Summary: The reminiscences of four pilots cover aspects of flying in two world wars and after, illustrated with relevant film, linked by a narrator.
Description: Captain W E Johns recalls his early ambition to fly, training at Reading and Thetford, and life in the RFC in France in World War I.
Wing Commander R L Smith recalls the luxurious life in the Fleet Air Arm in the thirties aboard HMS Glorious at Malta, and the contrast of life during the Battle of Britain. (Air-to-air film of "dogfights").
G A Rich, now a flying instructor, remembers the "solitary feeling" during low-level bombing raids on France.
Wing Commander W Howard who stayed in the RAF after 1945 talks about trial and error with early jets, the initial fear of supersonic flight, the merits of modern jet fighters, concluding with the Phantom II which will replace the BAC Lightning in the RAF. The film ends with a display by BAC Lightnings.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:No
Object_Number:MGH 486
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:
Featured Period:
Production Date:1968-04
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Anglia Television (Production company)
Robson, Michael (Production individual)
Aldous, Harry (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1100 ft; Running time: 30 mins
