Description: I. WOMEN RAF MECHANICS: WAAFs, who have recently begun to service planes, are seen at work on their new job. The WAAFs, who in peacetime were typists, shop assistants and housewives without any mechanical training, now put on their overalls and service machine parts in the workshop. Commentary emphasises "the beauty of the job". A serviced plane is wheeled outside.
II. Elsewhere, ATC cadets are busy learning about aero engines and mechanics. ATC cadets parade through Edinburgh on their way to St Giles Cathedral. This is the fine "youth of today who will carry the burden of Empire in the new world".
III. A lull in the fighting in the Western Desert enables one to observe how the troops are fed. Food supplies are checked and tested, then loaded onto a train by Arab workers, then transferred by truck from the train (with RAF escort) to the army encampments. Here a soldier is seen eating a huge appetising meal outside in the open.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:NGB 849
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1942-02-23
Production Country: GB
Production Details: British Paramount News (Production company)
Gaumont British (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Air Training Corps (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Women's Auxiliary Air Force (regiment/service)
Keywords: ceremonies, British - display: ATC parade (object name)
operations, British air - maintenance (object name)
operations, British military - routine (object name)
society, British military - sustenance (object name)
supplies, British, movement [RA] - food: rail (object name)
training, British air (object name)
Egypt & Western Desert (geography)
GB, Scotland & Edinburgh, Mloth <Saint Giles' cathedral> (geography)
(concept)
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: 390 ft; Running time: 4 mins
