SUPPLY DROPPING: SPITFIRES ESCORT DAKOTAS [Allocated Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.


  • Title: SUPPLY DROPPING: SPITFIRES ESCORT DAKOTAS [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ABY 77
  • Other titles: ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: RAF Supermarine Spitfires of RAF 155 Squadron escort Douglas Dakota transport aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force on a supply operation over Burma.
  • Description: Dakotas at dispersal with several Canadian maple leaf insignia visible. A Dakota being loaded with supplies. Ground crew working on a Spitfire; a fitter wears a long-sleeved shirt or jumper with Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) crest and 'Labrador' printed on it. Aircrew approaching Dakota 'Q' and climbing aboard. Engines starting up. Spitfire pilots talking. Dakota pilot at controls. Spitfire pilots watch the Dakota. Dakota pilot leans out of cockpit window and gives a thumbs-up. Dakota leaving dispersal. Spitfire taxiing away. Dakotas taxiing. Spitfires taxiing and taking off. Spitfires and Dakotas overhead. Aerial footage showing various views of Dakotas in flight with Spitfires escorting. Dakotas at times in close formation with escorting Spitfires passing close by. Interior of the Dakota - crew preparing cargo for dropping by parachute. Supplies being pushed from the aircraft. Supplies seen dropping both from the air and the ground. One parachute malfunctions; it detaches from its supply bundle and is seen to flutter away. Men on the ground run to collect supplies and later a soldier climbs a tree to release a snagged canopy. Dakotas in flight and returning to base.
  • Alternative Title: ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: ABY 77
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1945-03-17
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Air Ministry, Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor) Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, 155 Squadron (regiment/service) Royal Canadian Air Force, 435 Squadron (regiment/service) Royal Canadian Air Force, 436 Squadron (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Burma (geography) Air supply operations, Air operations over Burma, 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) Burma 1942-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 573 ft; Running time: 7 minutes
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ABY 77

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    ABY 27 (AIR RESUPPLY OPERATIONS BY RAF 194 SQUADRON TO 23RD BRIGADE AT UKHRUL, MANIPUR, INDIA [Allocated Title]) CF 271 (ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN THE FAR EAST, 1941-1945.)
Register