OPERATIONAL SCENES AND OFF-DUTY ACTIVITIES AT RAF DUXFORD, RAF CALSHOT, RAF LEE-ON-SOLENT, AND IN AUSTRALIA [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: OPERATIONAL SCENES AND OFF-DUTY ACTIVITIES AT RAF DUXFORD, RAF CALSHOT, RAF LEE-ON-SOLENT, AND IN AUSTRALIA [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 6834
  • Other titles: AMATEUR FILM BY GROUP CAPTAIN GEORGE SAMPSON [Alternative Title]
  • Summary: Amateur film shot by Group Captain George 'Sammy' Sampson while serving pre-war in England at RAF Duxford, RAF Calshot, RAF Hornchurch and RAF Lee-on-the-Solent; and (from 1942) back home in Australia, featuring extensive aerial and ground level views of Duxford airfield, off-duty activities at the base and in nearby Royston, and detailed views of his flying boat training and exercises.
  • Description: Reel 1: “The Sammyscope Super Cinema Presents: The Super S Reel of 1932”: Close up shot of aircraft propeller spinning. “The Mess and surroundings Duxford”: Views of original Officers Mess and other RAF buildings at Duxford. Panning shot over the A505 road which divides the site in two, low angled views of hangars and buildings constructed during the First World War. Further views of Officers Mess and First World War hangar [now Hangar Three]. Airmen chatting in yard, with a photographer in the background. “On the tarmac”: Avro 504 on the tarmac with Huck Starter attached. Aircraft taxis along airfield. “Hawker Hart”: Hart K1428 of 12 Squadron parked on airfield.“Fairey IIIF”: Fairey IIIF of 24 Squadron has its engine run by ground crew. Panning shot of three 111Fs on airfield including J9673. Pilot climbs into cockpit of aircraft. 111F taxis past hangar [now Hangar Five]. “A Vickers Virginia”: Aircrew manoeuvre a Virginia into a hangar. “Bulldogs taking off for low bombing”: Bristol Bulldogs of 19 Squadron take to the skies and drop smoke bombs on the airfield, hangars visible in background. “Duxford from the air”: Air to ground views of Duxford filmed onboard a de Havilland aircraft (the DH logo is clearly visible on strut, aircraft most likely a Tiger Moth). The aircraft makes a number of passes over the hangars and buildings at Duxford. “How not to land aeroplanes”: Trick shot of two Cambridge University Air Squadron Avro 504s landing backwards. “Sports 1932”: Mock chariot race. “Kiwi Excels himself”: Trick shot, man jumps backwards on to roof of building from ground, man thrashing about with tennis racket. “The King’s Yacht at Portsmouth”: View of the King’s yacht in dock. “Devon”: A steam train passes the camera. Social scenes including people having a picnic and young girl playing on the beach. “Torquay”: Elderly gentleman walks towards camera [man appears in later reels, possibly a relative or friend of Sampson] and woman poses with dog. “With the East Devon hunt”: Hunting on horseback with beagles. “Back to Duxford, Runham Excels himself”: Older man (presumably Runham) rides tricycle for the camera.“John Lock more than excels himself by performing the most wonderful banana trick”: Trick shot of man producing a banana from his mouth. “The Sammyscope Super Cinema Presents:- Station Flight at home Treasure Hunt 8th March 1933, Film stock kindly provided by Station Flight, The competitors started from Duxford at 2:30”: The treasure hunt begins at Duxford. Douglas Bader emerges from the Officers Mess with others in civilian dress. Couples depart by car from Duxford possessing map and clues for the treasure hunt (some of the men are wearing plus fours) “At Flint House AA Box”: Couples look for clues at an AA telephone box, and find clue located on roof of box. “The inhabitants of Royston are amazed”: The treasure hunt continues in the town of Royston, where a policeman directs the traffic. Couples run to ruined building to find further clues. “Some careful thought was needed”: Couples look for clues and find them in a wagon in a field. “The Winners, Flt. Lieut. TM Williams, MC, DFC [Cambridge University Air Squadron Adjutant] and Mrs C Ellison, carefully studying one of the clues“: Mrs Ellison studying clue. “Station Headquarters Duxford and 