Summary: Dramatisation of events following hypothetical invasion of UK by German forces and role of air reconnaissance and RAF Army Co-Operation Squadrons in combating them.
Description: Reel 1: Opening scene with German language voiceover, planning invasion of Britain using maps, Stukas in flight, burning vessel in port. English voiceover stating “This is story of an operation in which the Germans have supposed to have landed in the South Of England. It shows how the British Army Commander is kept informed of enemy movements by air reconnaissance and how he is thus enabled to forestall the enemy's plans...” Scenes of German paratroopers landing and bombing raids. “Southern Command” - scene of Operations room, RAF officer arrives and speaks with Army officer about Panzer divisions that have landed Christchurch area and Chesil Beach area. Predicting the advance of the enemy so as to counter them using available forces. Scene of British forces near front and Army requesting RAF sortie to gauge enemy progress. Scene of RAF Mustang 1A(?) taxiing – QE-A – possibly 168 Sqn OE code 'disguised' - camera being loaded – scene of Army Liaison Officer (ALO) at RAF station receiving coordinates for air recce sortie.
Reel 2: “Since this film was made VHF has been introduced into certain Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft. Partly for this reason the passing of information from the air will not always be carried out in the manner demonstrated but will then only be obtained by the A.L.O. At his interrogation of the Pilot on the completion of the sortie.” ALO Briefing pilots for Mission-Tac Air sortie. Pilots ready for takeoff, carrying out comms checks and approaching recce area. Map of area shows german forces routes of advance and counter attack by British forces. Pilots reporting back to controllers.
Reel 3: Pilots return to base and met by ALO. Debrief of pilots and details of enemy vehicles spotted. Details passed to forward command post. Second sortie requested Pilot Officer Plum not taking in pre sortie info – Mustang 1 UG•N takes off – fails to follow sortie route and sends back conflicting information then gets shot down.
Reel 4: - Plum's report causes confusion back at forward operations as to direction of enemy advance – further sortie requested which reports back Plum's report was actually correct and enemy had changed direction of advance with a pincer movement threatening to encircle defending forces.
Reel 5: Briefing pilot for further reconnaissance sortie. Following sortie, plans for counter attack and bombing of enemy tank formation and HQ made with German forces being successfully pushed back and defeated.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:AMY 359
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:
Featured Period:
Production Date:1982
Production Country: GB
Production Details: AIR MINISTRY (Production sponsor)
Brent Productions (Production company)