Title:RAF FILM PRODUCTION UNIT FOOTAGE FROM GREECE TO CARINTHIA [Allocated Title]
Film Number:AAY 246
Other titles:
Summary: An edited 35mm b/w blow-up version of Kodachrome footage shot by RAF Film Production Unit No 2 from Greece in late 1944 to Southern Austria at the end of the war.
Description: (Reel 1) British forces landing at Salonika; landing craft beaching and vehicles driving off; mine clearing (8/11/1944(?) - AAY 231). RAF Beaufighters and their crews are greeted by Greek women in traditional costume on their arrival in Greece (14/11/1944 - AAY 233). RAF men are taken on a tour of Athens, and meet members of the Greek Palace Guard in traditional uniform (31/10/1944(?) - unedited version not held). The Greek Prime Minister and RAF top brass attend a parade to celebrate the return of the Royal Hellenic Air Force to Athens (17/11/1944 - AAY 234). The Greek Prime Minister attends the Armistice Day parade in Athens (11/11/1944 - AAY 232). The Greek Royal Palace Guard perform a traditional dance in the courtyard of their barracks (19/11/1944 - AAY 235). RAF Spitfires and Beaufighters strafe ELAS targets in Athens (9/12/1944 - AAY 236).
(Reel 2) Groups of soldiers in motley uniforms march through the streets (source not known). Some men are hustled and beaten along a street in Athens (4/1/1945 - AAY 239). Locals take cover in the streets during air attacks; bodies lie on the street (15/12/1944 - AAY 237). Air Commodore Tuttle surveys RAF operations over Athens from an observation post (4/1/1945 - AAY 239). Locals are stopped at a checkpoint in Athens (15/12/1944 - AAY 237). Local victims of the Greek insurrection are unceremoniously buried in shallow graves (19/12/1944 - AAY 238). Vehicles move along a mountain road in the snow; Spitfires stand on a snow covered airfield (source not known). RAF men attend to their ablutions and housekeeping at a camp in Zara, Yugoslavia (6/4/1945 - AAY 243). Spitfires and Airacobras of the Balkan Air Force take off from an airfield at Canne, Italy and attack ground targets (staged using genuine 'OPS' footage) (3/1945 - AAY 240 (mostly)). A USAAF B-24 Liberator overshoots the airstrip on the island of Vis, Yugoslavia and up-ends in a cloud of dust; an Airacobra slews to a halt after landing with nose wheel up (14/3/1945-16/3/1945 - AAY 242). A Miami class air sea rescue launch leaves from the island of Vis, Yugoslavia to rescue a ditched pilot in a dinghy (11/3/1945-14/3/1945 - AAY 241).
(Reel 3) Marauders of the South African Air Force are prepared for a sortie at Jesi, Yugoslavia (9/4/1945 - AAY 244). Balkan Air Force airmen are briefed at Vis, Yugoslavia before leaving in their Spitfires and Airacobras to attack ground targets (again staged using genuine 'OPS' footage) (3/1945 - AAY 242). Surrendered German forces move along the roads in Carinthia and are gathered together in camps; a religious festival takes place (presumably also in the Austrian mountains) (5/1945 - AAY 245 (source not known for some scenes)).
