We use cookies on this website.
By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings,
you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy
and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Summary: The work of Coastal Command is illustrated by the story of a single (fictional) operation, and of the various ground and flying personnel involved, particularly the crew of Sunderland 'T for Tommy'.
Description: The crew is introduced in the course of a routine convoy-escort patrol, which is uneventful for them though their relief (a Catalina) sinks a U-boat. The main story concerns the shadowing of a German raider (the Düsseldorf) and the Coastal Command attacks which leave it ready for a naval death-blow. The raider's attempted break-out is first spotted by a Catalina, which watches a torpedo attack by Beauforts from Iceland before turning for home. 'T for Tommy', the relief 'shadow', briefly loses the Düsseldorf but then guides in a Hudson bombing strike. Flying low to spot damage, the Sunderland is itself damaged by flak; returning home it is attacked by four Ju 88s. Rescue arrives, first with another Sunderland, then four Beaufighters. 'T for Tommy' gets home with two crew members slightly injured; a closing sequence shows its departure for duty in West Africa.
Production Details: Crown Film Unit (Production company)
Holmes, J B (Production individual)
Dalrymple, Ian Murray1903-08-261989-03-28 (Production individual)
Jones, Jonah (Production individual)
Gamage, Fred (Production individual)
Elton, Ralph19141968 (Production individual)
Lee, Jack (Production individual)
McNaughton, R Q (Production individual)
Mathieson, Muir (Production individual)
Gordon, Michael (Production individual)
Cameron, Ken (Production individual)
Carrick, Edward (Production individual)
Bryant, G (Production individual)
Wright, Dora (Production individual)
Pargiter, Isobel (Production individual)
Vaughan Williams, Ralph18721958British composer (Production individual)
RAF Orchestra (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, Coastal Command (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Beaufighter (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Beaufort (object name)
aircraft, British - seaplane: Short Sunderland (object name)
aircraft, German - combat: Junkers Ju 88 (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Lockheed Hudson & [British] (object name)
aircraft, United States - seaplane: Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina (object name)
combat [simulated], British air (object name)
operations, British air - escort (object name)
operations, British air - sortie (object name)
ships, German naval: Dusseldorf (?) (object name)
Atlantic Ocean (geography)
Iceland (geography)
propaganda (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 8
Footage: 6581 ft; Running time: 70 mins
Notes: Summary: one of the Sunderland Mk I aircraft featured in this film, no L2160, was one of the earliest production models to come from Short Brothers works in Rochester, Kent. Its pilot, Flight Lieutenant Alexander Frame DFC (1915-1983), noted in his logbook on July 12 1942 that L2160 (with Frame and Flying Officer Rees) did "local film work" on a flight of 3 hours 40 minutes. The logbook is now held by the RNZAF Museum, Wigram, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Remarks: the film is weakened by the lack of credibility of some of the 'combat', and the near caricature (at least to modern eyes) of some of the characterisation; but it is not wholly unsuccessful. A more factual handling of the work of Coastal Command is provided in RAF COASTAL COMMAND, RMY 195.
