FLY AWAY PETER [Main Title]

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  • Title: FLY AWAY PETER [Main Title]
  • Film Number: ARY 1
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: The story of direct air reinforcements from Great Britain to our overseas fronts (sic.)
  • Description: Reel 1. The titles open over a rear view of Blenheim Mk IVs in flight above cloud. Fade to a globe which rotates from Japan to the Mediterranean Sea indicating the global nature of modern warfare. The camera pans right showing Vickers Wellington Mk 1c possibly belonging to 87 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, followed by shot of Lockheed Hudsons on dispersal. A Bristol Blenheim Mk IV swings round. A Bristol Beaufighter does the same. Close up of the nose of a Wellington Mk Ic with the mouse character from the Disney film 'Dumbo' painted on it. Aircrews pick up their parachutes from a pile under the wing, before walking to and climbing aboard their Wellington aircraft. For an overseas posting new kit will be needed and in the stores, a Corporal selects solar topees and RAF personnel try them on. An airman leaves the stores hut, puts on his topee and marches smartly away across the snow covered ground. In another part of the stores, aircrew have their parachutes fitted. A Leading Aircraftman helps to fasten the harness of one of the aircrew. Outside, the aircrew have their kitbags weighed for the forthcoming flight. Elsewhere, a medical orderly prepares to give posted aircrew their vaccination injections and, assisted by a WAAF, the orderly then injects a Sergeant Air-Gunner. Good weather forecasting is essential for the safe passage of crews and aircraft and in the 'Meteorological Office Forecast Room', civilian personnel pore over various weather charts. One rises and takes a chart to an adjacent room where it is handed to a Ferry Command Air Commodore, a Wing Commander at his side. The Wing Commander is dictated a note and a flight has been authorised. A WAAF types out the flight authorisation on a teleprinter. Meanwhile at the airfield, a Sergeant chalks up the flight details on a large wall mounted blackboard. Flight crews enter a large room in various items of flying kit for a briefing by a civilian weatherman. The crews study maps and look up as the Station Commander, a Group Captain, enters to give them a talk. They all look extremely attentive. He concludes his unheard talk and leaves. At the hut of the Air Freight Mobile Section, a Corporal checks off aircraft spares as they are loaded onto a truck and before they are loaded onto a RAF Consolidated Liberator Mk I in the next scene. A Beaufighter is refuelled and the groundcrew pull off engine tarpaulins. The fuel trailer is then seen in front of a Wellington which is then refuelled also. The Engineering Officer, sporting an embryo handle-bar moustache, sorts out an engine problem. A Flight-Lieutenant unfolds a map onto a table and briefs flight crews. Observers set their air navigation computers (a slide-rule like device and computational aid). (Note that one has a 'Belgium' shoulder flash and that almost all personnel seen have 'Observer' brevets rather than the expected 'Navigator' wing.) A Sergeant pilot (unusually wearing full webbing equipment) and a Volunteer Reserve Pilot Officer lick and stick labels on to vacuum flasks. Two personnel write their names on a chalkboard, to book early calls. In a room, a man sets his alarm clock, climbs into bed and pulls the covers over himself for the night. Whilst aircrew sleep others are hard at work preparing rations for them. Vacuum flasks are filled, bread is sliced and boxes marked 'Aircrew Rations' are stacked. A Hudson's engines are warmed up, as are those of a Wellington in the next scene. The clock says 5.35 as an airman zips up his suede flying boots. As crews sit down to eat breakfast (after being reminded by a sign not to take more than they can eat and that 'avoiding waste will help the fleet', groundcrews prepare the aircraft. A Blenheim Mk IV, with accumulator trolley plugged in, stands at dispersal as its port engine fires up. A Liberator's propellers are rotated by ground staff to prime the engines which are then started. An Air-Sea Rescue Lysander Mk III of 276 Squadron is prepared in case of need and a liferaft pack is placed in a carrier attached to wheelspat mounted pylons. Crews leave the breakfast table. A sign reminds them to pay their mess-bills. With a last check for any mail, the crews leave the hut and climb aboard the crew bus. The bus arrives in front of a Wellington Mk Ic. A Corporal fitter makes some final engine adjustments as the crew leave the bus and approach the aircraft. The port engine starts, followed in another shot by the starboard. The rear gunner is seen pulling the turret doors closed, locking them and