WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 59 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 59 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 59
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Malta.
  • Description: I. 'MALTA.' The commentary states that this film is dedicated to the people of Malta, "who can take it and give it!" Aerial views of Valletta follow showing extensive damage from Axis bombing. Maltese civilians set out for work at the start of another day. Views of the extensively bomb damaged Opera House in Kingsway, Valletta. Elsewhere, at an RAF airfield on Malta, a Flight Sergeant fires a Very pistol from the roof of an airfield building to signal an immediate Squadron scramble to intercept raiding Axis aircraft. Having given the signal, the Flight Sergeant quickly mans a belt-fed Lewis .303-in light machine gun and scans the sky for enemy aircraft. RAF pilots run to a 4X2 Humber Snipe heavy utility car and drive at speed to parked fighter aircraft at dispersal. RAF pilots climb into Supermarine Spitfire VB (Trop) fighter aircraft and start their Merlin engines. The Spitfires taxi prior to take off as the commentary describes them as the finest fighters in the world. Royal Navy ratings man an observation post, scanning the sky as others plot aircraft movements on a map. A red warning flag is raised to indicate that an enemy air raid is imminent. Maltese civilians calmly file into an underground air raid shelter. British Army anti-aircraft teams load a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun and scan the sky in anticipation. German Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 88 bomber aircraft overfly at altitude as the shells from the Bofors explode around them. The waters of Valletta harbour plume as bombs explode in and around the dock area. Camouflaged Ordnance QF 3.7-in anti-aircraft guns fire from sandbagged emplacements at unseen targets as the commentary points out that over eleven thousand enemy sorties have been directed at the island. A German Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighter is bracketed by fire from Bofors and a parachute floats down, landing in the sea near the fortifications of Valletta harbour. Stock shots of downed German aircraft follow including a Messerschmitt Bf 109E fighter that has obviously been damaged on the ground and then set on fire for effect. German Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers manoeuvre to avoid light flak. An RAF Supermarine Spitfire VB (Trop) banks away from the camera in a high "G" turn. The red warning flag is lowered and Maltese women file out of a bomb shelter making the sign of the cross as they leave. Buildings damaged in the air raid are shown, including a rubble strewn church, although a priest still conducts mass despite the ruins. Maltese civilians clear rubble from the streets as a flower shop owner continues to sell blooms despite extensive damage to his shop. A British Army officer inspects a downed Messerschmitt Bf 109E fighter aircraft as Luftwaffe prisoners are escorted to a holding area. Maltese civilian workers fill in bomb craters to the runway at an unidentified RAF airfield. Fleet Air Arm (FAA) pilots are briefed by a Lieutenant-Commander prior to a sortie against enemy shipping. A FAA Fairey Albacore torpedo bomber runs its Taurus engine as a torpedo (18-in ?) is shackled to its crutch below the aircraft's fuselage (possibly 828 Squadron aircraft based at Hal Far, Malta). An RAF Vickers Wellington bomber is loaded with 250lb bombs prior to attacking targets identified by the commentary as being "ports and aerodromes in Italy." The commentary states "Malta can take it and give it!" over scenes of RAF Wellington bombers taking off on a mission.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 59
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-06-15
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Basset, Thornton (Production individual) Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: destruction, Maltese military - area: bomb (object name) combat, Maltese - air raid [I] (object name) religion, Christianity - ceremonial, Maltese (object name) Malta & Valletta (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: 976 ft; Running time: 11 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 59

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