Historic colour film about WW2 night bombing
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Danny,
Point taken! Never realised that they issued part worn stuff. My comment was more a reflection on those poor guys who were taken so young, my uncle one of them. He never even got onto ops; killed when his Albemarle spun in after he lost a donk on a night take off.
Point taken! Never realised that they issued part worn stuff. My comment was more a reflection on those poor guys who were taken so young, my uncle one of them. He never even got onto ops; killed when his Albemarle spun in after he lost a donk on a night take off.
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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!
Unofficial photography was an offence during the war and for along time afterwards. Wg Cdr Cozens probably only got away with it due to his rank and position.
I remember the TV series "Britain At War in Colour" included some colour footage of the army in Burma. It transpired that the this film was taken by an army officer who did a lot of private filming in theatre but, come the end of the war, was unwilling to take the risk of upsetting the authorities by trying to bring his reels of film home so got rid of them, except for the footage shown on TV.
On the other hand, nearly every US and German serviceman seemed to have a personal camera, and some of their efforts can be seen in many military and aviation books today.
Unofficial photography was an offence during the war and for along time afterwards. Wg Cdr Cozens probably only got away with it due to his rank and position.
I remember the TV series "Britain At War in Colour" included some colour footage of the army in Burma. It transpired that the this film was taken by an army officer who did a lot of private filming in theatre but, come the end of the war, was unwilling to take the risk of upsetting the authorities by trying to bring his reels of film home so got rid of them, except for the footage shown on TV.
On the other hand, nearly every US and German serviceman seemed to have a personal camera, and some of their efforts can be seen in many military and aviation books today.
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I don't think I've ever seen such comprehensive coverage of the 'behind the scenes' preparation for a sortie. Even by modern standards, it's striking how little has changed.
Ironic that I sat and watched this for the first time today; my last day of service after 38+ years. Oh the memories.
Thank you for posting.
Ironic that I sat and watched this for the first time today; my last day of service after 38+ years. Oh the memories.
Thank you for posting.
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Dave Wilson,
My great Uncle was also killed in an Albemarle accident following an engine issue, it seems to have been a common problem. His brother (my Grandfather) flew with Bomber Command on Wellingtons and Lancs until the end of the war, mostly with 44(Rhodesia) Sqn.
The video gives a great insight into what his life must have been like at that time, he rarely spoke about his experiences until his much later years when he went to local schools to talk to the kids.
It's a shame that he died before the wonderful Memorial was put in place, at least his medals (inc DFC) now have the Bomber Command Clasp.
My great Uncle was also killed in an Albemarle accident following an engine issue, it seems to have been a common problem. His brother (my Grandfather) flew with Bomber Command on Wellingtons and Lancs until the end of the war, mostly with 44(Rhodesia) Sqn.
The video gives a great insight into what his life must have been like at that time, he rarely spoke about his experiences until his much later years when he went to local schools to talk to the kids.
It's a shame that he died before the wonderful Memorial was put in place, at least his medals (inc DFC) now have the Bomber Command Clasp.
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A truly amazing documentary. With the amount of constant stress, it's no wonder the guys looked much older than their early twenties!
From a personal perspective, it was inspiring to see what my Father (a Lanc W/Op) and my Mother (a WAAF in Intelligence) had to endure. My Mum used to dread looking daily at the wall charts showing which crews were presumed missing.
One poignant part where the commentator stated that the Lancasters rarely wore out, most of them only lasted 40 flying hours!
Thanks for posting ricardian!
From a personal perspective, it was inspiring to see what my Father (a Lanc W/Op) and my Mother (a WAAF in Intelligence) had to endure. My Mum used to dread looking daily at the wall charts showing which crews were presumed missing.
One poignant part where the commentator stated that the Lancasters rarely wore out, most of them only lasted 40 flying hours!
Thanks for posting ricardian!
The scene showing an Airman tidying up the mess in the Intelligence Debriefing Room at Hemswell reminds us that those taken off Ops for a "Lack of Moral Fibre" were often reduced to the ranks and given such menial tasks while remaining at their Station. The idea being that it encouraged other aircrew to keep the terror they felt to themselves and "Carry On Regardless".
Not saying it was the case with this guy of course. That would be a Cinéma vérité too far!
Not saying it was the case with this guy of course. That would be a Cinéma vérité too far!
Last edited by Chugalug2; 1st Nov 2013 at 21:33.
...I was under the impression from books I've read that 'LMF' (PTSD) victims were taken ASAP OFF station. Quite understandably.
Last edited by Load Toad; 2nd Nov 2013 at 04:07.
LT, you are of course absolutely right, I was getting my wires crossed. Having surfed around various sites that Google threw up, it seems that the handling of such cases varied wrt "previous" episodes, the possibility of "rehabilitation" (for which a spell at the Aircrew Correction Centre Sheffield was prescribed) or blatant refusal to fly (in which case cashiering of Officers and reduction to the ranks for NCOs was very likely, and all being stripped of flying brevets).
In all cases as you say, swift removal from the Station was a common factor. If any sweeping of floors or cleaning of loos was to follow, it would be elsewhere!
Thank you for correcting me.
In all cases as you say, swift removal from the Station was a common factor. If any sweeping of floors or cleaning of loos was to follow, it would be elsewhere!
Thank you for correcting me.
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Chugalug (your #40) and polecat2 (your #43), both p.2,
Yes, I've been thinking about colour film stock (I suppose it would have been 8 or 16mm Home Movie stuff) at that late stage in the war. And how did they get round the security problem ? IIRC, it was forbidden to have even a still camera in your possession in a war zone, although many did, and we are grateful for it now. I suppose being a one-star would help.
And Chugalug will remember that wonderful b&w footage of Vultee Vengeances in India, which he found for me last year, and of the very existence of which I'd been ignorant for 70 years. It makes you wonder how much more hidden stuff is lying about in a drawer somewhere.
Strangely enough, I can remember little of any US "home made" variety of colour footage reaching the silver screen (apart from "Memphis Belle" - of which there were two versions, the Hollywood one, and the "real" one).
I must say I join one recent poster: how did Hemswell come to have such a wiggly taxiway ? I know taxiways often had to be belled-out to accommodate runway extensions, but this is frankly ridiculous !
Having got that off my chest, it was a marvellous production. Well done, Air Cdr. Cozens (RIP).
Danny.
Yes, I've been thinking about colour film stock (I suppose it would have been 8 or 16mm Home Movie stuff) at that late stage in the war. And how did they get round the security problem ? IIRC, it was forbidden to have even a still camera in your possession in a war zone, although many did, and we are grateful for it now. I suppose being a one-star would help.
And Chugalug will remember that wonderful b&w footage of Vultee Vengeances in India, which he found for me last year, and of the very existence of which I'd been ignorant for 70 years. It makes you wonder how much more hidden stuff is lying about in a drawer somewhere.
Strangely enough, I can remember little of any US "home made" variety of colour footage reaching the silver screen (apart from "Memphis Belle" - of which there were two versions, the Hollywood one, and the "real" one).
I must say I join one recent poster: how did Hemswell come to have such a wiggly taxiway ? I know taxiways often had to be belled-out to accommodate runway extensions, but this is frankly ridiculous !
Having got that off my chest, it was a marvellous production. Well done, Air Cdr. Cozens (RIP).
Danny.
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Wriggly taxiways due to the bombers being on air raid dispersal pans to prevent a single strafe or stick of bombs wiping out more than one or two aircraft. The dispersals often resembled a bunch of grapes when viewed from the air and the taxiways would have to both connect and loop around them.
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I do believe that the layout in those days wasn't so profound, but more a case of following the hedge-lines of the land the Government had sequestered. It was a matter of fitting as much as possible into a certain space, without devouring agricultural land that was also desperately needed.
Dispersals were another matter ... Just to avoid too many assets being in the same place. Aka 'dispersed' as far as possible within geographic constraints.
In those days, sticks of bombs didn't follow neat straight lines. They were 'dumb' and spread themselves all over ... Anywhere, on a bad day.
Dispersals were another matter ... Just to avoid too many assets being in the same place. Aka 'dispersed' as far as possible within geographic constraints.
In those days, sticks of bombs didn't follow neat straight lines. They were 'dumb' and spread themselves all over ... Anywhere, on a bad day.
Last edited by MPN11; 2nd Nov 2013 at 20:10.
