Found it at last. RCAF Survival Film “No Time To Lose”

[India Four Two]

The first time I saw this film was in the UBAS Crew Room at Shawbury in the late 60s.

It was a nasty winter Saturday with low cloud and fog, so flying was scrubbed. Before we stacked to the bar, the Boss made us watch this very good and realistic training film.

A 16mm projector and screen was set up and the ATC cadets who had been scheduled to fly with 8 AEF, were invited in from next door.

Before the film started, the cadets’ officer warned them that the film was very realistic and that if any of them felt queasy, they should go outside.

All went well initially. The cadets were enthusiastically lapping it up, including the realistic arterial bleeding. Then we came to 10:32:

“Puncture in the chest. A sucking wound”

There was a quiet moan at the back of the room and their officer slid down the wall and passed out, much to the amusement of his charges!

After we had removed the casualty, the film was re-started and we watched it to the end, which included some nice shots of a SAR Sikorsky H-5.

Just a word of warning - the film is very graphic and the fake wounds are very realistic. You have been warned. :)

https://youtu.be/3HJH5yC1_-g

I looked up the Dakota that was used in the film. It wasn't a wreck at the time of filming, but was subsequently written off in a civilian fatal crash:

Ex US C-47A-25-DK 42-93531, ex RAF KG641. Stored at Canadian Forces Technical Services Detachment at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. To civil register as CF-BJE, with Air Ontario by 1976. Later C-FBJE with Air Ontario. Crashed 1 November 1988 at Pikangikum Lake (about 100 miles north of Kenora, Ontario). Nose dived into lake with load of diesel fuel on board, 2 fatalities.
Canadian Forces Dakotas (http://www.rwrwalker.ca/CAF_Dakota_detailed_list.htm)

[Krystal n chips]

interesting viewing.....I liked the basic principles of first aid bit about not giving fluids, " but, a cigarette is always welcome " ;)

[chevvron]

I saw it back in the '60s at RAF Medmenham (where?) when I was in the Royal Observer Corps.
I'd been warned about it by an ATC cadet friend who'd seen it at RAF Feltwell (where?) in the brief period he'd been an Officer Cadet and he said they had a regulation there that medics must be in attendance any time it was shown.
During my showing, it was apparent that the most vocal, boastful and outgoing of my fellow observers were the ones who had to hurriedly 'leave' the theatre

[Herod]

Required viewing many times during the 60's and 70's, while on various courses. Usually shown in a stuffy room after lunch!

[treadigraph]

RAF Medmenham (where?)

Isn't that the ex-stately hopme on the banks of the Thames near Abingdon. Photographic interpretation?

[mcdhu]

Medmenham - stately home between Marlow and Henley on the banks of the Thames.
Now a very smart hotel (afternoon tea appx £70).
wasnt it also HQ Signals Command?
mcdhu

[treadigraph]

Mcdhu, yep, between Marlow and Henley. I recall walking past it, thought it was the next stretch of the Thames that we did!

[AARON O'DICKYDIDO]

India 42

Thanks for that. The last time I was shown the film was in 1964 while a 15 year old Boy entrant at RAF Hereford. I fainted at the point that the blood started pumping from the guy's arm. I was taken outside the hut and given a cigarette to recover. So, after nearly 56 years I have now finally seen the whole film.

Aaron.

[chevvron]

Medmenham - stately home between Marlow and Henley on the banks of the Thames.
Now a very smart hotel (afternoon tea appx £70).
wasnt it also HQ Signals Command?
mcdhu
HQ Signals Command in those days.
The Officers mess, Danesfield House, had a bunker underneath it which had a small contingent of ROC working there on exercises although it wasn't my unit; I was in the bunker at Naphill.

[India Four Two]

AARON,

Glad I could allow you to finish the film. Apart from the chest wound, I had forgotten the details of the other injuries. Extremely realistic - they must have had some remarkably skilled technicians. They probably went on to work on Alien! :)

chevvron,

Since you've been to Medmenham, perhaps you can answer a question for me. I was born in Marlow and grew up in Maidenhead, so I know that area well. Everyone that I knew, pronounced it as "Medun um. How did the inhabitants say it?

[Bill Macgillivray]

India 42, thank you! It brought back memories for me and not just the film! I was CFI at UBAS mid-late '60s and we used to show the film fairly frequently. Maybe we crossed paths in those "halcyon" days?

Bill

[India Four Two]

Bill,

No, I just missed you. When I arrived there in March 1967*, John Gale was the Boss and John McGrory was the CFI.

* Although I was approved in November, my security clearance was delayed. “They” were worried about the fact that my mother was born in Egypt. I was disappointed it took so long. Her father was an ex-RNAS pilot and was working for MPBW at Aboukir. She was born in an RAF hospital!

PS You must have been under 30 when you were there. Pretty young for a CFI! :)

[Fark'n'ell]

Thanks for that. The last time I was shown the film was in 1964 while a 15 year old Boy entrant at RAF Hereford. I fainted at the point that the blood started pumping from the guy's arm. I was taken outside the hut and given a cigarette to recover. So, after nearly 56 years I have now finally seen the whole film.

I rember seeing that film when I was 9 or 10 years old at primary school.It was shown to us kids as a first aid film (16 mm)

[Bill Macgillivray]

India 42,

Yes, I left for Linton end of Dec.66, I have vague memories of your selection earlier in the year (but only vague!). John Gale had been the boss for a while and I remember John McGrory taking over. Yes, a mere youngster at 28 but it happened in those days! Any other memories PM me.

Bill

[chevvron]

chevvron,

Since you've been to Medmenham, perhaps you can answer a question for me. I was born in Marlow and grew up in Maidenhead, so I know that area well. Everyone that I knew, pronounced it as "Medun um. How did the inhabitants say it?
When I was OC 1811 (Marlow) Sqdn ATC from '83 to '90, my second in command (who I handed over command to when I stood down and is recently deceased) was ex RAF and spent about 10 years at Medmenham until he left the RAF. He always pronounced it 'Med-munum' and so did others I've heard speaking about it.
The site became the MOD Police training depot before becoming a hotel.

[chevvron]

There was another 'grisly' film around; I saw it in Gib during summer camp in 1982.
It was about actual injuries sustained in war and showed footage taken in Viet Nam of actual amputations etc.
This had the same effect on some adult members of the audience but not on the cadets.

[Wander00]

I well remember that film, and the short term casualties it produced. Could reduce the number of people that started watching it by up to 50%