RAF Douglas Dakota transport aircraft deliver supplies 'over the Hump' of the Himalayas from Dum Dum, India to Kunming, China to assist the Chinese Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai-Shek.

Establishing shot of loading yard at Dum Dum airfield, West Bengal, India showing stacked freight for delivery to China. Crates marked 'Kunming' and 'British Military Mission'. A chalk slate showing various loading weights for aircraft (AOG - Aircraft on Ground). Freight loaded onto a lorry and its tail board is closed. Shot of the lorry (a 30cwt Bedford OXD) arriving at dispersal, framed by undercarriage leg in foreground. Squadron Leader Vlasto and Wing Commander Wyatt discussing the route. The aircraft is loaded. Wing Commander Wyatt, Squadron Leader Vlasto and a warrant officer take a last look at the map. The crew emplaning. Wing Commander Wyatt salutes them farewell. Dakota with engines running. Second shot from Dakota cockpit window of Wing Commander Wyatt saluting. Squadron Leader Vlasto at the controls, talking to his navigator and adjusting the throttles. Aircraft taxiing from dispersal. Squadron Leader opens the throttles for take-off. Dakota takes off while a lorry passes in the foreground. Some very fine airborne and air-to-air footage of Dakota in flight, and of Himalayan landscapes and cloudscapes. View of a lake, likely Lake Dian. Air-to-ground footage of aircraft coming in to land. Ground-to-air shot of Dakota passing low over the camera, with dramatic aircraft shadow. Sign in English and Chinese reads: 'RAF Unit Kunming'. Jeep and 15cwt Ford lorry drive past camera returning to RAF compound. Local porters carrying charcoal and ponies carrying the same in panniers. Sign painted on door of Chevrolet lorry reads 'British Military Mission' in English and Chinese with Union flag. Aircraft is unloaded into British Military Mission vehicles. Lorries driving through Kunming, passing a pagoda and a traffic policeman. Lorry drives away along a tree-lined road. A number of RAF ground crew travel by trailer-towing jeep to the RAF compound. Sequence at British Military Mission showing lorry being loaded with freight for Chungking. Civilian refugees, including children, board an aircraft for transport to India. View of the airfield at Kunming taken from departing aircraft. Dakota airborne in the distance.

Notes

Aircraft seen include RAF Dakota KJ 847 and KG 786. At one point a US Army Air Force B-25 Mitchell can be seen in the background.

This footage appears, in an edited form with sound, as part of the RAF's in-house newsreel 'The Gen' No. 16. See related items below.

No slates, date from dopesheet. Date of shooting likely to be earlier than that given above.