOD.
ALRIGHT, WE ARE TOTALLY LIVE.
Shull: OK. NOW THIS THING IS PRESSURIZED.
DO I HAVE TO DO ANYTHING NOW?
Hobson: NOPE. JUST WATCH. Shull: OK.
AND ONCE CHARLIE PULLS THE TRIGGER,
THE FOUR GALLONS OF DIESEL WILL BE FORCED OUT.
Hobson: ALRIGHT, GUYS, HERE WE GO.
Shull: AND LIT BY A FLAME AT THE END OF THE WAND.
UNLESS THE ENTIRE THING BLOWS UP.
STAND BY.
Man: AND SET!
♪
♪
Shull: THE EFFECT IS TRULY ASTONISHING.
I CAN'T FATHOM WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE TO FIRE,
LET ALONE FACE ONE OF THESE ON A WORLD WAR II BATTLEFIELD.
INCREDIBLY, THOUGH,
IT'S NOT NEARLY AS POWERFUL
AS THE UNIT CHARLIE'S TRYING TO REBUILD FOR ME.
IF HE CAN GET IT WORKING,
THE M2 CAN PROJECT A JET OF FLAME
WELL OVER 100 FEET.
Hobson: THE TANKS ARE GOOD. THERE'S NO QUESTION THERE.
UM, IF I HAVE TO PUT A NEW BARREL ON IT,
WE'LL GET THAT WORKING,
AND I'LL GET IT OUT TO OREGON,
AND YOU'RE GONNA GET TO FIRE THE M2.
♪
Shull: A WEEK'S PASSED,
AND I'VE HEADED BACK TO OREGON
TO SEE HOW CHARLIE MADE OUT WITH THE REBUILD.
Hobson: WELL, I DID TRY TO STRAIGHTEN THIS ONE,
AND IT DID BREAK--
Shull: BOYS, BOYS, BOYS.
CHARLIE, YOU MADE IT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, BUDDY.
STEVE, ALWAYS A PLEASURE, MAN.
GENTLEMEN, HOW WE LOOKING?
Hobson: SHE'S, SHE'S PERFECT.
SHE'S SMOOTH AS CAN BE AND SEALED UP NICELY AND...
Shull: IS IT SAFE?
Hobson: FLAMETHROWERS ARE NEVER SAFE.
THEY'RE DESIGNED TO KILL.
BUT IF WE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, YEAH, I'D SAY SAFE THEN.
Shull: I CANNOT WAIT TO GET THIS THING OUT AND TRY IT.
Preston: ME, TOO. ME, TOO.
AFTER ALL THIS TIME, I'M READY. I'M READY.
Shull: ALRIGHT, SO, LET'S LOAD IT UP!
♪
WE'RE ALMOST READY TO GO.
BUT WE STILL NEED ONE LAST THING:
A TARGET.
CHARLIE HAS A SUGGESTION,
AND HE THINKS IT HASN'T BEEN TRIED IN ALMOST 70 YEARS.
A SPIDER TRENCH.
A BUNKER DUG INTO THE JUNGLE
AND COVERED WITH LOGS AND EARTH.
DURING THE PACIFIC WAR,
THIS DEADLY JAPANESE INVENTION
CLAIMED COUNTLESS AMERICAN LIVES.
A STANDARD BUNKER.
WHAT COMES TO MIND IS STEEL, CONCRETE,
BIG STRUCTURE, STRONG STRUCTURE.
THESE ARE HOLES IN THE GROUND.
THE TROOPS COULDN'T SEE THEM.
Hobson: MUTUALLY SUPPORTED.
YOU MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER ONE 20 FEET OVER THERE,
ANOTHER ONE OVER THERE.
SO, YOU'D ATTACK ONE,
AND YOU'D GET SHOT AT FROM THREE MORE DIRECTIONS.
YOU'D HAVE A SMALL FIRING PORT AND YOU COULD SEE,
BUT IF SOMEBODY SHOT AT ME HERE,
I COULD GO RIGHT DOWN ONE OF THE TRENCHES
AND FIRE AT HIM FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE.
I COULD POP UP WHERE HE DIDN'T EXPECT ME.
Shull: AND THAT'S THE THING, IT'S THE SURPRISE.
