RAF 132 SQUADRON AND 7155 ECHELON SAIL TO HONG KONG [Allocated Title]

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  • 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.
  • 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 144
  • Sound: Silent
  • 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
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ABY 144

  • 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])
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