83 SQUADRON AT SCAMPTON [Allocated Title]
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- Title: 83 SQUADRON AT SCAMPTON [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: ARY 16
- Other titles:
- Summary: 83 Squadron prepare for and execute a night raid from their base at RAF Scampton.
- Description: Reel 1. Lancasters of 83 Squadron are filmed performing low level passes, taxiing, take offs and landings in various lighting conditions, mostly dusk. Crews, silhouetted by the evening light, climb aboard their aircraft or gather under the wing prior to the raid. Included in these shots is a crew of 49 Squadron and their Manchester aircraft. Lancaster OL*A serial number R5622 of 83 Squadron lies on the airfield with one wheel collapsed having been damaged by enemy action over Essen. The pilot, Pilot Officer Shields DFC DFM, looks out from the cockpit and other members of the crew are photographed around various parts of the machine. Tractors and trailers (driven by WAAFs) leave the bomb dump with 4000lb and 1000lb bombs. The armourers ride on the trains. Lancasters taxi past the control hut, the controller signals with an Aldis lamp to camera and the aircraft take off. A Manchester Mk Ia is also seen. Reel 2. After armourers winch a 1900lb General Purpose bomb into the bay of a Lancaster, the camera concentrates on the impressive massed line-up of bombers and their take-off. The control hut and Aldis signaller are again shown. The reel ends with a brief glimpse of a briefing, followed by a crew leaving their utility vehicle in silhouette and a close up of the Lancaster's nose with the moon above and beyond. Reel 3. In the Briefing Room the crews are addressed by the Air Officer Commanding (an Air Vice Marshal) and Group Captain who is obviously describing the target details. The crews then move forward to consult a wall map and collect navigation equipment. The Warrant Officer i/c Bombs briefs the armourers of 83 Squadron at the bomb dump. General bombing-up scenes follow. A Lancaster is silhouetted against the setting sun. The crews look at maps on the tables in the briefing room and then don their flying kit outside. Carrier pigeons are stacked in their travel cases ready for the raid. General scenes of flight line activity and take-offs are shown. An aerial view of a small fire, obviously the unidentified target ablaze, completes the reel. Reel 4. Lancasters and a Manchester land in half light. An 83 Squadron crew disembark and dump their kit on the ground. They walk to a truck. Reel 5. The first scenes are repeats from earlier reels. Thereafter WAAFs are shown at work in the control hut and talking on the Radio Telephone. Crews walk into a room with cups of tea and are debriefed by the Intelligence Officer. The reel ends with more aircraft landings. Reel 6. The first scenes are repeats from earlier reels. A crew enter a Lancaster. The moon is seen over the mid-upper and rear turrets. An LAC attends to the flare path lamps, others make notes and talk on the wireless. A Manchester lands in the dark. Armourers move a bomb trolley under the belly of a Lancaster. Another starts up its motors at dusk. The reel ends with repeats of the bomb loading sequences.
- Alternative Title:
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised: Yes
- Object_Number: ARY 16
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
- Featured Period: 1939-1945
- Production Date: 1942-06
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Royal Air Force (Production sponsor) RAF Film Production Unit (Production company) Clayton, Jack (Production individual) Hatchard (Pilot Officer) (Production individual) Pilgrim (Pilot Officer) (Production individual) Sweeney (Flight Lieutenant) (Production individual) Pollard (Pilot Officer) (Production individual) Rider (Flight Sergeant) (Production individual) Towler (Sergeant) (Production individual) Jones (Sergeant) (Production individual) Wilcox (Sergeant) (Production individual) Challis, Christopher George (Production individual) Till (Aircraftsman 1) (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: Shields (Pilot Officer) (person) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 83 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 49 (regiment/service)
- Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Avro Lancaster (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Avro Lancaster & [wrecked] (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Avro Manchester (object name) weapons, British air - bomb: 1000 pound (object name) weapons, British air - bomb: 1900 pound (object name) weapons, British air - bomb: 4000 pound (object name) communications, British military - direct: Aldis lamp (object name) communications, British air - message: carrier pigeon (object name) intelligence, military, British - briefing: pre-raid (object name) intelligence, military, British - briefing: post-raid (object name) operations, British air - preparation: bombing up (object name) operations, British air - sortie: night bomber raid (object name) GB, England & Scampton, Lincolnshire <RAF Station> (geography) night (concept) dusk (concept)
- Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
- Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 6 Footage: 4546 ft; Running time: 49 mins
- HD Media:Yes
- Link to IWM Collections page:
- Related IWM Collections Objects: