BETWEEN FRIENDS: A BRIEF VISIT TO A FIGHTER STATION [Main Title]

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  • Title: BETWEEN FRIENDS: A BRIEF VISIT TO A FIGHTER STATION [Main Title]
  • Film Number: APY 13
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: At an RAF fighter station, an American visitor is introduced informally to the multinational pilots and ground crew of RAF 609 Squadron.
  • Description: Title "Between Friends: A brief visit to a fighter station" over footage of a large grass airfield with a Spitfire taking off. Interior Intelligence Hut; a seated officer answers a telephone call from "Titch", a squadron adjutant. Another officer "Frank", is annoyed to be bothered with a party of visitors "snooping around" and wanting to meet some of his squadron's men. Frank tries to fob the visitors off on another squadron but relents when they both turn out to be airborne. In the dispersal hut the unseen visitors are introduced to "Joe", a flight commander. Characters address the camera directly when talking to the visitor. Joe runs through the squadron's history from formation in the West Riding of Yorkshire to Dunkirk, with close-up of trophy swastika from a Ju-88 (inscribed "Salved from Ju 88 the 100th enemy aircraft shot down by 609 (F) Squadron 21st Oct 1940 - F/Lt Howell DFC and P/O S J Hill"). Joe refers to Dieppe show. Joe introduces Raymond from Belgium, Johnny from Yarmouth, Andre (?) from Brussels, Alan or ("Red"), Desmond (a rare Yorkshireman), "Moose" from Montreal. Moose says how good it is to meet people from other countries, and to see their point of view; "I think that's what the world needs most, to find out what the other fellow thinks". Moose goes on to talk about skiing back in Montreal as two airmen walk in, talking loudly in and still wearing their parachutes. "Jean" says how do you do, and the American visitor (still unseen, heard as voiceover) apologises for intruding. Jean introduces himself as a Belgian who as a young child had been a refugee ("from the same bloody Jerry") during the First World War and says he remembers a Zeppelin raid. He recounts being arrested at Wavre after being mistaken for a parachutist, being shot at by a British major while trying to reach England from La Panne, and being shelled by the Royal Navy at Oran before eventually escaping and deciding to join the RAF. Joe shares his experience of being the army. A reluctant Roy is cajoled into playing his clarinet and plays "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" as others whistle along. The noise awakens a sleeping airman, "Fifi" from Orleans, apparently "devastating with the girls" but is mocked for his rank of "Sergeant-Chef" ("head cook"). An unnamed ground branch corporal is introduced; he says he is from Leeds and has been with the squadron since formation; "seen lots come and lots go" and refers to the "good ol' Yorkshire fighting spirit" to be found in the Britons, Poles, French, Belgians, Canadians and New Zealanders who have served in the squadron. Operations call and Joe wraps up the visit by saying that everyone on the squadron is determined to get on with the war, so everyone can "get on with the job of building up a future" and says they've learnt invaluable things about working together "in this little group of nations". Joe ends with "good bye and good luck". Massed squadron take off to finish.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: APY 13
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Air Ministry (Production sponsor) Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, Fighter Command (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, 609 Squadron (regiment/service) United States Army Air Forces (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Allied Air Offensive 1942-1945, North West Europe, Second World War (event) Aerial Warfare (theme) Royal Air Force 1939-1945, Fighter Command (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 928 ft; Running time: 11 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    APY 13

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