SPILT MILK [Main Title]

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


  • Title: SPILT MILK [Main Title]
  • Film Number: AMY 169
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: RAF Deputy Directorate Of Accident Prevention 'roadshow' visits an RAF station to lecture on groundcrew and aircrew accident prevention.
  • Description: Reel 1: Opening scene of milkman and young boy delivering milk. Boy drops a bottle of milk which breaks and he is told off by the milkman. An RAF truck pulls up and asks for directions to Camberley. Vehicles are seen to drive onto an RAF station. Scene inside Main Guardroom and an RAF Police NCO at a desk. RAF officer enters and requests to see the Commanding Officer. Scene in Adjutants Office of two officers discussing display of exhibits relating to upcoming lectures on ground crew errors and aircrew accidents. Airmen laying out exhibits inside hangar and then airmen viewing accident prevention displays. Lectures on various accidents caused by carelessness around aircraft. Film shown to airmen of a pilot signing for an Oxford (HM 868) and subsequent scene of aircraft taking off. Engine cowl panel falls off mid-flight resulting in an emergency landing and damage to aircraft. Reel 2: Film returns to lecture and officer asking audience if they recall doing something similar. One airman goes into “flashback” - working on Oxford (NM 688 – 601 Sqdn?) and leaving Zeus fasteners undone on an engine cowl due to being distracted. Next example involves 3 Spitfires landing after a training sortie (TE 344, TE 434? HT•J) and shot of XZ 412 crashed on airfield, two officers in debrief discussing accident. Returns to lecture room and accident was caused by tool left in rocker cover by an airman. Another flashback – airman drops spanner into engine bay after being distracted to go for tea break at NAAFI van. He didn't remember to retrieve the spanner or report it once aircraft was airborne. Another film example of negligent servicing. Aircrew checking night flying programme. On board aircraft and engine temperature is rising. Emergency landing is requested. Mosquito with one engine dead lands and runs off end of runway into a boundary hedge (simulated crash). Reel 3: back to lecture and the question “Do you have a clean record?” is asked. Further flashback to another servicing mistake/ carelessness. Scene in Officers Mess and two officers moaning about the accident prevention exhibits and a senior officer present corrects there misconceptions about the safety officers 'qualifications'. Conversation interrupted an aircraft landing narrowly missing an MT vehicle crossing the runway threshold as it lands. Scene of airmen complaining about how they always get the blame. Reel 4: Scene in Officers mess and safety officer meeting an old squadron colleague, who had visited the safety offices while in London. Scene of 'coding room' – registry room and accident analysis room. Scene in “Remedial Section” discussing throttle problem on Mosquitos and the resulting solution. Back to safety lecture and further aircrew errors. Spitfire doing circuits and bumps (BS 84* FO-WO). Aircraft commences take off then veers suddenly off the runway onto the grass and suffers prop strike and noses into ground. Cause of accident crosswind wear during circuits and bumos on tyres resulting in blowout during take off. (actual crash staged?). Reel 5: Shot of Anson taxiing (LT 659 FF-IT – 251 Squadron?) Taxis past white Lancaster and due to pilot taxiing too fast the aircraft hits a parked Anson with starboard wing causing sever damage to both aircraft (Actual accident staged?) Shot of Anson taxiing past at reasonable speed, passing Lancaster (RF 18*? and Bristol Brigands and Mosquito. Scene of pilots being briefed about weather conditions. Lancaster (white Tiger Force colours – KO codes – 115 Sqdn?) in flight through cloud. Number 3 engine goes U/S and is feathered, scenes in cockpit and pilot fails to observe blind flying instruments and aircraft crashes into (high?) ground (simulated). Scene of lecture room and round up of lessons. Shot of vehicles leaving station (Deputy Directorate Of Accident Prevention on side of lorry) Closing scene of milk boy stood crying over the bottle he had dropped in opening scene
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: AMY 169
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions:
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1946
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Air Ministry (Production sponsor)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 5 Footage: 3499ft
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    AMY 169

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register