19(F) Squadron, at home Treasure Hunt 5th April 1933”: Couples in civilian clothing including Douglas Bader leave the Officers Mess.”The Clyno Trick”: Sampson runs to his car which is facing the camera, and then drives car over the camera. Reel 2: “The Sammyscope Super Cinema presents: A Super Production Filmed Between January and July 1933. The Strangest Of All Events Will Now Appear”: “Magician’s Act”: Use of reverse photography to create the illusion of magic tricks. Sampson is shown in reverse smoking a cigarette and ripping up a piece of paper. “RAF Station Duxford Sports 1933: Men in shorts and vests running towards the camera with ribbon marking the finish line in the foreground. Egg and spoon race. “The Officers’ Race”: Officers running towards the camera. “The Ladies’ Race”: Airmen’s wives competing in race. “The Children’s Race”: “Buckfast Abbey built entirely by monks”: Views of Buckfast Abbey, with tourists milling about the building. “Dartmouth”: Cars being driven up ferry ramp onto car ferry at Dartmouth. “Dawlish”: High angled view of steam train passing through Dawlish. “At Clifton Bedfordshire”: Close up shot of young girl wearing glasses, who smiles at the camera. Two girls put down saucers of milk for cats. Girl poses with terrier dog which licks her face enthusiastically. Close up shot of young girl removing her glasses, and then holding a black rabbit up to the camera. Other girl then holds puppy dog up to camera. Woman struggling to hold terrier dog. Close up shot of girl on tricycle cycling towards the camera. “With the Cambridge University Air Squadron During The Annual Attachment At RAF Netheravon”: High angled views of Vickers Virginia aircraft parked on airfield at Netheravon. Three Avro 504N aircraft are seen parked on the airfield, and then taking off. Close up view of Armstrong Whitworth Atlas aircraft of the Cambridge University Air Squadron (CUAS) making a low level pass, then landing on runway. “Autogyro”: A Cierva C.19 autogyro (G-ABXG) is prepared for take off. After the propeller has been wound, the aircraft takes off and flies over Netheravon. “An Undignified Avro”: Views of an Avro 504N of the CUAS after crash landing upside down into a corn field. RAF ground crew travel by truck to the stricken aircraft and set to work. “The Officers’ Mess”: Views of the Officers’ Mess at Netheravon, with Royal Flying Corps emblem clearly visible over the Mess entrance. Man in shorts drinking beer on the steps of the Mess. Officer in RAF uniform drinks beer and pets dog. “That’s All – A Sammyscope Film". Reel 3: “The Sammyscope Super Cinema Presents: September 1933 to April 1934”: “Royal Air Force Base Calshot”: A paddle steamer ferry passes by. High angled views of seaplanes landing on the sea. View from the water looking back at Calshot Castle and the hangar by the slipway. “Fairey IIIF seaplane”: Fairey IIIF S1462 is eased down the slipway into the water, with ground crew sitting on the aircraft’s floats. The aircraft is then seen taxiing past a Supermarine Southampton seaplane. “Supermarine Southampton, Flying Boat”: Southampton seaplane on detachable wheels with engines running on the shore. The aircraft is then launched down the slipway and taxis across the water. “Saro Cloud Amphibian”: Views of Saro Cloud K2897 in front of Calshot Castle. With the engines running the aircraft taxis down the slipway into the water. Saro Cloud K2896 is floating in the water in front of the slipway, then taxis out of the water up the slipway. “The Needles Isle Of Wight”: The Needles rock formation viewed from the air. “Taking off”: Interior views of seaplane taking off [camera facing the rear of the aircraft] and views from aircraft as it taxis out of Calshot harbour with the hangar and castle clearly visible. “Cruise to Scotland, 20th Flying Boat Pilots Course February 3rd 1934: The first day, taxiing from Calshot”. Views from taxiing aircraft of Calshot hangar, sailors on jetty, and motor launch. Small motorboat sails past moored Southampton seaplane. Close up shots of crew of seaplane preparing for take off. “Filling up With petrol at Stranraer”: The aircraft is