A look at the layout plan of Hemswell shows that the peritrack is not so wiggly as it looks in the film. I suspect it's a trick of the camera.
When this film was first released on VHS tape- that must have been early 1980's - I paid over £49 for it, thinking it would be rare and unobtainable. Just one of the wrong guesses I've made over the years!
When this film was first released on VHS tape- that must have been early 1980's - I paid over £49 for it, thinking it would be rare and unobtainable. Just one of the wrong guesses I've made over the years!
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Rakshasha,
Certainly dispersals were scattered right round the taxiways, and did indeed resemble "bunches of grapes" as you say. But they all hung from one "stem" - the taxiway itsellf.
Once you had pulled out of dispersal onto the "open road", you usually had a straight run round to marshalling point. The line of Lancasters were clearly out of dispersal and "following my leader" round the taxiway. The curious thing was: why did that wiggle so at Hemswell ? (there may well have been empty dispersals on the way, but you wouldn't dive in and out of them for fun).
As with so many things, there are people reading this who knew Hemswell and could tell us, but........D.
EDIT: papajuliet,
True, foreshortening is having an effect - but this is no optical illusion - watch the aircraft.....D
Certainly dispersals were scattered right round the taxiways, and did indeed resemble "bunches of grapes" as you say. But they all hung from one "stem" - the taxiway itsellf.
Once you had pulled out of dispersal onto the "open road", you usually had a straight run round to marshalling point. The line of Lancasters were clearly out of dispersal and "following my leader" round the taxiway. The curious thing was: why did that wiggle so at Hemswell ? (there may well have been empty dispersals on the way, but you wouldn't dive in and out of them for fun).
As with so many things, there are people reading this who knew Hemswell and could tell us, but........D.
EDIT: papajuliet,
True, foreshortening is having an effect - but this is no optical illusion - watch the aircraft.....D
Last edited by Danny42C; 2nd Nov 2013 at 21:56. Reason: Add Text.
Is this the thread you mean, PJ?
Hemswell
the old peri track is only part there now, it seems, but it does have a bit of a wiggle past the C type hangars and watch office that was so typical of a/f layouts of the period.
I rather go along with MPN11, the perimeter track was exactly what its name implied, ie hugging the boundary to leave the maximum space possible for the a/f, especially when it was all grass before being paved, which happened relatively late in the war on average. On large tail wheeled multi engine aircraft you never taxied in a straight line much anyway, as has been mentioned before, in order to see that all was clear ahead and beneath the a/c nose.
As to the dispersals, they tended to come in after the original a/f construction (perhaps when paved r/w's went in?) when much more of the surrounding land was requisitioned for that purpose. At Bicester, for example, you can make out the "ghosts" of them in modern aerial photos, deep into the surrounding farm land.
Hemswell
the old peri track is only part there now, it seems, but it does have a bit of a wiggle past the C type hangars and watch office that was so typical of a/f layouts of the period.
I rather go along with MPN11, the perimeter track was exactly what its name implied, ie hugging the boundary to leave the maximum space possible for the a/f, especially when it was all grass before being paved, which happened relatively late in the war on average. On large tail wheeled multi engine aircraft you never taxied in a straight line much anyway, as has been mentioned before, in order to see that all was clear ahead and beneath the a/c nose.
As to the dispersals, they tended to come in after the original a/f construction (perhaps when paved r/w's went in?) when much more of the surrounding land was requisitioned for that purpose. At Bicester, for example, you can make out the "ghosts" of them in modern aerial photos, deep into the surrounding farm land.
Yes Chug - that's the one. What does strike me as unusual is the way the peritrack winds round the control tower - why didn't it take a straight line past the tower, leaving the tower on it's own island as can be seen on many airfield layouts?
I'm not sure that was the case, was it? The "island" on which the watch office, or later Control Tower, stood was formed by the Hangars' Apron behind it and the Peri Track in front of it (which "through" traffic took). Certainly Bicester is like that:-
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Speaking of bombing raid documentaries, does anyone happen to know if the unedited recordings of Wynford Vaughan-Thomas' night trip to Berlin are available anywhere at all? I've kept my eye on the BBC online archive but it doesn't have them online, just excerpts in various programmes.
Last edited by Rakshasa; 3rd Nov 2013 at 18:23.