SCENES ON ST KILDA, OUTER HEBRIDES, AND RAF HONINGTON, SUFFOLK, DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MILITARY TRACKING RADAR SITES [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: SCENES ON ST KILDA, OUTER HEBRIDES, AND RAF HONINGTON, SUFFOLK, DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MILITARY TRACKING RADAR SITES [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 6628
  • Other titles: AMATEUR FILM BY PETER JOHNSTON [Alternative Title]
  • Summary: Amateur film shot by Peter Johnston while serving in RAF 5004 Airfield Construction Squadron as a National Serviceman from 1956-1959. Johnston filmed the construction of a radar tracking station in St Kilda on the remote island of Hirta between 1957 and 1958 (codenamed Operation Hardrock), and a similar station at RAF Honington in Suffolk between 1958 and 1959, home to several Valiant Squadrons, forming part of Britain's so called V-Bomber nuclear force.
  • Description: Reel 1: '5004 Airfield Construction Squadron' sign. Scenes at RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, 5004 Squadron's home base. Men climb on board bus and truck and depart airfield. Views of airfield and countryside from rear of truck. Travelling by train. Views of docks from railway carriage window. Loading kitbags onto HMAV Abbeville. Servicemen enjoy a cigarette before departure. HMAV Abbeville heads out to sea. Views from rear of ship with seagulls following in the wake. Scenery shots. Men peeling potatoes onboard ship. Sunset. Further scenery shots. HMAV Abbeville approaches the island of St Kilda. Views of the island. Men travel in truck along a very steep and twisting stony road. Truck is driven over a makeshift bridge and driver waves at the camera. Men explore remains of old stone buildings and a small graveyard. Nissen huts. Views across valley and out to sea. Gun battery. Trucks moving building materials. Scenes in squadron camp. Ravine. Views from truck travelling along a road. Boulder crushing machine. Procession of trucks including a tanker. Men walking along road carrying tools. Laying tarmac. Blasting away rocks with explosives. Hut with 'MT Detail' sign. Servicemen's tents. Native goats nibbling grass. Clearing rubble. Scenery shots including close up views of a cleit, a traditional Scottish stone building. Laying building foundations. New supplies arrive by boat. Puffin sits on rock edge and then dives into the water. HMAV Agheila arrives and her load of trucks and equipment is disembarked. RAF Ensign on display. Brief shot of men lined up and smiling for the camera. Tents in the foreground. Reel 2: Fuel tank is manoeuvred into position. Installation of radar equipment. Men in truck pass camera and gesticulate at the cameraman. Scenery shots. Loading wheelbarrows onto truck. Nissen huts. Scenes on board unidentified ship. Travelling by truck along unidentified road. 5004 Airfield Construction Squadron arrive at RAF Honington. Brief shot of Vickers Valiant in the air. 'Halt Caution Aircraft Overhead' sign. Valiant in anti-flash white paint on airfield. Valiant XD863, RAF 90 Squadron, is pulled from hangar. Men digging a trench on airfield with Valiants in the background. Brief shot of unidentified Gloster Meteor taking off. Truck on airfield. Laying pipes and cables. 'No Entry' sign. Snow on airfield. Crew working on Valiant in the snow. Valiant takes to the skies. Birds and dog playing in snow. Valiant taxis on airfield. Hunting Percival Provost taxis past hangars. Valiant lands in the snow.
  • Alternative Title: AMATEUR FILM BY PETER JOHNSTON [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: MGH 6628
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions:
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1957
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Johnston, Peter (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: Std 8mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 600 ft; Running time: 48 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MGH 6628

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