WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 37 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 37 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 37
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'NEWS FROM ENGLAND.' A visit to a "Shadow" factory constructing Bristol Hercules aero-engines situated in the North of England. Factory operatives assemble reduction gear mechanisms for Hercules two row sleeve-valve engines (Mk XVII?). The commentary points out that many of the young factory workers had only seen their first aero-engine a matter of a few weeks before, but are now competently constructing such power plants. A woman factory worker uses an industrial drill to machine cylinder barrels, as her male co-workers line up completed engines on the factory floor. Elsewhere, RAF ground crew load 250lb bombs onto Hawker Hurricane Mk IIb fighter-bomber aircraft of 402 Squadron RAF (Service No BE477). The commentary stresses the adaptability and role of such aircraft as a "Hurribomber" taxies with an open canopy. Various views of "Hurribombers" in flight, and performing low-level bombing runs over fields with practice bombs. II. 'ON TO BENGHAZI.' The name "Sidi Rezegh" is marked out in stones on the desert sand as the commentary explains that a great tank battle was fought here between Imperial forces and Rommel's armoured divisions. Panoramic views of sandy hills and wadis with unbroken views to the horizon. The crew of an Italian M 13/40 medium tank lie buried near their burned-out vehicle. A British officer (in silhouette) salutes the graves of British soldiers. Film footage of British troops advancing over desert terrain is superimposed over a map of the Western Desert and Libya showing Alexandria, Sidi Barrani, Sollum, Bardia and Tobruk. German prisoners are marched under guard to Tobruk harbour, where damaged and partially sunk shipping is evident. The commentary points out that supplies are now getting through to Tobruk over scenes of British troops disembarking from a merchantman. Map of region with the town of Derna added and the date 19/12/41. Camera passes a road sign for Derna giving distance as 17.5 kilometres and burnt-out Axis soft-skinned vehicles. A motorised British patrol drives along a desert road in a cut-down Chevrolet light truck. Elsewhere, at Derna Airfield, the severity of Allied bombing raids is illustrated by ruined airfield buildings and hangars. Discarded German underwing fuel tanks and 500kg bombs (SC 500 L2). Commonwealth troops inspect the burnt-out wreckage of a German Junkers Ju 52/3m transport aircraft, pointing out the many bullet holes evident in the corrugated skin of the aircraft's fuselage. Advancing British troops in soft-skinned vehicles are greeted by the residents of Derna on the outskirts of the town. British soft-skinned vehicles drive through a road checkpoint controlled by a Marmon-Herrington armoured car and pass a road sign giving directions to Benghazi. Scenes of sunken shipping in Benghazi Harbour, with many of the ships having only their superstructures and funnels visible above the waterline. Marmon-Herrington armoured cars with lowered radio antennae enter the well tended streets of Benghazi which has been practically untouched by Allied air attack. A portrait of Mussolini is displayed and then destroyed by stoning for the benefit of the camera. Elsewhere, on board a ship of the Royal Navy, the crew of a Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun stand at readiness as Axis aircraft are spotted on the horizon. The aircraft attack ships in the distance and several near misses can be seen. A Junkers Ju 88 bomber is damaged by anti-aircraft fire at low level and the pilot attempts to ditch the aircraft in the sea. The Junkers' approach angle is too steep and the aircraft bounces off the sea, catching fire, and finally disappearing without trace below the surface.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 37
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-01-12
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Keating, Rex1910-02-142005-01British newsreel commentator, WW2 period (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: industry, British - aircraft (object name) equipment, British air - propulsion: Bristol Hercules (object name) destruction, Libyan military - aimed: bomb (object name) prisoners of war, German - movement (object name) combat [simulated], British naval - anti-aircraft (object name) operations, British military - movement: road (object name) Libya & Tobruk (geography) Libya & Derna (geography) Libya & Benghazi (geography) Libya & Sidi Rezegh (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: French & Arabic
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 886 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 37

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