BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET AIR BASE, PITYILU [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET AIR BASE, PITYILU [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 474
  • Other titles: PACIFIC ISLAND AIR STRIP [Alternative Title]
  • Summary: Life on Pityilu, air base for the fleet train of the BPF (British Pacific Fleet).
  • Description: Opening MS off the port quarter of a Ruler Class escort carrier, aircraft ranged on deck. Cut to MS of palm-thatched church. CU of traffic signs - speed limit is 20 mph. LA study of coconut palm. Nissen-type living quarters. Men relax, swimming in the sea and diving from a low board. MCU of bicycles leant up against the side of a building. MS of a range of three Corsairs, parked with wings folded - MCU of maintenance work - front fairing of engine cowling is screwed down. HA.MS onto a range of aircraft parked tails towards camera - Corsairs and Sea Otters, with Vultee Vengeance target tugs in the foreground. MS and CUs of a Grumman Hellcat parked beneath a shelter while undergoing service. MCU of notice: USE WATER SPARINGLY, (Signed) P. SYRACUSE, PROF. MS of a water tower. MS, generator. CU, telephone wires. MS over a muddy sports field where a football match is in progress. MS of a Sea Otter taking off from airstrip. MS of air control tower and radar trailers - Auster parked in the background. Network of telephone lines. MCU of operator wearing headphones in radio shack. MS of Grumman Avenger taking off past the camera. MSs of a Nissen hut converted into a theatre and cinema, and the projection box, raised on stilts. LS aerial view of the island, dominated by the airstrip - an aircraft begins its take off run. Film ends with a brief sequence showing shops in Britain.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1945
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor) British Paramount News (Production company) Maroy, D (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, escort: Ruler Class (object name) aircraft, United States naval - combat: Vought F4U Corsair & [British] (object name) aircraft, United States naval - combat: Grumman Avenger & [British] (object name) aircraft, United States naval - combat: Grumman F6F Hellcat & [British] (object name) aircraft, United States naval - combat: Vultee Vengeance & [British] (object name) aircraft, British - seaplane: Supermarine Sea Otter (object name) operations, British military - maintenance (object name) recreation, British military - sport (object name) buildings, British - military: Nissen hut (object name) Second World War & Pacific Theatre & 1945 (event) Admiralty Islands & Pityilu (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 381 ft; Running time: 4 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Notes:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 474

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