Summary: A record of the part played by the RNZAF, within the RAF, in the air war over Europe.
Description: After an opening scene in the office of High Commissioner Jordan, the film recalls the history of the force (Commonwealth air training scheme etc) and provides a picture of the seven New Zealand Squadrons and portraits of some of New Zealand's commanders and 'aces'. 75 Squadron (Bombers) is shown in both its Wellington and Lancaster days with film illustrating night bombing. Of other squadrons (485, Spitfires; 486, Hurricanes, Typhoons and Tempests; 487, Mosquito bombers; 488 Mosquito night fighters; 489 Beaufighters; 490, Sunderlands), most attention is paid to 489 and 487, including material on the Amiens prison and Tirpitz raids. The commanders shown include Coningham and Park, the 'aces' E J "Cobber" Kain, Gray, Deere, Checketts, Compton and Scott. Closing scenes show New Zealand air and groundcrew on airfields in liberated Europe. "Be sure that the rest of the Empire will remember with gratitude and pride that the New Zealand was there."
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
British Movietone News (Production company)
Perrin, Raymond (Production individual)
Robertson, E Arnot (Production individual)
Mitchell, Leslie Scott Falconer1905-10-041985-11-23 (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Checketts, Johnny (person)
Compton, Crawford (person)
Coningham, Arthur (person)
Deere, Alan Christopher (person)
Gray, Colin Falkland (person)
Jordan, W J (person)
Kain, Edgar James (person)
Park, Keith Rodney (person)
Scott, Des (person)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 75 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 485 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 486 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 487 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 488 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 489 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 490 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, New Zealand personnel (regiment/service)
Royal New Zealand Air Force (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Avro Lancaster (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Beaufighter (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: De Havilland Mosquito (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Hurricane (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Tempest (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Typhoon (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Supermarine Spitfire (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Vickers Wellington (object name)
aircraft, British - seaplane: Short Sunderland (object name)
operations, New Zealand air - routine (object name)
society, New Zealand air - friendship (object name)
GB, England (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 959 ft; Running time: 11 mins