ROLLING UP ON THESE THINGS, YOU CAN'T SEE THEM.
VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE ONCE COVERED,
IN THICK JUNGLE,
THE SPIDER TRENCHES WERE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SPOT,
LET ALONE KNOCK OUT.
WE'VE GOT THIS ALMOST DIALED.
A SPIDER TRENCH.
NOW, GRANTED, DO WE HAVE COCONUT AND PALM FRONDS?
NOT REALLY. WE'RE IN OREGON.
AW, YEAH, BUDDY.
Hobson: YEAH, LOOK AT YOUR VISIBILITY.
AND I'LL TELL YA, FROM OUT HERE,
I CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE.
I SEE NOTHING.
YOU'RE TOTALLY HIDDEN.
Shull: 'CAUSE A LOT OF THEM WERE BERMED UP WITH 4 FEET OF SOIL,
SO MORTARS WERE BASICALLY INEFFECTIVE.
Hobson: EXACTLY.
Shull: MACHINE GUN FIRE WAS INEFFECTIVE.
Hobson: YOU COULDN'T FIND A FIRING PORT ANYWAY.
IF YOU DID, THEY'D SCURRY OUT TO ONE OVER THERE.
Shull: HOWEVER, ONE THING WE FOUND OUT,
THE M2, VERY EFFECTIVE AGAINST THESE.
Preston: YOU'D BE SAFE AGAINST EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE M2.
Shull: WAR IN THE PACIFIC RAGES ON.
SOLDIERS ARMED WITH FLAMETHROWERS
ATTACK THE SPIDER TRENCHES IN TEAMS.
WHILE ONE BURNED OFF THE VEGETATION,
THE OTHER AIMED FOR THE NOW-EXPOSED FIRING PORTS.
THE EFFECTS WERE DEVASTATING.
[SCREAMING]
FINALLY, THE MARINES HAD A WAY TO TAKE THEM OUT.
Hobson: THE M2,
YOU COULD TAKE OUT 20 OF THESE THINGS IN A DAY.
IN FACT, THEY DID.
Shull: WITH CAMERAS IN PLACE
TO CATCH WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE A SPIDER TRENCH
DURING A FLAME ATTACK,
WE ARE READY TO GO.
CHARLIE NOW HAS TO GIVE US A CRASH COURSE
IN FLAMETHROWER OPERATION.
AND GIVEN THE DANGERS, HE ISN'T TAKING ANY CHANCES.
Hobson: ALRIGHT, WE KNOW THE POTENTIAL OF THIS,
IF WE CAN KILL 72 JAPANESE IN ONE CAVE,
WE CAN CERTAINLY KILL AN OPERATOR WITH IT, RIGHT?
THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO MONITOR THE PRESSURE
WHILE IT'S ON YOUR BACK.
I PUT THIS SHUT-OFF ON,
WHICH IS DONE IN TRAINING A LOT IN THE MARINE CORPS.
I CAN SHUT THE FLOW OFF TO YOUR GUN QUICKLY
IF I HAVE TO.
I CAN SHUT YOUR PRESSURE OFF QUICKLY IF I HAVE TO.
AND WE FILLED YOUR PRESSURE BOTTLE NOT WITH COMPRESSED AIR,
WHICH WOULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION WITH A VOLATILE FUEL,
BUT INSTEAD WITH AN INERT GAS.
WE'VE DONE THINGS TO MINIMIZE PROBLEMS,
BUT WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH SOMETHING
THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO KILL.
AND MORE THAN JUST BURNS.
CARBON MONOXIDE, DIESEL FUEL IN THE EYE CAN BLIND YOU.
SO, KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU.
PAY ATTENTION.
GET IT RIGHT OVER AND PUT IT RIGHT ON YOU.
Shull: ONCE I GET KITTED UP,
I SEE THAT CHARLIE'S ADDED ONE LAST SAFETY FEATURE:
A NEW IGNITION SYSTEM.
Hobson: THEN IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Shull: CHARLIE, WE'RE NOT USING MAGNESIUM TODAY?
Hobson: WELL, WE'RE NOT USING THE STANDARD FLARES.
Shull: M2s ARE LIT BY A HEAVY-DUTY FLARE
THAT BURNS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS
AFTER THE OPERATOR PULLS THE FRONT TRIGGER.
