A young Gurkha boy, Jimmy Nathu, at work and play with an RAF squadron at Tabingaung, Burma.

Shot of Burmese temple spires. Jimmy with Warrant Officer Williams reading the squadron noticeboard, announcing an eminent innoculation parade. Pay parade - Jimmy, wearing a bush hat, goes up to the adjutant's desk and salutes before receiving his pay. Close-up from behind desk. Innoculation parade - Jimmy is innoculated by Medical Officer, Flight Lieutenant Frame. An RAF fitter works on the engine of a Spitfire VIII named 'Jane', and gestures to Jimmy, who goes to fetch a spanner. He hands the spanner up to the mechanic. Jimmy watches Spitfire DG:Z taxi away. Jimmy standing on wing of Spitfire talking to pilot. Jimmy waving goodbye standing in front of Spitfire LV75x. Jimmy bathing in Mu Canal, playing with and splashing airmen. Jimmy receiving rations from open-air field kitchen. Burmese temple spires with aircraft above.

Notes

Jimmy Nathu was apparently known as 'Chico' and was the mascot of RAF 17 Squadron. However, no 17 Squadron aircraft are seen in this film; the squadron code 'DG' refers to RAF 155 Squadron. This need not be a major concern as both 17 and 155 Squadrons were based at Tabingaung at the time this film was shot.

From the manuscript dopesheet: "Jimmy Nathu, a young Gurkha boy, was found by Warrant Officer Williams turning over the swill bins outside an RAF camp looking for food. As Jimmy was an orphan Warrant Officer Williams looked after him. The boy was suffering from malaria so the Warrant Officer sent him to hospital and paid for his treatment. The boy has now been with the squadron for 2 years and is regarded as their mascot. He lives the same type of life as the airmen, eats with them, wears the same type of clothes namely jungle green, has innoculations and lines up on pay parade and receives his R2 [approx. 3 shillings at contemporary rates] which is provided by the Warrant Officer. Jimmy, who is now 7 years old has made 3 aerial trips and has 2 hours flying time to his credit. The youngster speaks colloquial English using RAF slang as well as any erk [slang for RAF ground crew]; he also speaks Urdu and Singhalese which he learnt when the squadron was in Ceylon. His manners are typically English and apart from his colour he would pass for an English child. A sum of money has been subscribed by the squadron which will be used for the boy's education probably at a military college. Although Jimmy is not officially in the RAF he is known to many high officials and calls a popular Group Captain "Uncle George". If at all possible the squadron want to take Jimmy to England when they return".

Jimmy's surname spelled 'Nattu' on manuscript dopesheet.

This film appears, in an edited form with commentary, in the RAF's in-house newsreel 'The Gen' No. 14. See related items below.

Photographs of Jimmy, though given the surname 'Nutti' can be seen at the references below.

The biography of James 'Ginger' Lacey, who commanded RAF 17 Squadron, includes an epilogue that gives a variety of details of Jimmy's later life, and gives his full name as Nattu Alis Salim.