EYESHOOTING (SUPPLEMENT) [Main Title]

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  • Title: EYESHOOTING (SUPPLEMENT) [Main Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 5006/8-15
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Continuation of EYE SHOOTING (ADM 5006-1-7), a Royal Navy training film shot in Technicolor showing how to shoot down enemy aircraft with short-range shipborne anti-aircraft guns.
  • Description: START 10:00:00 Opening titles 'Eyeshooting (Supplement) Part 9. Demonstration Attacks. Photographed in Technicolor'. The commentary declares, "You've been taught how to eye shoot. Now is your chance to see the job done properly". Using a matte overlay of a typical three hundred knot 'cartwheel' anti-aircraft gun sight over the whole frame, the film demonstrates the correct technique of 'aiming-off' or deflection shooting at enemy aircraft as they come in to attack at different heights, directions and speed. The aircraft types illustrated here by animation are the Heinkel He 111, Junkers Ju 88, Messerschmitt Me 110 and the Heinkel He 115 seaplane. 10:03:50 Intertitle 'Aiming with Two-Man Guns'. The commentary declares, "Remember - the principle is the same but two men must share the job!" Using the QF 3-inch 20-cwt anti-aircraft as an example, the film demonstrates how the layer and trainer co-ordinate their efforts to keep the gun pointing in the right direction ahead of approaching enemy aircraft. The aircraft illustrated here are the Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 88. 10:06:55 Intertitle 'Wind' (sliding into the frame from the right with wind sound effects). The commentary declares, "Wind allowance must be decided when you close-up" and explains how to take into account wind direction when 'aiming-off' at an attacking aircraft. The enemy aircraft illustrated here is a Heinkel He 111. Intertitle 'Eyeshooting Aiming Practice End of Part 9' and brief end credits. 10:08:36 10:09:00 Opening Titles 'Eyeshooting (Supplement) Part 10. Aiming Practice/Typical Attacks. Photographed in Technicolor'. A Royal Navy rating is seen adjusting a three hundred knot naval anti-aircraft sight so that it matches his eye-piece. Over shots of skies where the movements simulate the way anti-aircraft gunsights follow approaching enemy aircraft, the commentary describes the approach of different British and German aircraft and advises its audience how to shoot them down. The sound-effects of firing guns and aircraft engines run constantly in the background. The matte overlay illustrating the 'cartwheel' gunsight and animation sequences depicting attacking aircraft appear to be missing. Intertitle 'Eyeshooting End of Part 10' and brief end credits. 10:19:10 10:20:00 Opening titles 'Eyeshooting (Supplement) Part 11. Aiming Practice with German Aircraft. Photographed in Technicolor'. This section of the film simulates enemy air attacks for trainee naval anti-aircraft gunners. They are instructed to line up their (hand-held) sights with the sights on the screen and to judge the range solely from the size of the aircraft. The trainee is expected to deal with attacks, carried out at different heights, speeds, courses and wind directions by single aircraft. The matte overlay of a cartwheel gunsight appears only occasionally in order to guide the trainee onto the correct aim-off point. Featured here in realistic animation sequences are Dornier Do 215, Junkers Ju 88 and Heinkel He 111 bombers, Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, a Focke Wulf Fw 200 long-range reconnaissance aircraft/bomber and a Messeschmitt Me 109 fighter. Tracer fire wings its way towards a Do 215 and an He 111 as they make a second attack run. The animation sequences are accompanied by the sound of aircraft engines and pom poms and Oerlikon cannon in action. Adding to the realistic atmosphere are the ringing gun bells and the voice of an Air Defence Officer (ADO) calling out the angle of sight and speed of approaching enemy aircraft. 10:25:06 The commentary advises, "Check that your sight covers the sight on the screen - two hundred knot ring on 200 knot ring". Realistic animation attack sequences involving a Fw 200, an Me 109 and an Me 110 - seen here flying through tracer shot. 10:28:22 A formation of three Junkers Ju 88 bombers makes a bombing run. The commentary advises trainee gunners to shift target quickly once the aircraft in their sights has dropped its bombs. One of the Ju 88s start to stream smoke from its starboard engine after being hit by AA fire. Similarly, they are told to hold their fire when a He 111 flies overhead after dropping its bombs. A big Focke Wulf Fw 200 is hit by anti-aircraft (AA) fire as it carries out a bombing run and streams smoke from its port inner engine. Intertitle 'Eyeshooting Aiming Practice. End of Part 11' and brief end credits. 