AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT OF THE RAF AIR SEA RESCUE SERVICE IN BURMA [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT OF THE RAF AIR SEA RESCUE SERVICE IN BURMA [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ABY 148
  • Other titles: ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Scenes of Supermarine Sea Otter amphibious biplanes in flight and the burning wreckage of a Sea Otter shot down over Akyab Island (Sittwe), Burma.
  • Description: Air-to-air footage of a Supermarine Sea Otter in flight; the aircraft is JM882 and is seen over wooded terrain, fields and the sea. Air-to-ground footage of a wrecked Sea Otter on a beach in flames. Aerial view of JM882 landing on the sea. The camera aircraft lands. JM882 taxiing on the water.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1945-01-09
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Air Ministry, Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor) Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production company) Goozee, S (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, Air Sea Rescue Service (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, 292 Squadron (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Akyab, Burma (geography) Landings in the Akyab area 1945, Burma 1942-1945, Second World War (event) Royal Air Force 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: 301 ft; Running time: 4 minutes
  • HD Media:
  • Notes: These aircraft are of E Flight, RAF 292 Squadron. Despite being dated 28/9/1945, the dopesheet strongly suggests that this footage was shot in January 1945 after amphibious landings on Akyab Island (Sittwe), Burma. Landings commenced on 3/1/1945 and on 9/1/1945 shipping in Akyab harbour was raided by two squadrons of the Japanese Army Air Force. The Japanese aircraft are described as 'Zeros' on the dopesheet but were in fact Ki-84s and Ki-43s. During the course of this attack an RAF 292 Squadron Sea Otter was shot down in flames, though it was later found that only the Sea Otter's upper wing had been set on fire and the pilot, Flight Lieutenant T P Almack, was able to land and taxi ashore. The rear gunner, Warrant Officer W J Horam, was killed, but the rest of the crew escaped unscathed. Four of the five attacking Ki-43s were in turn shot down by Spitfires of RAF 67 Squadron. These details taken from the reference below. Operations for the occupation of Akyab were extensively covered by other RAF cameramen. See related items.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ABY 148

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    ABY 54 (THE RECONNAISSANCE AND OCCUPATION OF AKYAB ISLAND, BURMA, AND THE ROLE OF RAF SERVICING COMMANDOS [Allocated Title])
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