Metadata
- Title: RAF 132 SQUADRON AND 7155 ECHELON SAIL TO HONG KONG [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: ABY 144
- Other titles: ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
- Summary: RAF 132 Squadron and 7155 Servicing Echelon arrive in Hong Kong onboard the Ruler-class escort carrier HMS Smiter.
- Description: Members of RAF 132 Squadron and 7155 Servicing Echelon being inspected aboard HMS Smiter. A number of RAF Spitfire Mk XIVs are parked on deck. Spitfires are serviced on deck. On the hangar deck 'Beware of propellers' is painted in large letters. A Spitfire is raised onto the flight deck by an elevator. An airman climbs into the cockpit of a Spitfire named 'Anita'. Sailors are inspected on the hangar deck. Airmen lining the flight deck with various shots of the ship's bridge, bow, anchor etc. A moored battleship, probably the French Richelieu. A convoy of seven ships at sea in somewhat murky conditions. Airmen painting a jeep. Various scenes of aircraft servicing on deck. A physical training session on deck. A very muscular physical training instructor (PTI) demonstrates the gymnastic use of parallel bars. Mechanics at work on a Spitfire named 'Margaret'. A naval White Ensign seen through a spinning propeller. Deck games; waddling airmen race each other while holding a football between their knees and swinging a cane in a Charlie Chaplin-esque fashion. An RAF versus Navy boxing contest in progress; one pugilist is laid out on his back by two enormous right hooks. Spectators watching the contest and fighters being tended to in their corners. A number of British submarines seen sailing on the surface towards Hong Kong, possibly the S-class HMS Sleuth or HMS Solent. Men on deck as Smiter approaches Hong Kong. A variety of local watercraft (small rowing boats, sailing junks etc) close to the ship. View of Hong Kong harbour panning across a flight deck crowded with Spitfires. A US Navy Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (a maritime patrol aircraft based on the B-24 Liberator) passes camera at low altitude.
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
- Featured Period: 1939-1945
- Production Date: 1945-09-11
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Air Ministry, Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor) Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production company) Layzell, R G (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, 132 Squadron (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, 7155 Servicing Echelon (regiment/service) Royal Navy, FENCER (HMS), escort carrier (regiment/service) Royal Navy, SMITER (HMS) (regiment/service) United States Navy (regiment/service) Free French Navy, RICHELIEU (FFS) (regiment/service)
- Keywords: Hong Kong (geography) Liberation of Hong Kong 1945, Pacific War 1941-1945, Second World War (event) Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (theme) Far East 1939-1945 (theme) Hong Kong 1945-1997 (theme)
- Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
- Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 889 ft; Running time: 10 minutes
- Notes: Aircraft seen in this film include RN147, FF:X RN578, FF:Z RN175, FF:L RM987, FF:A, T, J and D. Besides Richelieu, the Tracker-class escort carrier HMS Fencer, pennant number R308 is also seen. Dopesheet includes interesting narrative details of the service of both RAF 132 Squadron and 7155 Servicing Echelon. This squadron's arrival in Hong Kong was covered by RAF photographers; see related items. This squadron's activities at Kai Tak can be seen in the IWM films referenced below.
- Link to IWM Collections page:
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Related IWM Collections Objects:
ABY 169 (SPITFIRE SQUADRON AT KAI TAK AIRSTRIP [Allocated Title]) ABY 171 (REAR ADMIRAL HARCOURT VISITS RAF 132 SQUADRON [Allocated Title]) ABY 183 (A DAY PASS IN HONG KONG [Allocated Title])