Title:FOOTAGE OF COASTAL COMMAND TAKEN FOR THE FILM "RAF COASTAL COMMAND" [Allocated Title]
Film Number:ARY 255
Other titles:
Summary: Five reels of material, most of which comprises rushes for the film RAF COASTAL COMMAND (RMY 195)
Description: (Reel One). The first reel is US Navy footage, taken in 1942 by Lieutenant Leeds and Chief Petty Officer Mareno, on behalf of the RAF. A Wellington Mk XIV, possibly of 458 Squadron, RAAF, is seen at dispersal. The crew walk to their aircraft and climb aboard. This is also seen in close up. Submarine 'kill' markings are seen close up on the nose next as is the bomb aimer and front gunner at their operational stations in the shot following. Good close up view of the aircraft's Leigh Light lowering and rotating completes the ground shots. A boat takes the camera into Gibraltar harbour where a large convoy of merchant ships ride at anchor. The camera cruises past the convoy in a lengthy sequence. The ships are then seen closer to and some of the ships' national flags are seen in close up. They are: Holland, USA, France, Greece, Belgium and Great Britain. A ship with its bows blown off and a ship broken in half are some of the casualties that somehow survived the journey. An American vessel has a gaping hole amidships, which is also seen in close up.
Reels Two to Five) RAF Film Production Unit material, not yet catalogued.
Production Details: Royal Air Force (Production sponsor)
United States Navy (Production company)
RAF Film Production Unit (Production company)
Leeds (Lieutenant, US Navy) (Production individual)
Mareno (Chief Petty Officer, US Navy) ()