fuelled by hand from a barge loaded with barrels of fuel. “An early start, leaving the pier for the flying boats at the moorings”: Aircrew are transported to their aircraft by rowing boat. “On to Oban”: Aerial views of Oban harbour and bay. Street scenes in Oban. “Pumping up the rubber dinghy”: Airmen inflate rubber dinghy using foot pump, then two airmen row away in it. “After lunch”: A flock of seagulls hover over the water, diving for scraps. “Engine trouble”: Ground crew remove the engine from a seaplane and lower it into a waiting barge using a crane. A replacement engine is hoisted out of a packing case. The engine is worked on by civilians who are watched by the aircraft’s crew. “At Manor Cottage Bushey Heath”: Young girl plays in garden with puppy dogs. Puppies eat from bowl. Girl climbs over fence, then cycles towards the camera. “The Beagles meet at Calshot, 14th March 1934”: The local hunt prepares for an outing with pack of beagle dogs. Street scenes. A unidentified woman is handed a puppy by an RAF padre. “RAF Base at Leuchars Scotland”: “The Catapult”: A Fairey IIIF is launched into the air using a giant catapult. Another Fairey IIIF is lifted onto the catapult mechanism by a crane. “The End”. Reel 4: “The Sammyscope Super Cinema Now Presents May 1934 to September 1934, Sambo performs for Sammyscope (exclusive)”: Clockwork toy ‘Sambo’ performs for the camera. “Mostly Calshot”: Air to air views of Supermarine Southampton, with white cliffs visible in the background. High angled shot of couple of yachts. Little boy on pony. “Empire Air Day”: Aerial views of Calshot,with people and hangars visible on the ground. Large passenger ship as viewed from the air. “207 Flying Boat Squadron cruise to Scotland and Ireland June-July 1934”: Air to air views of two Southampton aircraft filmed from third aircraft. Views of the coast from the aircraft. “Stranraer Scotland”: Views of Stranaer town and rail yards next to the sea. “Going ashore at Londonderry, Ireland”: Sampson and aircrew on boat approaching Londonderry. “Lunch at Loch Ness”: Enjoying a picnic on the shores of Loch Ness. Sailing in rubber dinghy. An RAF officer signals in semaphore. “After lunch”: RAF officer asleep on the shore. “Taking off at Inverness”: Supermarine Southampton S1645 takes off from Inverness, filmed from a second Southampton taking off in formation with it [this scene illustrates perfectly the function of the step in the Southampton’s hull]. “The moorings at Newport”: Views of Southampton aircraft moored at Newport, with bridge in background. Views of sunset with Southampton on the water. “The Air Firing Range Tentsmuir”: Air to ground views of firing range and targets. View from front gun position in Southampton seaplane towards the rear of the aircraft. The mid upper gunner fires at targets on the ground the camera pans to the pilot in the open cockpit. The gunner reloads and shouts to the pilot who then takes the aircraft around again. Close up shot of mid upper gunner firing gun at targets, checking the gun and changing the magazine. “The Baths Saint Andrews”: People in civilian clothing queue to visit a swimming pool in St Andrews. High angled shot of busy outdoor swimming pool. A man dives into the water and the shot is then reversed. Men slide down slide into pool. Men in civilian clothing enjoying tea at a local cafe. “School of Naval Co-operation RAF Lee on the Solent”: Various views of aircraft including Fairey 111Fs and Hawker Nimrod on tarmac outside hangars. A Fairey IIIF is pushed by ground crew down the slipway with the engine running. Fairey IIIF S1543 is pulled on the slipway and wheels are attached to the aircraft’s floats. A seaplane is pulled onto the slipway as a second lands on the water in the background. Another seaplane is pulled up the slipway. Aerial views of large number of ships of all sizes [possibly gathering for a Naval Review for King George V’s Silver Jubilee]. Views of civilians on pier, boarding small boats and tenders some manned by Royal Navy sailors. Various boats come and go. Light cruiser HMS Leander is seen with civilians onboard, and an aircraft carrier [possibly HMS Furious] is also visible. Yachts pass by the camera with the aircraft carrier and other ships in the background. “The End Sammyscope”: Ends with shot of Sampson’s projector running. Reel 5: Sampson and his wife enjoy a caravan holiday with their dog. Domestic scenes in caravan. Sampson tows caravan away from campsite with dog sat on the rear seat of the car. On the set of ‘The Lion Has Wings’ at RAF Hornchurch, September 1939. Tent with “The Tigers Den” sign, various shots of setting up and filming aircraft scrambling. The telephone rings and pilots run accompanied by ground crew to their Spitfire. Pilots climb into cockpits. Close up shot of engine being started. Film crew working with tripod-mounted 35mm Newman Sinclair cameras. Spitfires taxi past Sampson and his camera. Atmospheric shot of Spitfires on airfield. Scenes at technical site on airfield. Fuel bowser parked in front of hangar with gas decontamination chamber visible in the background. Film technicians walk past the camera and towards a van with London Film Productions Ltd written on the side. Close up views of cameraman filming Spitfire firing guns at gun butt. General views of large half timbered country house and garden. Various shots of Sampson’s new baby daughter, Diana. Scenes onboard ship bound for Australia. Various shots of Sampson, his wife, and daughter Diana. Further scenes onboard ship including playing a game of croquet and rough seas. Scenes featuring Diana as a toddler in Australia, including beach scenes and various domestic scenes. Further scenes of family picnics, cleaning the car, family outings and playing games outdoors. Reel 6: Scenes in Queensland, Australia. Views of town buildings with mountain in background, crane being moved by road, and of bridge over Brisbane harbour with ships visible in the foreground. Diana Crain and her mother view some monkeys and play together on a swing and slide. Views of RAF air display filmed from control tower on airfield. RAF flag flying over spectators. Three Supermarine Spitfires lined up on airfield in the background. Views of Spitfires flying overhead in formation. Panning shot of airfield, spectators and static aircraft, with Spitfires landing in the background. Sampson in tropical uniform with daughter. Monkeys in cage. Diana and mother wave teddy bear toy at ostrich. Views of town buildings and military vehicles on the road. RAF crew in jeep driving along road. An RAAF Lockheed Hudson of No4 Communications Unit is readied for flight. An unidentified man wearing a pith helmet and shorts walks through the trees. A jeep is driven away from the Hudson, while crew remain standing near aircraft. An RAF crew member wearing a pith helmet dances by the Hudson waving an Aboriginal spear, while smoking a cigarette. A group of RAF men look at and photograph a large tree. A man walks across a tree lined road, while another walks out of a building [possibly a hotel]. A man in shorts and pith helmet steps out of a Douglas A-20 Boston, carrying a young joey [baby kangaroo], which he then holds up to the camera. A group of Aboriginal people sit in shade under a tree, plaiting leaves. RAF crew talk to the Aboriginal adults and play with the Aboriginal children. Film ends with brief shot of a small boat on a beach.
  • Alternative Title: AMATEUR FILM BY GROUP CAPTAIN GEORGE SAMPSON [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: MGH 6834
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: NON-IWM
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1932
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Sampson, George ()
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 9.5mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 6 Footage: 2180 ft (ca); Running time: 81 mins (ca)
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MGH 6834

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    AE2105.1 (Pilot's Flying Log Book) AE2106.1 () AE2106.2 () AE2106.3 () AE2106.4 () AE2106.5 () AE2106.6 () AE2106.7 () AE2106.8 () AE2106.9 () AE2106.10 () AE2106.11 () AE2106.12 ()
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