rotating the turret into its normal flying attitude. This starting and crew sequence is repeated for the crew of a Beaufighter and a Blenheim Mk IV. A Beaufighter begins to taxi followed by a shot of another and sequentially, a Wellington Mk Ic, Beaufighter, Hudson, Beaufighter, Blenheim Mk IV, an early Wellington Mk I and a Liberator Mk I. From the Control Tower roof, an Airman gives the signal for take-off with an Aldis lamp. The Liberator rolls down the runway and takes off. A Hudson follows and this time there is a close-up of the aircrew acknowledging the Tower. The Hudson Mk III of 24 Squadron then rolls and takes off. It flies overhead, as does a Wellington and Blenheim. The Blenheim and Beaufighter fly over the clifftops and out to sea. The Blenheim climbs and flies away as the Hudson and Wellington follow. Reel 2. Inside the bus personnel are seen in flying kit leaving the Sergeant's Mess and climbing aboard a crew bus. Scene changes to the bus parked in front of a Wellington Mk Ic as three groundcrew look busy. The crews leave the mess and climb onto the bus, seen from the mess looking out. Shot is retaken. A Lysander of 276 Squadron is seen at 3/4 view taxiing. A groundcrewman holds a wheelspat pylon and jogs alongside. Cut to full side view of the Lysander entering sandbagged blast pen and being turned round by two groundstaff. Cut to ground crew seen in front of Lysander. In the same shot, a man opens the doors of a Zwicky bowser as another passes the fuel hose up. A signal is given and the bowser operator turns on the pump. Next shot is taken from the rear of the aircraft and shows ground staff fitting smoke flares to the wheelspat pylons. As five ground crew attend to this duty, a tractor and fuel bowser pulls up in the background for the refuelling scene described above and the pilot climbs down from the cockpit to check on the loading of the pylon stores. There follows a close up of an Aircraftman in oilskins refuelling the aircraft on the top of the wing (2 takes). A pilot walks towards a ladder. Long shot of a Wellington flying over cliff top and out to sea. Mid-shot overlooking wing and cockpit of Beaufighter, port engine running. Two ground staff disconnect and pull away accumulator trolley. An early Wellington Mk I taxies towards camera. Beaufighter is seen again with engines off. A man in the cockpit gives the thumbs-up to the camera and the port engine fires up. The Beaufighter is then seen from the front port quarter with the one engine running as aircrew climb aboard via the fore and aft hatches. Cut to aircrew walking from a Humber estate car to the Beaufighter. A Corporal inspects a radial engine from the front. A Wellington Mk Ic rolls along the runway, tail up, passes the camera and takes off. A Wellington Mk Ic of 15 OTU passes camera. A Wellington taxies towards and passes camera. Another passes and takes off. A Mk I of 15 OTU passes very close to camera, the camera pans left and follows another following behind. Three very dim scenes follow of a Hudson Mk III landing and taxiing, and a Beaufighter landing. A Wellington of 15 OTU takes off. Mid-shot of Wellington Mk I running up its engines. Ground to air shot of six Spitfires, fitted with wing mounted auxiliary fuel tanks flying overhead. A Blenheim Mk IV climbs away from the airfield. Same flies overhead. Another similar climbs away, wheels retracting, followed by a fly-past overhead. A Blenheim flies over cliffs. At Pinewood, two aircrew, one a Sergeant, walk up to a blackboard and sign their names (2 takes). Next another similar with two different personnel. Close up of Sergeant Wireless Operator signing name (3 takes). Mid-shot of Blenheim taking off followed by dim shot of Spitfire (with long range tanks) of 66 Squadron. A Hudson takes off, wheels retracting (very poor). Blenheim Mk IV taxies. Hudson taxies and turns off runway onto grass as Blenheim waits with engines running. Poor shot of Beaufighter taxiing. Take off shots of Blenheim, Beaufighter, Hudson, Spitfire (Mk II?) of 66 Squadron, and finally a Hudson. Reel 3. Close up of a medical orderly's hands swabbing the top of a vaccine bottle and operating a syringe. A corporal closes the aft hatch of a Liberator Mk I. Two ground staff throw a bag into the aft hatch of the Liberator. A WAAF medical orderly tips spirit bottle onto a cotton wool swab. Close up of the WAAF's head and shoulders. At Hurn Airmen place packages into the Liberator. Fitters prime the Liberator's port engines by turning the propellers by hand (2 takes). Mid shot of port inner firing and starting followed by outer engine. Front view of the Liberator, all engines running. Long shot of Liberator taking off and wheels retracting. Jumbled shots followed by three take offs. Long shot of Wellington at rest. Personnel load up the Liberator with packages from the