Title:WOMEN'S ROYAL AIR FORCE - LIFE ON A BRITISH AERODROME [Main Title]
Film Number:IWM 1106
Other titles:
Summary: Everyday life for WRAF members at a coastal RAF station, probably Hastings area, summer 1918.
Description: The women help bring a patrol airship, SSZ13, out of its hangar, then back in again after its flight. In their own mess the women sit drinking tea. Some of them check the rigging of SSZ airships, others clean and polish the cowlings of Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter aircraft. Back in their mess after dinner they plait and arrange each other's hair or read picture newspapers. Working again, some cover an airframe with fabric in the assembly sheds. Outside, a group holds a Bristol Scout D in position while the engine is started, then take the chocks away to let the aircraft take off. They manoeuvre the same plane on the ground by its balance points. One woman holds up a poster displaying the standing orders of the WRAF. Back indoors, they work cutting and sewing aircraft fabric; a male NCO watches them, and is handed a message by a Boy Scout. Other women perform clerical duties. The Bristol Scout D in flight. Another view of the women working on cleaning disassembled aircraft engines.
Production Details: Royal Air Force (Production sponsor)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, Women's Royal Air Force, (regiment/service)
Boy Scouts (regiment/service)
Keywords: operations, British air - routine (object name)
aircraft, British naval - airship: SSZ13 (object name)
society, British air - sustenance (object name)
society, British air - domestic (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter (object name)
journalism and record, British - press: newspaper (object name)
operations, British air - maintenance (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Scout D (object name)
operations, British air - sortie (object name)
31/3(41) (event)
GB, England & Hastings area, Sussex (?) (geography)
(concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: English
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 577 ft; Running time: 10 mins