OPERATION MASCOT [Allocated Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.


  • Title: OPERATION MASCOT [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 1309
  • Other titles: THE ROYAL NAVY IN NORTHERN AND ATLANTIC WATERS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Scenes onboard HMS Indefatigable during Operation Mascot, the second carrier air strike against Tirpitz.
  • Description: I. Sequence showing a pilot briefing - the briefing officer indicates positions on a map of Norway and on a detail model of Kaa fjord. II. View from navigator's seat in a Barracuda. The flight of aircraft flies low over the sea, climbing to cross the coast. Snow-clad mountains are seen over the wing of the camera-aircraft - ABS aerial in the foreground. III. HA aft on Indefatigable to a range of Barracudas. Pilots gathered on deck are given a last-minute pep talk - possibly by the Air Staff Officer. LA of pilot and navigator aboard their aircraft - they smile and wave to the cameraman. A Barracuda is launched by catapult. Second aircraft takes off from the head of the range, and more follow. Cut to sequence showing Swordfish landing on - they are armed with 60-pound rockets and anti-shipping flares - these may be aircraft of 842 Flight from Furious. Firefly I of 1770 Squadron lands on after a rather steep descent. LA over engine cowling of landed Firefly as it folds wings - funnel and tripod foremast of Indefatigable in the background and Type 277 radar scanning. Firefly taxies forward to the deck park. MS aft along the deck to a Barracuda which has just landed and taxies forward over the lowered safety barrier. CUs of the deck crew watching the landings. CUs of armourers fusing a 1600-pound bomb - it bears the chalked message NEXT STOP TIRPITZ - SUCKERS. A Barracuda is brought aft, watched by the Flight Deck Control Officer. The 1600-pound bomb is wheeled off along the deck. Seafire is manhandled onto elevator and struck down, while another is moved across the deck, its chocks resting on the wings.
  • Alternative Title: THE ROYAL NAVY IN NORTHERN AND ATLANTIC WATERS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: ADM 1309
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1944-07
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Indefatigable (regiment/service) German Navy, Tirpitz (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Indefatigable (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Fairey Barracuda (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Fairey Swordfish (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Fairey Firefly (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Supermarine Seafire (object name) weapons, British naval - bomb: 1600-pound (object name) operations, British naval air - preparation: arming aircraft (object name) intelligence, military, British - briefing: pilots (object name) Second World War & Operation Mascot & 7/1944 (event)
  • 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: 507 ft; Running time: 6 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 1309

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register