Air Commodore Mellersh RAF, Air Commander Strategic Air Force, Eastern Air Command and Air Vice Marshal Stevens of the Royal Canadian Air Force address airmen on the last operations of Vickers Wellington aircraft at Jessore, Bengal, India.

Air Commodore Mellersh seen addressing airmen, probably of RAF 99 Squadron. The airmen are dismissed. The squadron poses for a group photograph, with a Wellington aircraft in the background. Air Commodore Mellersh seen joking with the airmen. Crew board a Wellington. Ground crew shown winding over an aircraft's engines. Another shot of aircrew boarding an aircraft, with one man seen wearing a kukri. Engines spinning. A Wellington taxis towards camera. Second view of Wellington taxiing close past camera, with gunner visible in rear turret. Wellington takes off. A group of senior officers get into a car. Posed group in front of Wellington. Officers talking with airmen. Shot of the intelligence block at Jessore airfield.

Notes

Jessore now in Bangladesh.

Issues in dating this piece. One dopesheet dated 18/10/1944, another 8/1944. No dates on slates. Withdrawal of Wellingtons began 9/1944, but not complete until 11/1944. Likely this film dates from mid-August 1944.

One aircraft identifiable, Wellington HZ-141 'N'.

See below for related photographs.