Title:PRODUCTION 51, EL DJEM AIRFIELD [Allocated Title]
Film Number:AYY 503
Other titles:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: The 5th Scottish Battalion, Parachute Regiment, 1st Airborne Division prepare to take off as part of the second wave of the invasion of Sicily. The operation is cancelled and Brigadier Down informs the troops.
Description: Panning shot right to left of troops boarding lorries at El Djem airfield. Lorries moving off. Close up of a crowded lorry with the troops in high spirits. View from a moving lorry of the Roman amphitheatre at El Djem. Men taking statichutes from a lorry. Panning shot from the lorry to C47 planes. An American mechanic working on a plane. The mechanic with a soldier. Panning shot from the lorry to the mechanic and troops under a wing. Men fastening down arms containers.
A container being fastened. Adjustment of a bomb rack. Trying on the static line of a container chute. A loaded container is dragged under the low rear bomb racks. Kneeling men lift the container up to the rack. An E type container used for wireless sets is in the foreground. Panning shot of members of D Company, 5th Scottish Battalion, Parachute Regiment resting under the shade of olive trees in the afternoon heat. Another panning shot of members of the company resting. A group of officers resting. Close up of an officer. Close up of an officer resting and his bare toes. Close up of containers falling from bomb racks.
11 July. Troops of the 2nd Parachute Brigade assembled for an address from their Brigadier, E E Down. Panning shot left to right of the men sitting down. Close up of the men and the Brigadier at the microphone. Close up of Brigadier Down reading out the first news of the invasion at the microphone.
Glider troops at Kairouan airfield silhouetted beneath the wing of a Waco glider. Panning shot left to right of planes and gliders assembled for take off. Flares in the foreground. The top gunner of an Albemarle polishes his perspex in the fading light. Troops file past to board planes.
Alternative Title:BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: War Office Film Unit (Production company)
Powell-Davies, N W (Lieutenant) (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Down, Eric (person)
British Army, 1st Airborne Division (regiment/service)
British Army, Parachute Regiment, 5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, 2nd Parachute Brigade (regiment/service)
