AIRBORNE EXERCISE AT TRAVELLER'S HILL, SUFFOLK [Allocated Title]
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- Title: AIRBORNE EXERCISE AT TRAVELLER'S HILL, SUFFOLK [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: ARY 2
- Other titles:
- Summary: Unedited footage of a demonstration of air to ground support to an audience of service personnel and others.
- Description: (Reel 1) Hawker Hectors of 296 Squadron tow Hotspur gliders of the Glider Exercise Unit over the battle area in good long and mid shots from the camera aircraft. A glider is shown in free flight before banking and landing. Troops emerge from the now stationary glider and run for cover (note the camera crew in the background and that the glider pilot, an RAF type is not wearing flying kit). A captured Heinkel He 111 and Messerschmitt Bf 110 fly overhead. They are both in British markings and the He 111 (serial AM177) retains its original KG26 unit badge. The scene of troops deploying is shown again taken from different angles. Some of the 8000 spectators are clearly visible in the background as is an Army stills photographer. Participating aircraft commence their demonstration of ground strafing. They include Curtiss Tomahawk Mk II's of 2 Squadron (one flying at no more than ten feet) and Hurricanes of 32 Squadron. Gun flashes are clearly seen on one of the Hurricanes. After the German aircraft make a return visit, paratroops jump from a Whitley of 297 Squadron (see note) and land. Shots of a Boston of 88 Squadron low bombing and close ups of the targets being hit end the reel. (Reel 2) After a flypast by a 3 Squadron Hurricane, various close ups of the targets under attack from various ordinance are seen. Thereafter the large audience is seen walking the site as the participating aircraft fly low over the assembly. A Boston Mk III, Wellington, Heinkel He 111, and Messerschmitt Bf 110 fly over towards the camera. More Hurricane attacks are filmed to be followed by a further shot of the crowds inspecting the damaged targets. 602 Squadron Spitfire Mk Vs buzz them. The German aircraft reappear followed by another display by the participating British aircraft. The reel concludes with further attacks by Hurricanes, including a cannon-armed Mk IIc of 3 Squadron. (Reel 3) The battle area is seen from the air and in the four long shots, Hurricanes can be seen strafing the ground targets. The air to air sequences continue with views of three Bostons and a Stirling. Parachutes descend from a Whitley in the second shot. The smoke screen is clearly shown over the area. A good mid shot shows paratroops jumping from the ventral hatch of 297 Squadron Whitley Mk Vs. In the next shot the troops land. A Blenheim Mk IV of 13 Squadron lays a smoke screen at 100 feet, followed by another at higher altitude which envelopes the camera. A Westland Whirlwind (probably of 137 Squadron) makes a brief appearance as does another Boston and a Stirling of 149 Squadron. After another 32 Squadron attack on the ground targets a further glimpse of the crowds in the target area and paratroop drop are shown. Another smoke laying pass is filmed before an excellent view of a Blenheim flying low and towards the camera. Halfway along the aircraft's siren is put into its operating position which is particularly noteworthy. Attack sequences by 3 Squadron complete the reel. (Note that the last Hurricane, a Mk IIc, is camouflaged as a night fighter).
- Alternative Title:
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: ARY 2
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (ARY 2)
- Featured Period: 1939-1945
- Production Date: 1942-03-29
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Royal Air Force (Production sponsor) RAF Film Production Unit (Production company) Gallai-Hatchard, Donald Nevill (Production individual) Pollard (Pilot Officer) (Production individual) Waxman, Harry1912-04-031984-12-24 (Production individual) Challis, Christopher George (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, Sqdn 2 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 8 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 13 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 32 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 88 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 137 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 149 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 296 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 297 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Sqdn 602 (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Glider Exercise Unit (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Flight 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) (regiment/service) German Air Force, Kampfgeschwader 26 & Lowengeschwader (regiment/service)
- Keywords: aircraft, British - glider: General Aircraft Hotspur (object name) aircraft, British - light military: Hawker Hector (object name) aircraft, British - transport: Armstrong Whitworth Whitley (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Hurricane (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Supermarine Spitfire (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Blenheim (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Westland Whirlwind (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Short Stirling (object name) aircraft, United States - combat: Douglas Boston & [British] (object name) aircraft, United States - combat: Curtiss Tomahawk & [British] (object name) aircraft, German - combat: Heinkel He 111 & [captured] (object name) aircraft, German - combat: Messerschmitt Bf 110 & [captured] (object name) GB, England & Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk <Traveller's Hill> (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: 3 Footage: 2669 ft; Running time: 29 mins
- HD Media:
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