WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 68 - SPECIAL EDITION [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 68 - SPECIAL EDITION [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 68
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Churchill.
  • Description: I. 'CHURCHILL.' British Prime Minister Winston Churchill chats to United States President Franklin D Roosevelt following discussions on industrial productivity, also evident are Dr Soong (Chinese Foreign Minister) and Lord Halifax (British Ambassador to the United States). A Consolidated B-24 Liberator production line is shown in a "mile-long" aircraft factory in Detroit, Michigan (Ford Works). The commentary states that one bomber will be produced by the plant, every hour of every day. On a visit to Fort Jackson in North Carolina, Churchill observes US airborne troops parachuting from Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft. The commentary stresses that although the United States was initially slow in the development of airborne units, she's rapidly pulling ahead now. A paratrooper corporal demonstrates the assembly of a Garand .30 inch M1 rifle as Churchill looks on. Churchill climbs onto a podium to observe a US Army physical training instructor directing an exercise programme for assembled troops. Churchill apparently visits New York to attend a parade given in his honour. United States Navy personnel march past a reviewing podium on a main New York thoroughfare cheered by civilian spectators. A display float bearing the legend "Czechoslovakia fights on" and a caricature of Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich drives past, followed by another outlining the "Barbarian invasions of Greece" and including the German occupation in its theme. The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra can be seen seated on a display float in the distance as nurses and US infantry bring up the rear of the procession. Later, en route to Moscow, Churchill visits the Middle East to hold conferences with various dignitaries. Winston Churchill's personal communications aircraft "Commando" (Consolidated B-24 Liberator) taxies to a halt at an Egyptian airfield, and the Prime Minister is met by a welcoming committee that includes Sir Miles Lampson (British Ambassador), Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Arthur Tedder, and R G Casey (Minister of State, Resident in the Middle East). Churchill, accompanied by Tedder, drives off in an official staff car (Humber Snipe Saloon ?) giving his characteristic "Victory" salute. Later, in the grounds of the British Embassy in Cairo, Churchill poses for photographs with General Sir Archibald Wavell, Field Marshal Jan C Smuts, R G Casey and ACM Tedder. Churchill and Smuts walk in the embassy grounds, chatting informally. The commentary outlines the arrival by aircraft of the new Commander in Chief Middle East, General Sir Harold Alexander who poses for photographs at an undisclosed RAF airfield. The Prime Minister is accompanied by ACM Tedder during a visit to RAF personnel in the Western Desert where they are met on arrival by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham (Air Officer Commanding, Western Desert). Churchill is seen chatting informally to a line-up of RAF aircrew about their aerial exploits. Churchill is entertained in a typical tented desert mess, following lunch and cigars he visits men of the Eighth Army, where he inspects M3 Lee and Crusader tanks and talks to their crews. Churchill smokes a cigar, giving his characteristic two fingered "Victory salute" as he climbs into a Lockheed Hudson communications aircraft.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 68
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-08-24
  • 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: Churchill, Winston Leonard Spencer (person) Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (person) Soong, T V (person) Halifax, Edward Frederick Lindley Wood (person) Cox, G S (person) Lampson, Miles Wedderburn (person) Casey, Richard Gavin Gardiner (person) Smuts, Jan Christiaan (person) Tedder, Arthur William (person) Brooke, Alan Francis (person) Harwood, Henry (person) Auchinleck, Claude John Eyre (person) Wavell, Archibald Percival (person) Alexander, Harold (1st Earl Alexander of Tunis) (person) Coningham, Arthur (person) British Army, 8th Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: delegations, British national - political (object name) delegations, British international - political (object name) industry, United States - aircraft: Consolidated B-24 Liberator (object name) ceremonies, United States - display (object name) Egypt & Western Desert (geography) New York, New York, United States of America (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 913 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 68

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