Summary: I. "From slag heaps to dream cities?" Increasing mechanisation of British industry which has speeded up war production is illustrated by scenes of the mining (with giant scoopers), transportation and processing of iron-stone in the Midlands. Slag, hitherto considered a waste product, is now specially treated and then used by the building industry for concrete beams (when mixed with cement), interior wall facing and bricks. Item looks forward temptingly in the Beveridge spirit to the prospect of whole new cities constructed of the new material, over film of model bungalows and flats made from slag waste.
II. "With RAF over Holland." Mosquitos, Venturas and Bostons take off for a low daylight raid on the Philips works at Eindhoven. Film shows low flight across Channel, approach over factory and tracer fire, then film from a greater height shows buildings shrouded in smoke. Although 12 planes were lost and several others lie badly damaged on an airfield, raid is considered "one of the RAF's finest achievements."
Production Details: Ministry of Supply (Production sponsor)
British Paramount News (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: engineering, civilian, British: construction (object name)
industry, British - primary: ironstone mining (object name)
reconstruction, British (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: De Havilland Mosquito (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Douglas Boston & [British] (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Lockheed Ventura & [British] (object name)
combat, British - air raid (object name)
Second World War, North West Europe & Eindhoven raid (event)
GB, England & <Midlands area> (geography)
Netherlands & Eindhoven (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 991 ft; Running time: 11 mins