10:30:34 10:31:00 Opening titles 'Eyeshooting Part 12. Aiming Practice with Italian Aircraft. Photographed in Technicolor''. This section of the film, like Part 11, is intended to serve as a gunnery training simulator. Italian aircraft are seen delivering low-level torpedo attacks and strafing runs in realistic animation sequences. The matte overlay of a 'cartwheel' gunsight appears only occasionally in order to guide the trainee onto the correct aim-off point. The aircraft types featured here are the twin-tailed Fiat BR 20 Cicogna bomber, the Fiat CR 42 Falco biplane fighter, the Savoia-Marchetti SM 79 Sparviero torpedo-bomber and the Cant Z.1007bis Alcione bomber (the last two aircraft types with three motors). The animation sequences are accompanied by the sound of aircraft engines, ringing gun bells and naval AA guns in action. 10:35:32 Tracer fire is aimed at a Cant Z 1007 bis as it does a second attack run at low-level. An animated sequence accompanied by AA shell bursts and curtains of spray thrown up by AA rounds exploding at sea level shows the technique of aiming-off as a Fiat Cicogna torpedo bomber delivers a low-level attack in a twenty four knot sideways wind. The enemy aircraft leaves a trail of oily smoke from its starboard engine. 10:36:20 The commentary advises, "Check your sights. You're not going to get any help in these attacks because there won't be any coaching in action. So you have got to recognise the aircraft. You've got to estimate its speed. You've got to allow for wind. You've got to judge the range for opening fire. You've got to aim-off to hit". The film illustrates attacks by Italian aircraft at different heights and angles, singly or in threes, flying through bursting AA shells and water spray whipped up by shrapnel slicing into the sea. The matte overlay of a 'cartwheel' gunsight appears only occasionally in order to guide the trainee onto the correct aim-off point. As a formation of three Fiat Cicogna torpedo-bombers flies in to deliver a low-level torpedo attack, one of them is hit, allowing the gunner to shift aim to the others. Intertitle 'Eyeshooting Aiming Practice. End of Part 12' and brief end credits. 10:41:27 10:42:00 Opening titles 'Eyeshooting Part 13. Aiming Practice with Japanese Aircraft. Photographed in Technicolor'''. Over a matte overlay of a 'cartwheel' anti-aircraft sight against a blue sky background, the commentary declares, "The targets are Japanese aircraft. You must hit them hard and often so they don't hit you". Single Japanese aircraft are seen delivering attacks from various angles and directions. The aircraft types represented here are the twin-tailed Mitsubishi G3M Navy Type 96 'Nell' and the Mitsubishi Ki-21 Army Type 97 'Sally' bombers, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter and the Kawanishi H6K5 Type 97 'Mavis' flying boat. The commentary mentions that Japanese torpedo bombers are faster than their German equivalents. The matte overlay of a 'cartwheel' gunsight appears only occasionally in order to guide the trainee onto the correct aim-off point. The animation sequences are accompanied by the sound of aircraft engines, ringing gun bells and naval AA guns in action. 10:47:09 Animation dive-bombing sequences featuring the Aichi D3A 'Val' dive-bomber and the Mitsubishi B5M Type 97 'Mabel' torpedo/high-level bomber. 10:48:25. The commentary warns, "Check your sights - two hundred knot ring on two hundred knot ring". Simultaneous attacks mounted by up to three Japanese aircraft at one time, from different angles, courses and wind directions, are depicted in dramatic animation sequences. The importance of shifting fire from aircraft that have already dropped their weapons payloads to a target that has yet to complete its attack run is repeated here with the proviso that gunners should only keep on firing if there are no other targets left. The film concludes with a torpedo attack by three 'Nells' and a dive-bombing attack by three 'Vals'. Intertitle 'Eye Shooting Aiming Practice. End of Part 13' and brief end credits. END 10:53:31
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: ADM 5006/8-15
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor) Technicolor (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords: Aerial Warfare (theme) Japanese Navy 1939-1945 (theme) Japanese Army 1939-1945 (theme) Italy 1939-1945 (theme) German Air Force 1939-1945 (theme) Royal Navy 1939-1945 (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 8 Footage: 4825 ft; Running time: 51 mins 18 secs
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 5006/8-15

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    ADM 5006/1-7 (EYE SHOOTING [Main Title])
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