Historic colour film about WW2 night bombing

[papajuliet]

The book "Bomber Intelligence" by W.E.Jones, who was the intelligence officer at Hemswell, states that the briefing part of the film was made on 9th. March 1945 after cancellation of an operation just before briefing.The Base commander, Air Commodore Cozens,made use of the cancellation to make his film sequences including a briefing session.
Station Commander at Hemswell was G/C W.C. [Wally] Sheen DSO.
170 Sqd. Commander was W/C Templeton-Rooke.

[Wander00]

I am confused - never heard of a 1* Base commander before - were they common?

[MPN11]

Thank you, Sir

It all looked a bit modern for my eyes!!

[CoffmanStarter]

Here's some info on the Air Commodore

Air Commodore H I Cozens

During WW2, whilst in command of the Base at Hemswell, he made the only colour movie film of Lancaster operations entitled 'Night Bombers', now available on video. From 1969 - 1990, he was the Vice-President of the British Schools Exploring Society.

Coff.

[MPN11]

IIRC, a "Base" encompassed sub-Stations, or 'satellite airfields' if you will.

So "Base 54" could actually be 3/4 airfields, packed with more aircraft and squadrons than you could realistically fit in one place.

BC was a VERY sophisticated set-up in the latter years of 'The War'

[500N]

Coffman

Interesting his rank went up and down a bit mid war.

Anyone know the reason why ?

Sqn Ldr: 1 Dec 1936,
(T) Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1940,
Act Gp Capt: xx xxx xxxx, (T)
Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1942,
Wg Cdr: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jan 1940],
Act A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1943 - 45?,
Gp Capt (WS): 1 Jun 1944,
Gp Capt: 1 Oct 1946,
A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1949.

[Wensleydale]

I am confused - never heard of a 1* Base commander before - were they common?

The "Base" was an organisation of a main RAF Station with one or two satellite stations. The main station (usually a pre-war permanent airfield)supplied the main administration set-up for the smaller stations. Each station had its own group captain station commander but the "Base" was commanded by a one star. For example, RAF Waddington ran 53 Base (the 3rd base in 5 group) from the end of 1942 to the end of the war. The other two stations in Base 53 were Skellingthorpe (50 & 61 Sqns) and Bardney (9 Sqn). Together with Waddington's two Australian squadrons (463 & 467), Base 53 could call upon a force of around 100 Lancasters. Further examples include Base 54 (4th base of 5 group): Coningsby, Metheringham and Woodhall Spa, and 51 Base of Scampton, Fiskerton and Dunholm Lodge.

The link lists all of the bases: Bomber Bases_P

[ricardian]

Glad everyone enjoyed the video. I was in the RAF 1959-73 but not aircrew (colour blind!), a mere Cpl Telegraphist who went on to work for 30 years in the Civil Service (GCHQ) thanks to my RAF training.

[Wander00]

Thanks for info on "bases" very interesting and something of which I was not aware. One learns something every day

[rolling20]

'Interesting his rank went up and down a bit mid war' T is Temporary, the WS is War Substantive. He may have dropped back to W/C to take Operational command of a squadron. Cheshire did it with 617.

[500N]

Rolling

Thank you. It was the drop back to Wg Cdr that I was stumped on.

[rolling20]

500N, pleasure old boy!

[Prangster]

Grantham/Gransden

RAF Grantham-Vincent House 5 Gp HQ. RAF Gransden Lodge by 1944 was home to 2 Mosquito Squadrons of the LNSF (Light Night Striking Force ie the Mossie being a light bomber ) Quoting from Michael JF Bowyer's Action Stations Revisited, Crecy Publications 2001.

The entymology suggests Grantham modification may therefore be the right one!

[Dan Gerous]

Well that was an hour well spent. Very informative, with all the pre flight details, arming the aircraft, etc.

[Dave Wilson]

The other two stations in Base 53 were Skellingthorpe (50 & 61 Sqns)

I live on the former RAF Skellingthorpe. Not in a Nissan hut I may add. I was visiting Sherburn Aero Club last thursday (excellent caff) and noticed a group of elderly gentlemen talking, one of them making the hand signs of air to air combat. I enquired as to who they were and was told 'Oh it's Bomber Command thursday...'

[Rosevidney1]

I continue to be surprised at the ways of the world. I was fortunate to see the original showing on TV and bought the DVD as soon as it became available. That said, I continue to learn film names and book titles on our forum that have mysteriously passed me by.

[Danny42C]

Well worth watching ! But why, oh why, did they all have to be wearing band-box fresh uniforms in these films ? (Having said that, the production is so far ahead of anything turned out from Hollywood or Pinewood, that there is no comparison).

D.

[Dave Wilson]

But why, oh why, did they all have to be wearing band-box fresh uniforms in these films ?

With the greatest respect, perhaps a lot of them didn't live long enough to get them scruffy.

[Danny42C]

Dave,

Point taken, but in the war I was in, our original uniforms (mine was part-worn on issue) were in a sorry state by the time we reached the killing fields.

And there were an awful lot of survivors (among them my humble self), from whom I understand the cast were recruited.

D.

[Chugalug2]

Danny, as I understand it this was very much a fly on the wall documentary made by the Base Commander (a cine enthusiast) in order to show new joiners how their job (cook, armourer, ground/air crew, etc) fitted into the business of launching, carrying out, and recovering a raid.

Whether it existed as the complete production, complete with (excellent) commentary, that we see here, I very much doubt. More likely someone (himself?) would have been commenting live to the silent movie scenes.

Whatever the facts, this is surely unique for British Wartime Operational Colour video (where the heck did he get all that film stock for a start?). Both German and US colour wartime video is plentiful, but not so British. Makes one wonder how he managed his day job as well as producing this!