OPERATION LIMELIGHT [Allocated Title]
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- Title: OPERATION LIMELIGHT [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: ADM 4498
- Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
- Summary: HMS Ark Royal on exercise in the South Western Approaches.
- Description: HA aft as Phantom 003 of 892 Squadron, armed with two Matra 2-inch rocket packs under each wing, is launched from Ark Royal's waist catapult - the camera pans to follow the aircraft's flight. The Sidewinder-armed 010 taxies onto the catapult to be launched, followed by 011. XLS as a Phantom flies right to left, passing a submarine on the surface, and fires a 3-inch (?) rocket which continues in level flight as the aircraft climbs away - beyond the flat trajectory of the rocket can be seen a vertical plume of smoke as a destroyed target drone falls toward the sea. HA aft as Phantom 005 lands on, followed by 007. 003 misses the wires and goes round again. 011 lands on and taxies to Fly 1 park - one of 809 Squadron's Buccaneer S.2s is parked alongside the island, together with an array of 1,000-pound bombs laid out on the deck. 013 lands on. 003 tries again, this time successfully, although the aircraft only catches the last of the four arrester wires. 010 and 012 land on. HA to the tail of 004 (XV 592) ready to go on waist catapult, and pan to hold as the aircraft is launched. HA to forebody of 002 on the catapult, but not yet stropped up - one of the crew plucks the restraint tag from the Sidewinder missile. The FDO signals to the pilot to go to full power. HA to tail of 002 (XV 589) as she is launched - unfortunately the engine exhaust shows up poorly in black and white - as the aircraft leaves the deck a man runs on from the right to the hold back on the bow catapult. MS to Sea King HAS.1 526 of 824 Squadron hovering off to starboard - in the background is a later Tide Class tanker with a Wessex on its flightdeck aft. Two Phantoms fly past. MS, Sea King 526 again. Phantom 005 lands on. LS past the dome of the CCA radar to approaching Buccaneer 027 - although the camera pans down, the structure of the island obscures the aircraft as it lands on. Another view of 005 landing on. 002 is launched from waist catapult, and 013 taxies forward for its turn. LS off the starboard quarter of HMS Galatea (F.18), one of the two Leander Class frigates that are escorting the carrier. XLS as before as a Phantom fires a rocket, and pan to follow the missile's flight until it explodes, scattering the surface of the sea with fragments. HA to 013 on the waist catapult - this rear 3/4 view shows well the jet blast playing on the deck and raised deflector plates as the pilot opens the throttle just before the launch. Cut to HA aft from the island as a Harrier GR.1 alights on the flightdeck, bounces slightly as it touches down, then immediately begins a short take-off run.
- Alternative Title: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: ADM 4498
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (ADM 4498)
- Featured Period: 1946-1975
- Production Date: 1971-08
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations (Navy) (Production sponsor)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Ark Royal (regiment/service) Royal Navy, GALATEA (HMS), frigate (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 892 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 824 (regiment/service)
- Keywords: ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Ark Royal (object name) ships, British naval - frigate: Galatea (F.18) (object name) aircraft, United States naval - combat: McDonnell F-4 Phantom & [British] (object name) aircraft, British naval - helicopter: Westland Sea King (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 (object name) weapons, United States - missile: Sidewinder & [British] & [-] (object name) weapons, British naval - rocket: 2-inch (object name)
- 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: 732 ft; Running time: 8 mins
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