The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
No 3 Squadron RAAF based Sidi Barrani, Western Desert Egypt circa October-November 1941. [The] old Squadron Leader [Peter Jeffrey DFC] talking to his men for the last time. Airmen formed up listening to the 'Boss' talking. Camera tracks showing the rows of men listening. Men listening, various dress and headgear can be seen as there is not time to dress up when the job is to be done, even one Italian hat adorns the head of one airman a relic of the first desert push. Men listening. The old Squadron Leader now Wing Commander finishes talking and turns round to the new Squadron Leader [Alan Rawlinson, DFC] salutes and speaks to him. The two men shake hands and walk off. Tent with some men around it, one rolls a tyre along, the camera pans with him and finishes on a group of men changing a wheel of a Tomahawk. Changing the wheel showing the aerodrome in the background. Airman sees if the oil in the Tomahawk is OK. Showing a number of planes some men working and two men walk across. Filling a Tomahawk with petrol. A pilot looks up at the sky. Group of pilots sitting on the ground, a man dashes to them and they get up and run quickly to their planes. Pilots getting into their cockpits. Pilot in cockpit as seen through the front windscreen and Perspex this transparent material is very thick and affords much protection to the pilot. Pilot in cockpit, he bends down and lifts out his monkey which has been snuggled into the works. This monkey has been with the squadron since they passed through Bombay, she even drinks at the mess. Propeller starts to revolve and camera pans to show pilot in cockpit. Tomahawks lined up and start to go. Planes start and leave a beautiful plume of dust behind them as they take off. They take off from dead in front the planes come over the camera in the form of a 'V'. Planes fly past in the distance. Tomahawks fly in formation [eight shots]. The next ten shots show the Tomahawks actually doing strafing practice they dive down on the target and let fly with their guns. Owing to the distance at which the guns are fired you see bullets hit the ground some seconds before the plane. Three planes land in formation. Plane comes past camera as it comes to rest. [Complete version of F01147].
Western desert, North Africa circa 1941-1942, long shot of tent and parked P-40 Kittyhawk of No. 450 Squadron RAAF in background. Three shots of P-40s preparing to take off from desert airfield. Groun
Sidi Barrani, Western Desert, circa October-November 1941. O35436 Squadron Leader Peter Jeffrey DFC, promoted to Wing Commander, makes a farewell speech to airman of No 3 Squadron and hands over to 38
Activities of the members of No. 3 Squadron RAAF in the Middle East. Features No. 3 Squadron pilots and ground crew with their P-40 Kittyhawk aircraft. Official war photographers at work. A 25 Pounder
The activities of 3 Squadron RAAF in the Western Desert. Shows Squadron personnel messing, the evacuation of casualities by air ambulance, ground crew servicing Kittyhawk aircraft and shots from a fl
Members of No 77 (Fighter) Squadron RAAF leave their tent bivouac for morning tea. The men read mail and then work loading rockets and bombs on United States made P-51 fighters. The flight leader expl
[Colour] Film opens with a number of shots of harbours, ships, islands bases and airstrip taken from a Beaufighter of No 93 Squadron RAAF probably on a flight from Kingaroy, QLD to Labuan Island circa
