Title:ADVANCED AIRSTRIPS NEAR MANDALAY [Allocated Title]
Film Number:ABY 64
Other titles:ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Scenes of operations from forward airstrips near Mandalay, Burma, and scenes of bomb damage to buildings and infrastructure around the city.
Description: Rudimentary airfield control tower in the form of a simple raised platform. A wireless operator speaks on a radio. South African troops help move a Spitfire Mk VIII into a temporary parking space. At Onbauk forward airstrip, five miles from the River Irrawaddy, two RAF Regiment airmen, with slung rifles carry a can of water to a tarpaulin-covered slit trench. Two RAF Regiment men with a 20mm Hispano anti-aircraft gun on a rotating mount. Wing Commanders Whitfield, Mills and Lander talking with airmen. RAF Regiment airmen digging dug-outs and gun emplacements. RAF Hawker Hurricane with squadron code AW (RAF 42 Squadron) being serviced. Irrawaddy River with wrecked rivercraft (pleasure steamer, barges etc) presumably sabotaged by retreating Japanese. A dead body at the river's edge. A crossroad with buildings. A signpost shows the way to 'Mandalay Rd', 'Kin-U', 'Sadaung', '22 FAMO' [22 Forward Airfield Maintenance Organisation] and 'Onbauk'. At Onbauk airfield airmen gather for a briefing in the open. RAF Regiment gunner traverses his Hispano as a Hurricane taxis past in the background. Hurricane AW:D in background. Airman laying foliage as camouflage, and cutting more foliage for same purpose. Aerial footage taken from a light aeroplane (either a British Taylorcraft Auster or Stinson Sentinel) showing bomb damage. Aerial view of a railway line with bomb craters full of water. A wrecked girder bridge. Brief silhouette of pilot at controls. View of a large stately-looking building in Mandalay. Low altitude survey of Mandalay showing bomb damage. Shot of damaged water towers. Some buildings little more than bombed-out shells. Many pagodas scattered across the city. More low altitude footage of damage to railway lines with several bridges destroyed.
Alternative Title:ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: Air Ministry, Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor)
Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production company)
Woodcock, Sidney Leslie1945-05-02Flight Lieutenant Sidney Leslie Woodcock, service number 175562, cameraman with No.3 Royal Air Force Film Production Unit. Killed in action 2 May 1945 while filming from a Mosquito of 110 Squadron RAF over Rangoon, Burma. Buried in Rangoon War Cemetery alongside his pilot, Flight Lieutenant John George Buchanan (415744) see [http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2261432 accessed 24 February 2011] (Production individual)
Goozee, S (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, RAF Regiment (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, 42 Squadron (regiment/service)
Keywords: Mandalay, Burma (geography)
Onbauk, Burma (geography)
Irrawaddy (River), Burma (geography)
Mandalay 1945, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event)
Fighter operations, Air operations over Burma, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event)
Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (theme)
Far East 1939-1945 (theme)
India 1939-1945 (theme)
Burma 1942-1945 (theme)
