Summary: A round-the-world, round-the-clock picture of the activities of the RAF in the mid-1960s.
Description: The film alternates between four principal plot elements: an RAF pilot in the USA for conversion training on Phantoms at the McDonnell plant near Saint Louis; navigator training using Hawker Siddeley Dominies from No 1 Air Navigation School, Stradishall (night exercises, and a daytime flight to Malta); a schoolgirl returning to the UK from Hong Kong by RAF VC10; and a major exercise in Cyprus, including ground forces (RAF Regiment) flown in by Hercules and Argosy transports, and Lightnings from UK-based Squadrons (principally No 29 Squadron, but with aircraft from 56 and 111 Squadrons also seen) flying, with in-flight refuelling from Victors, to intercept Canberras "attacking" from Turkey. Ancillary activities are also seen - crash tenders and ground crew (including loading of drill missiles to Lightnings), WRAF personnel in Ops Room at NATO HQ Near East. RAF police dog patrol, air-sea rescue launch etc - together with glimpses of off duty life.
Production Details: Central Office of Information (Production sponsor)
World Wide Pictures (Production company)
Allen, James1924-01-03 (Production individual)
Parris, Clifford (Production individual)
Jago, Jo (Production individual)
Gordon, Michael (Production individual)
Gilpin, Peter (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, RAF Regt (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 29 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 56 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 111 &, Black Arrows (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Air Navigation School, 1 (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Women's Royal Air Force, (regiment/service)
NT.F (regiment/service)
McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: English Electric Canberra (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: English Electric Lightning (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Handley Page Victor (object name)
aircraft, British - transport: Armstrong Whitworth Argosy (object name)
aircraft, British - light military: Hawker Siddeley Dominie (object name)
aircraft, British - transport: Vickers VC10 (object name)
aircraft, United States - transport: Lockheed Hercules & [British] (object name)
command and control, NATO: operations room, NATO HQ (object name)
operations, British air - preparation (object name)
operations, British air - routine (object name)
ships, British auxiliary - assistance: Air-Sea Rescue Launch (object name)
society, British air - domestic (object name)
training, British air (object name)
Cyprus (geography)
Malta (geography)
GB, England & Stradishall, Suffolk <RAF Station> (geography)
GB, England & Stradishall, Suffolk <RAF Number 1 Air Navigation School> (geography)
USA & Saint Louis, MO <McDonnell aircraft plant> (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 2
Footage: 2042 ft; Running time: 22 mins