FERRY PILOT
This film is held by the BFI (ID: 13961).
Synopsis
INTEREST. An account of the Air Transport Auxiliary which provides personnel to fly newly completed aircraft from factory to service airfield.
Rl.1 Credits (69). The commentary explains that hundreds of aircraft have to be transported from the factory maintenance depots to aerodromes and this is done by the civilian air force - the Air Transport Auxiliary (120). Women pilots are included in the Auxiliary (167). Central control sends out a schedule to all the depots (193). At one depot, the commanding officer is arranging the ferrying of hundreds of aircraft (280). The pilots are the most expert to be found anywhere. They come from all over the world and can fly all kinds of aircraft (311). The commanding officer in his office (319). A fleet of Ansons ready and waiting to ferry the pilots (341). Two pilots, Thompson, an Englishman and Talbot, a Canadian, pore over a map and discuss routes (404). They are ferried to a Spitfire factory where the C.O. is giving two women pilots their instructions (428). They set off (477). Thompson and Talbot also make for their allotted aeroplane (524). On the way, they watch a test pilot in action in a Spitfire (584). They climb aboard their aeroplane and start down the runway (687ft).
RL.2 [N.B. The last section of the previous reel where the test pilot is seen in action to the end is repeated at the beginning of reel 2] (343). Shots of the pilots in the air. They have no radio for fear of detection by the Germans (608). They arrive at their destination - Warbrook - a maintenance unit (668). One of the pilots, Thompson, goes to pick up a Whitley which he has to ferry up North. Talbot goes to sign off (728). He has never flown a Whitley before, so he has a word with the test pilot, who gives him some advice (818). Back in the C.O.'s. office, there is news of a raid approaching the area where Thompson will be flying his Whitley. The C.O. tries to get in touch with Warbrook (907). Thompson is still discussing the handling of the Whitley with the test pilot (956ft).
RL.3 Thompson climbs aboard the Whitley and the C.O. gets through with his message just as Thompson takes off (73). The C.O. is told that he has left, so there is nothing more to be done, as Thompson has no radio (96). Thompson carries on blithely unaware of his danger (154). Suddenly, the German aeroplanes are in sight (182). Thompson and Talbot are not aware that they are there and partake of some refreshment (221). The enemy aeroplanes are spotted on the radar and British fighters set out to break up their formation, which they succeed in doing after some cross-fire (542). Thompson is still unaware of these developments and prepares himself to land which he does after some tense moments (647). Back at the ferry station, the taxi planes are returning, bringing their pilots with them (811). Thompson and Talbot hand in their delivery chits to the C.O. (873ft).
"The End" (2516 ft).
Titles
- AIR TRANSPORT AUXILIARY (Alternative)
- FERRY PILOT
Technical Data
- Year:
- 1941
- Running Time:
- 31 minutes
- Colour:
- Black/White
- Footage:
- 2779 ft
Production Credits
- Production Countries:
- Great Britain
- Camera Operator
- FOWLE, H.E.
- Director
- JACKSON, Pat
- Producer
- DALRYMPLE, Ian
- Sound Recording
- CAMERON, Ken
- Assistant Editor
- KRISH, John
- Conductor
- MATHIESON, Muir
- Editor
- McNAUGHTON, Richard Q.
- Music
- ESDAILE, Brian
- Production Company
- Colonial Film Unit
- Production Company
- Crown Film Unit
- Unit Production Manager
- STONE, Sidney