OPERATION BANQUET: FLEET AIR ARM OPERATIONS AGAINST SUMATRA FROM AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS VICTORIOUS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: OPERATION BANQUET: FLEET AIR ARM OPERATIONS AGAINST SUMATRA FROM AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS VICTORIOUS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: MWY 204
  • Other titles: INDIAN INTER-SERVICE PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTORATE COLLECTION - INDIAN HOME FRONT AND MILITARY OPERATIONS, AND ALLIED OPERATIONS IN ITALY AND THE PACIFIC DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Film by an American cameraman onboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, showing air operations by Fairey Barracuda bombers and Vought Corsair fighters, including aircraft returning from sorties against the Indaroeng (Indarung) cement works and port of Emmahaven (also Emma Haven, now Teluk Bayur) in Sumatra, Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), part of Operation Banquet.
  • Description: Aboard the British Illustrious class aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, sailors push a Fleet Air Arm Chance-Vought Corsair with wings folded and marked 8:B, aft towards the hangar lift and towards camera ('8' marking suggests 1836 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm). Another Corsair is pushed past camera. An aircraft is pushed back away from camera. The King George V class battleship HMS Howe with two of Victorious' 4.5-inch anti-aircraft guns in the foreground. Howe with the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable in the background. A Corsair is positioned on the deck lift and it rises towards camera. Looking between two parked aircraft towards Howe with men sitting on the edge of the deck between the aircraft. One of the aircraft is serial JT332. Looking past parked aircraft to Howe and Indomitable. Howe and Indomitable. A snatched shot shows a Corsair, marked 7:Q ('7' suggests 1834 Naval Air Squadron) catch an arrestor wire and tip forwards, the propeller striking the deck. Two deckhands climb up to the cockpit (the aircraft is standing on its nose) to assist the pilot. The pilot clambers down using a ladder laid on the starboard wing. Sailors hauling on a rope to bring the aircraft down. The aircraft is pushed away. [24 August 44] A Corsair, 8:M, approaches the deck to land but yaws too far and aborts the attempt. 8:M lands succesfully without using his arrestor hook, with a few bounces. [19 August 44] Howe and Indomitable manoeuvring. [20 August 44] Corsair taking off, possibly 8:Q. Another Corsair taking off, possibly 6:A. 8:G taking off. Low angle, taken close to the deck, as a Corsair and then a Fairey Barracuda pass overhead (the Barracuda apparently making an emergency landing). Barracuda 5A (probably of 815 Naval Air Squadron) on deck as the crash barrier is lowered and deckhands rush towards the aircraft. [21 August 44] Low angle deck view of Corsair 8:K landing. A fine view of 8:G making his curved final approach, with Howe and Indomitable in the background and landing in front of camera. 6:B (?) landing. [22 August 1944] On deck, with Corsair JT422 behind, an armourer winds a belt of .50-calibre machine gun ammunition through a small device. Loading magazine with ammunition. Fitting the magazine to the aircraft; one magazine hatch is reluctant to close. Inspecting ammunition belts lying on deck. [22 August 1944] Winding an ammunition belt with close-up. Close-up shows the primers being fitted to the cartridges. Winding the belt with a pile of ammunition behind. Men checking ammunition by parked aircraft; 8:K in the background. Man polishing the windscreen of a Corsair named ‘Demi’; a chalk marking reads ‘Guns loaded’. Fitters at work on an engine, apparently checking for corrosion. Man working on a machine gun in one of the wings. Men working on a Barracuda. Working on a propeller. [22 August 1944] View of Howe with Indomitable beyond. Howe and three destroyers further off. Men working on a Barracuda with a question mark ‘?’ on its engine cowling; a 500lb bomb is carted towards the aircraft. Hoisting the bomb to the aircraft and securing it with 5H in the background. [23 August 1944] Winding a crank to hoist the bomb. Lifting the bomb. Corsair and deck hands rising through deck lift. Howe signalling with Morse lamp. Barracudas landing. Corsairs landing. Sailors on deck for church service. Rear quarter close-up of the chaplain. [20 August 1944] Corsair landing; it catches a wire with its arrestor hook. Corsair 7:M landing and folding its port wing.
  • Alternative Title: INDIAN INTER-SERVICE PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTORATE COLLECTION - INDIAN HOME FRONT AND MILITARY OPERATIONS, AND ALLIED OPERATIONS IN ITALY AND THE PACIFIC DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: MWY 204
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions:
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1944-08-19
  • Production Country: United States of America
  • Production Details: SEAC Photo Unit (US) (Production company) Griffin, T DUS Army cameraman, SEAC Photo Unit (US) (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, VICTORIOUS (HMS), aircraft carrier (regiment/service) Royal Navy, HOWE (HMS) (regiment/service) Royal Navy, HMS INDOMITABLE, aircraft carrier (1940) (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, 1834 Naval Air Squadron (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, 1836 Naval Air Squadron (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, 815 Naval Air Squadron (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Indian Ocean (geography) Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies (geography) Indian Ocean 1939-1945, Second World War (event) Royal Navy 1939-1945 (theme) Fleet Air Arm 1939-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 985 ft; Running time: 11 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MWY 204

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    MWY 207 (FLEET AIR ARM AIRSTRIKE FROM ROYAL NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE INDIAN OCEAN [Allocated Title]) MWY 201 (HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH AND ALLIED CAPITAL SHIPS OPERATING IN THE INDIAN OCEAN [Allocated Title]) MWY 228 (OPERATION MILLET: AIRSTRIKE AGAINST NICOBAR ISLANDS BY HMS VICTORIOUS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN [Allocated Title])
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