THAT'S NOT GREAT FOR A BEGINNER LIKE ME.
Hobson: THE DISADVANTAGE OF THE STANDARD FLARES,
YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE FLAME. ONCE ONE LIGHTS UP...
Shull: YEAH. Hobson: ...YOU CAN'T STOP IT.
SO, IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM,
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TURNING IT OFF.
Preston: IT'S JUST LIKE A ROAD FLARE.
Hobson: YEAH, YOU GOT IT.
THE BEAUTY OF THIS...
GOES ON WHEN I WANT IT TO, GOES OFF WHEN I WANT IT TO.
Shull: WITH THE M2 FINALLY ASSEMBLED,
WE'VE MADE OUR WAY TO THE FIRING LINE.
AFTER 70 YEARS OF SILENCE,
IT'S ABOUT TO BREATH FIRE ONE MORE TIME.
I'VE TRAVELED TO OREGON
IN HOPES OF FIRING ONE OF THE RAREST AND DEADLIEST WEAPONS
OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR,
THE LEGENDARY M2 FLAMETHROWER.
AND AS WE GET READY TO UNLEASH THIS THING,
CHARLIE REMINDS ME HOW NOT TO GET KILLED WHILE OPERATING IT.
Hobson: THAT'S YOUR IGNITION.
THAT'S YOUR DEATH GRIP.
YOU LET GO OF THAT, THE RECOIL BRINGS IT OVER,
YOU'RE BURIED IN AN UMBRELLA OF FLAMING FUEL.
OK?
DEATH GRIP. HOLD IT TIGHT.
THIS IS THE SAFETY.
PRESS THIS IN FIRST,
AND THEN THIS BACK ALL THE WAY.
PRACTICE.
ALRIGHT.
ONE MORE. OK.
IF YOU DON'T PULL THAT BACK ALL THE WAY
AND YOUR NEEDLE COMES BACK,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SPRAY IN FRONT OF YOU THAT CAN IGNITE.
THE OTHER WAY YOU CAN KILL YOURSELF
IS BY SPRAYING THE GROUND IN FRONT OF YOU
AND YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A BIG ROLLING FLAME GO OVER YOU.
[SHULL CLEARS THROAT]
OK?
Shull: I'VE READ IN SOME OF THE TRAINING MANUALS
THAT THERE HAS TO BE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
OF THE PERSON USING THIS.
ARE YOU PSYCHOLOGICALLY EVALUATING ME RIGHT NOW?
Charlie: YOU BET YOUR BUTT I AM.
AND I'VE BEEN DOING IT, TOO.
YOU'RE NERVOUS.
Shull: I'M AWARE, AND I AM CONFIDENT.
Hobson: AGREED.
Shull: I AM JUST, I'M NOT GONNA SAY I'M AFRAID OR SCARED,
BUT I AM DEFINITELY FULLY AWARE
AND YOU HAVE MY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION PRESENTLY.
Hobson: GOOD. GLAD TO HEAR IT.
YOU'RE GIVING ME SOME CONFIDENCE, TOO.
Shull: SO, AFTER ONE LAST RUNDOWN
OF THE FIRING PROCESS...
I'M GOING TO AIM THIS UP AT A 45-DEGREE ANGLE
SO FUEL DOES NOT LEAK ON MY HAND
OR SHORT THIS MECHANISM OUT.
Hobson: THAT'S CORRECT, VERY GOOD.
Shull: TWO, DEATH GRIP.
THIS IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
Hobson: IMPERATIVE.
Shull: THIS, I WILL SNAP THIS BUTTON,
I WILL MAKE FLAME.
ONCE THE FLAME IS GOING, SAFETY GOES IN,
AND I HAMMER BACK ALL THE WAY.
Hobson: CORRECT. YOU GOT ALL THE POINTS CORRECT.
Shull: CHARLIE WANTS ME TO TEST FIRE
AT A PILE OF BRANCHES.
Hobson: I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU UP TO FULL PRESSURE.
[HISSING]
YOU'RE AT FULL PRESSURIZATION.
YOU ARE FULL LIVE RIGHT NOW.
GIVE ME THAT PILE BURN.
♪
IGNITION.
THAT'S GOOD.
ALRIGHT.
