Summary: BBC documentary tracing the history of naval flying, featuring much film of early experiments from IWM archive and much colour film from the Pacific Theatre from US archives.
Description: The documentary is basically in two halves, with reminiscences from those involved and footage from the Yeovilton Fleet Air Arm Museum throughout. The first half uses film primarily from the IWM Film Archive and follows the early experiments of naval aviation. It includes shots of HMS Engadine, HMS Furious, HMS Courageous, USS Langly, USS Saratoga, HMS Glorious and HMS Eagle, of Sopwith Pups (including stills from the Howe Collection), of Nimrods, Ospreys, Grumman biplanes, Gladiators, Swordfishes and Hurricanes. There is film of the naval war against Germany and Italy. The second half is mostly colour material from US archives on the carrier war in the Pacific. It includes shots of USS Yorktown ablaze and USS Franklin exploding and shows Hellcats, Wildcats, Fireflys, Avengers, Seafires and Corsairs. Much of the programme focuses on accidents, crash landings in the early days and war accidents and explosions. There is footage of Kamikaze attacks and air-to-air combat footage. The film ends with Harrier jets today and shows HMS Eagle, HMS Ark Royal, HMS Blake, USS Guam and the Russian carrier Moskova.
Alternative Title:
Colour:Colour
Digitised:
Object_Number:MGH 676
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM: PROJECTION PRINT ONLY - NOT FOR PRODUCTION USE
Featured Period:
Production Date:1975-07-08
Production Country: GB
Production Details: BBC Television (Production company)
Johnson, Brian (Production individual)
Balfour, James (Production individual)
Gordon, John (Production individual)
Hall, Peter (Production individual)
Maynard, Hugh (Production individual)
Pierce-Roberts (Production individual)
Saunders, David (Production individual)
Somers, Cliff (Production individual)
Stevens, Alan (Production individual)
Stone, Ian1995-12-20 (Production individual)
Morcom, Stanley (Production individual)
Jones, Colin (Production individual)
Brown, David (Production individual)
Johnson, Brian (Production individual)
Knijff, Colin (Production individual)
Brown, Tom (Production individual)
Custer, Peter (Production individual)
Pearce, John (Production individual)
Hordern, Michael (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1937 ft; Running time: 55 mins
