WORKERS' WEEK END [Main Title]

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Media files

  • Title: WORKERS' WEEK END [Main Title]
  • Film Number: UKY 504
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Film record of the effort by workers in an aircraft factory to produce a Wellington bomber in 30 hours or less, working voluntarily over one weekend and donating their bonus earnings to the Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund.
  • Description: The film provides quite good coverage of various processes in construction; the commentary, besides describing what is going on and recording the time elapsed, pinpoints by name individual workers, explains their pre-war jobs, etc. (Reel 1) shows assembly of fuselage framework, fitting of floor, cockpit, electrical wiring; basic assembly of wings; fabric covering for wings and fuselage, application of dope. (Reel 2) Engines installed, final assembly begins; rear turret installed; undercarriage; roundel; 'plane taken to testing area; corrections made (film stresses throughout that standards were not lowered for faster speed) - plane wheeled out and takes off for test flight, 24 3/4 hours after start of construction.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1943-10
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) Crown Film Unit (Production company) Elton, Ray (Production individual) Monck, John (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Vickers (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (theme) British Home Front 1939-1945 (theme) British War Work 1939-1945 (theme) aircraft, British - combat: Vickers Wellington (object name) industry, British - aircraft: Vickers Wellington (object name) society, British - charity: Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund (object name)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 1210 ft; Running time: 14 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Summary: filmed at Vickers-Armstrong's works in Broughton, Flintshire, North Wales, which was (in the 1930s) the largest aircraft factory in Europe. Title: Correctly spelt, but WORKERS' WEEKEND added to facilitate searching for more usual spelling. Credits: narrated by "an officer of the RAF". Remarks: good film well put together: right atmosphere of dedication, efficiency, speed.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    UKY 504

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