Shull: THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
THERE'S A KICK TO IT,
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT JUST, IT'S JUST INSTANT HEAT.
I'M SHAKING.
IT IS THE SCARIEST THING, HANDS DOWN,
I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.
CHARLIE...
THIS IS...
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. STEVE...
Preston: I COULD FEEL THE HEAT, STANDING 10, 15 FEET BEHIND YOU.
Shull: HAVING SHOWN CHARLIE THAT I'VE MASTERED THE BASICS,
IT'S TIME TO UNLEASH THE FULL POWER OF THIS WEAPON
ON OUR SPIDER BUNKER.
♪
Hobson: ARE YOU READY?
Shull: YES, SIR, I AM.
[HISSING]
Hobson: YOU'RE AT 250.
FLAMETHROWER IS NOW LIVE!
[HISSING]
OK. I'M GONNA SHUT YOU DOWN. READY?
FLAMETHROWER SAFE!
Shull: GUYS, THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE.
Hobson: LOOK AT THAT. Preston: LOOK AT THAT.
Shull: I HAVE A NEW LEVEL OF RESPECT
FOR WHAT THE M2 IS CAPABLE OF.
I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS LIKE THIS.
LIKE IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE
WHAT THIS THING IN OPERATION COULD DO.
OUR TEST IS A CHILLING REMINDER
OF JUST HOW EFFECTIVE THE M2 WAS AT NEUTRALIZING THESE BUNKERS.
ONCE WE HIT THAT SMALL FIRING PORT,
WITHIN SECONDS,
THE INSIDE OF THE CHAMBER WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
A SPIDER TRENCH MIGHT HAVE BEEN IMPERVIOUS
TO SHELLS OR MACHINE GUN FIRE,
BUT IT DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE AGAINST THE M2.
WITH A FRESH MOUND OF BRANCHES IN PLACE,
IT'S TIME TO LET STEVE EXPERIENCE THE TERRIFYING POWER
OF HIS REBUILT M2.
Preston: I AM NERVOUS.
I'VE HAD THIS THING FOR OVER FIVE OR SIX YEARS
AND SLOWLY COLLECTING PARTS AND PIECES OF IT.
SO, TO BE HERE TODAY
AND FINALLY BE ABLE TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON IT
AND SEE IT WORK...
IT'S AWESOME.
Shull: WHAT DID YOU THINK?
Preston: THE HEAT AND THEN THE PRESSURE FROM THE WAND--
Shull: THE RECOIL, RIGHT?
Preston: THE RECOIL, LIKE SHOOTING A HEAVY RIFLE.
I MEAN, IT JUST PUSHES YOU BACK.
AND THEN YOU FEEL THE HEAT,
JUST THE WALL OF HEAT HITS YOUR FACE.
LOOK AT THAT THING.
Shull: UNREAL.
Hobson: YOU KNOW, IF I WERE A JAPANESE SOLDIER
AND I SAW THIS...
EVEN IF I SURVIVED FROM ANOTHER SPIDER TRENCH,
I'D BE THINKING ABOUT THE BACK DOOR.
Preston: YOU'D SURRENDER.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE ON THE RECEIVING END OF ONE OF THESE
AFTER SEEING WHAT IT CAN DO.
Hobson: BUT THIS BRINGS HOME, SOMEBODY WAS IN THERE.
AND THEY NEVER KNEW WHAT HIT 'EM.
Shull: ALL THE WORK THAT GOT PUT INTO THIS,
FINALLY SEEING IT,
YOU KNOW, USING IT,
AND BRINGING IT BACK TO LIFE.
WHAT A TRIP!
Preston: NOT JUST SEEING IT, BUT EXPERIENCING IT,
FEELING IT, FEELING THE HEAT,
FEELING THE RECOIL.
FEELING EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
IT TAKES US BACK 70 YEARS TO WORLD WAR II
WHEN THESE THINGS WERE USED.
Hobson: EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN.
Shull: THANKS TO STEVE AND CHARLIE,
I'VE DONE SOMETHING
THAT FEW PEOPLE ON THE PLANET WILL EVER EXPERIENCE,
AND I'VE LEARNED FIRST HAND
HOW THIS TERRIFYING WEAPON
HELPED TURN THE TIDE OF WORLD WAR II.
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