SPITFIRE OPERATIONS BY RAF 136 SQUADRON, 165 WING AT RUMKHAPALONG, BURMA [Allocated Title]


  • Title: SPITFIRE OPERATIONS BY RAF 136 SQUADRON, 165 WING AT RUMKHAPALONG, BURMA [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ABY 4
  • Other titles: ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: An intelligence officer briefs pilots of RAF 136 Squadron at Rumkhapalong airfield, whose Supermarine Spitfires kick up clouds of dust as they scramble.
  • Description: Aircraft movements and airmen's boots kicking up dust. Bamboo buildings and aircraft shelters. Flight Sergeant de Home climbs aboard his Spitfire and being strapped in. Spitfires taking off, some in line abreast. Shot of cowling reveals one aircraft is named 'Billie'. Later Flying Officer Rudley poses with a captured Japanese flag.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-02-29
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Air Ministry, Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor) Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production company) Goozee, S (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: de Home (Flight Sergeant) (person) Rudley (Flying Officer) (person) Royal Air Force (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, 136 Squadron (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Rumkhapalong, Burma (geography) Fighter operations, Air operations over Burma, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event) Aerial Warfare (theme) Burma 1942-1945 (theme) Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (theme) Far East 1939-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 594 ft; Running time: 7 minutes
  • Notes: Identifiable aircraft are Spitfires HM:O, HM:N, HM:L and HM:T. Not long before this film was shot this squadron had been heavily engaged in escorting supply-dropping British and American transport aircraft to dropzones in the Arakan during the Battle of the Admin Box. An offensive into the Arakan by XV Indian Corps saw the HQ of 7th Indian Division become encircled. Entirely supplied from the air this 'box' of administrative and support troops, with a small number of infantry and tanks, were able to hold out until the Japanese were forced to withdraw by their own lack of supplies. During this episode 7th Indian Division were entirely supplied from the air for three weeks.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ABY 4

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