back of a truck (2 takes). The door of the 'Air Freight Mobile Section' opens, a Corporal exits and checks off stores as they are carried out of the hut. Stores are loaded onto the back of the truck which then moves off. All taken at Hurn. A WAAF Sergeant is seen typing on a teleprinter. The WAAF Sergeant and two others are seen at their desks typing (one WAAF tries to suppress a giggle). A Flight- Lieutenant hands a message to the Sergeant. Close up of a door marked 'Meteorological Office Forecast Room'. A civilian discusses a weather chart with an Air Commodore and a Wing Commander who takes down a message dictated by the Air Commodore. A Sergeant Air Gunner is given an injection. Close up of medical orderly's face. Close up of WAAF orderly. A Flying Officer pilot, Sergeant Observer and one other enter surgery and remove jackets. Orderly gives Flying Officer an injection. Close up of teleprinter message being typed (2 takes). WAAF Sergeant places message into holder and begins typing. Civilian weather men look over charts at a long sloping table. The Air Commodore and Group Captain discuss a chart with a civilian weather man in close up (3 takes from various angles). Long shot of Hudson taxiing. Close up of orderly drawing fluid into syringe. Mid shot of Flying Officer being given injection, followed by another take. Close up of three aircrew listening to unseen lecturer. Six others doing the same. Flight crews look at maps. Civilian weather man briefs small group of men. Reel 4. At Harwell a group of flight-kitted aircrew inspect a notice board as others enter the room. They gather around a table. A civilian weather man briefs the assembly. Cut to various shots of the personnel listening to the unseen weather man. In a store, NCOs are issued with tropical kit. (NOTE: all the preceding scenes are marred by bad frame jumping.) Following bad shots of a Hudson and a Hurricane taking off are five shots of Wellingtons taking off, taxiing or static. Of note is the unusual Mk II with R-R Merlin X engines. Cut to a close up of an airman in a Hudson cockpit signalling to camera with an Aldis lamp. Two shots of Hudsons lined up at dispersal, the second panning. A Sergeant Air Gunner licks and sticks a label to a vacuum flask. Second take follows with Sergeant pilot and Volunteer Reserve Pilot Officer. Sergeant is, unusually, wearing full webbing equipment. Sergeant writes flight details onto large chalkboard. Close up of aircrewman drinking tea and smoking. Aircrew have breakfast. Shot of nose and port engine of Blenheim Mk IV, thumbs up is given from cockpit. Crew leave bus and walk to nose hatch of Wellington (2 takes). Hudson takes off. Hudson Mk V of 24 Squadron, 'Spirit of Borg' taxies. Ground crew on top of Liberator wing with refuelling hose (2 takes, 2 angles). Parcels are loaded into Wellington Mk I from small utility vehicle. Stores corporal fits recognition panel to lifejacket of seated officer in parachute store. Another selects and stacks solar topees ready for issue (2 takes). Crews in briefing room come to attention as Station Commander enters (bad gate jumping) (all taken at Harwell). Hudson takes off. Two Spitfire Mk Vs (?) of 66 Squadron fitted with underwing long range fuel tanks take off. Ten shots of various Wellingtons taxiing and on the ground etc. follow. Two panning shot of Hudsons (glimpse of machine of 269 Squadron in background) at dispersal, probably at Silloth. Leading Aircraftsman picks up twelve vacuum flasks. Sergeant chalks up flight details on chalkboard. Aircrew eat breakfast (4 shots). Close ups of signs in mess hall seen in reel 1. Close up of Blenheim Mk IV with port engine running, with trolley accumulator plugged in under (2 shots). Wellington with fuel bowser in front. Good shot of Wellington rear turret. Good shot of Hudson Mk V 'Spirit of Borg', engines stopping and starting. The following was filmed at Hurn. After a brief glimpse of a Liberator wing is seen a light utility vehicle in front of a Wellington Mk I into which packages are being loaded. Close up of kitbags being weighed outside. Jumpy shot of topees being tried on by NCOs. 3 shots of aircrew having parachutes fitted. Airman in solar topee marches across snow covered ground. NCOs are issued with and sign for, tropical kit. Reel 5. A good 3/4 view of a Blenheim Mk IV taxiing by the camera (3 shots). Close up of bacon and possibly sausages frying. 4 takes of a female kitchen orderly slicing bread on slicing machine. Close up of boxes marked 'Aircrew Rations'. Close up of tattooed arms pouring tea into flasks is followed by 4 shots of orderly doing the same from various angles. 