Summary: Documentary about the Ministry of Defence's Proof and Experimental Establishments.
Description: The MOD has seven Proof and Experimental Establishments, responsible for weapons and equipment testing for the armed forces and outside industry, and a London HQ, all of which are illustrated. Pendine Sands, South Wales, once site of land speed record attempts (archive footage of Malcolm Campbell), now weapons testing range: Swingfire anti-tank weapon tested on track (climatic and high altitude chambers also shown, as are tests of machine gun fire suppression systems. Weather balloons released. Photographic section. Eskmeals, Cumbria, specialising in long range ballistic testing. The large Shoeburyness test site, used for dangerous tests and for firing into sea (range extends far out into the water): tests on Thorn-EMI fuses, IMI/Summerfield/BA Dynamics missile safety system, radio proximity fuses, Harrier engines - also marine gas release test for Shell and footage of optical lab. Lavington, Salisbury Plain. Cold Meece, Staffordshire. Inchterf near Glasgow. Foulness, which also serves as an environmental test centre.
Production Details: Ministry of Defence (Production sponsor)
Central Office of Information (Production sponsor)
Wadlow Grosvenor International (Production company)
Searle, Anthony (Production individual)
Wadlow, Jean (Production individual)
Searle, Anthony (Production individual)
Gurney, Chris (Production individual)
Jones, Norman (Production individual)
Daniels, John (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Campbell, Malcolm (person)
Ministry of Defence & Proof and Experimental Establishments (regiment/service)
Keywords: GB, England & London, SE <HQ, Director of Proof and Experimental Establishments> (geography)
GB, England & Cold Meece, Staffs <MOD Proof and Experimental Establishment> (geography)
GB, England & Eskmeals, Cumbria <MOD Proof and Experimental Establishment> (geography)
GB, England & Foulness, Essex <MOD Proof and Experimental Establishment> (geography)
GB, England & Market Lavington area, Wilts <MOD Proof and Experimental Establishment> (geography)
GB, England & Shoeburyness, Essex <MOD Proof and Experimental Establishment> (geography)
GB, Scotland & Inchterf, <MOD Proof and Experimental Establishment> (geography)
GB, Wales & Pendine Sands, Carmarthen <MOD Proof and Experimental Establishment> (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: U-matic
Running time: 24 mins 40 secs
