Summary: Short documentary about RAF Transport Command's regular flights to the Far East narrated by (and starring) Jon Rollason.
Description:Reporter John Rollason, not an RAF man, is booked on a Transport Command Comet to Singapore, and describes his experiences. RAF Lyneham - departure lounge, meeting the crew. Preparations - form-filling, bags checked and loaded, briefing. The flight itself. First stopover - Bahrain; street scenes, meeting with John Churchill, RAF pilot of a Beverley transport. Rejoining the Comet, and on to Aden - harbour and street scenes. He takes a trip from RAF Khormaksar over the Radfan mountains to meet troops guarding the border. Next stop for the Comet is Gan, in the Maldives - RAF post, fishing, wet weather. Comet's final destination, Singapore - RAF Changi, street scenes, Bugis Street. Trip in an Argosy to Hong Kong - aerial scenes, junks. On to Sarawak, North Borneo, by Whirlwind helicopter - dyaks in their long houses, scenes of RAF routine and preparation for para-drop at Carfax Platoon HQ. The para-drop itself, by troops of 55 Company RASC (Air Dispatch); Hastings, with Javelin fighter escort, delivers to front line. Back to base. Flying home in Bristol Britannia, Rollason sums up his experiences.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:Yes
Object_Number:COI 848
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Film: IWM (COI 848)
Featured Period:1945-1989
Production Date:1966-1966
Production Country:GB
Production Details:Ministry of Defence (Air) (Production sponsor)
Central Office of Information (Production sponsor)
United Motion Pictures (Production Company)
Pudney, Alan (Production individual)
Billings, Roy (Production individual)
Chiffey, Tony (Production individual)
Sheppard, Jack (Production individual)
Sobel, Raoul (Production individual)
Broderick, Peter (Production individual)
Rollason, Jon (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics:Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details:Footage: 993 ft; Running time: 28 mins