15 OTU Wellington Mk I takes off followed by Mk Ic type (3 takes). An airman on top of the control tower signals to camera with an Aldis lamp (2 shots). At the breakfast table an Air Gunner removes a Smith & Wesson No 2 service revolver and demonstrates the mechanism to his neighbour. Close up of Corporal signalling with Aldis lamp. Close up of Wellington, propeller rotating. Ground crews fit liferaft pack to carrier on wheelspat pylon of a Lysander of 276 Squadron as another opens a hatch in the fuselage ready for the accumulator to be plugged in. There follows good shot of same Lysander taxiing to the dispersal, turning and stopping in front of the camera. Groundcrew remove tarpaulins on Beaufighter engine. Long shot of Wellington climbing and heading out to sea (4 shots). Very good close up of the rear turret of a Wellington rotating. Scenes which follow show the Rear Gunner in position fitting rear end stops to the machine guns. Three shots of a Hudson on the ground. Pilot climbs into the cockpit of a Blenheim Mk IV. Aircrews sort out their kitbags by the side of their aircraft. Six good shots of a Beaufighter taxiing. Blenheim Mk IV flies out to sea and away from camera. Blenheim Mk IV with engine covers removed is followed by three takes of a Flight Lieutenant and others inspecting the engine. Blenheim Mk IV flies over cliffs and out to sea. Another take of the Air Gunner showing off his pistol is followed by scene of a dog asleep by a fire. Two takes follow of an airman looking for mail in his pigeon-hole. Close ups follow of an airman eating and the dog asleep. Aircrew rise from the breakfast table and leave the room. A Hudson taxies. A trolley accumulator is pulled away from a Beaufighter. A pilot stands in the cockpit of the Beaufighter and gives the thumbs up. A propeller rotates in the next glimpse and the aircraft taxies. Ground crew cluster around a NAAFI tea van. A Beaufighter is refuelled in several good takes. Reel 6. A Wellington takes off (notice the film crew in the background of the second take). Close up of a man pulling on a suede flying boot (Pinewood Studios). A civilian weather man discusses a weather chart as two aircrew look on. Panning shot of briefing room with aircrew studying maps. A Hudson flies away from the camera. Aircrew study charts intently. Men settle down for the night in their accommodation (Pinewood Studios). In the briefing room the door opens, a Group Captain enters and talks to the crews who have come to attention. The reel ends with a shot of a model globe rotating.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: ARY 1
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-03
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: RAF Film Production Unit (Production company) Hill, James1919-08-011994-10-07 (Production individual) Moyna, E P G (Production individual) Waxman, Harry1912-04-031984-12-24 (Production individual) Taylor (Sergeant) (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, Sqdn 269 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 276 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 24 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 66 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Operational Training Unit 15 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Overseas Aircraft Dispatch Unit (regiment/service) Royal Australian Air Force, 87 Squadron (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Women's Auxiliary Air Force (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: aircraft, United States - combat: Consolidated B-24 Liberator & [British] (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Vickers Wellington (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Beaufighter (object name) aircraft, United States - combat: Lockheed Hudson & [British] (object name) aircraft, British - light military: Westland Lysander (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Blenheim (object name) weapons, British - smallarm: Smith and Wesson .38 Pistol No 2 (object name) operations, British air - movement (object name) operations, British air - routine: refuelling (object name) medical, British military - preventative: inoculation (object name) sciences, British - earth: meteorology (object name) equipment, British air - navigational: computer (object name) supplies, military, British - food: aircrew rations & breakfast (object name) equipment, British air - survival: inflatable dinghy (object name) equipment, British air - survival: Mae West life preserver (object name) communications, British military - direct: Aldis lamp (object name) Portreath, Cornwall, England, UK (geography) Harwell, Oxfordshire, England, UK (geography) GB, England & Hurn, Dorset (geography) Silloth, Cumberland, England, UK (geography) Pinewood, Buckinghamshire, England, UK (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: 6 Footage: 6038 ft; Running time: 67 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ARY 1

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