Summary: Royal Canadian Air Force Bomber Group in Britain.
Description: After the formation of the RCAF's own Bomber Group in the New Year of 1943, Air Vice Marshal G E Brookes is seen heading an operational planning session with Group Captain Swenham and other staff. Ground crews service Wellington Mk IIIs of 425 Squadron and gunners check their weapons for alignment and jamming. Wellingtons take off for a trial flight before returning to be bombed up with "a nice little bouquet for Hitler". At another airfield Halifaxes of 405 Squadron are filmed in flight and landing. Planes are serviced and refuelled and navigators work out route for the night's operation. Crews are briefed and flare path laid. Tension inside the crew room is compared to locker at school before hockey game, then crews don clothing and boots and reach planes by truck (Day for night). Halifaxes take off for night raid and airmen's faces are superimposed over the planes in flight. Canadians back home are assured that these men are worthy successors to Canada's First World War flying aces. (One crew member wears USA badge beneath Canada shoulder flash.)
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:Yes
Object_Number:RMY 35
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1943
Production Country: Canada
Production Details: Royal Canadian Air Force (Production sponsor)
Royal Canadian Air Force Overseas Film Unit (Production company)
Imperial Sound Studios (Production individual)
Royal Canadian Air Force Band (Production individual)
Wilmot, Gerry (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Brookes, G E (person)
Swenham (Group Captain) (person)
Royal Canadian Air Force & Sqdn, 405 (regiment/service)
Royal Canadian Air Force & Sqdn, 425 (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Handley Page Halifax & [Canadian] (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Vickers Wellington & [Canadian] (object name)
operations, Canadian air - preparation: bombing up (object name)
operations, Canadian air - routine (object name)
GB, England (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1084 ft; Running time: 12 mins
