RAF Supermarine Spitfires of RAF 155 Squadron escort Douglas Dakota transport aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force on a supply operation over Burma.

Dakotas at dispersal with several Canadian maple leaf insignia visible. A Dakota being loaded with supplies. Ground crew working on a Spitfire; a fitter wears a long-sleeved shirt or jumper with Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) crest and 'Labrador' printed on it. Aircrew approaching Dakota 'Q' and climbing aboard. Engines starting up. Spitfire pilots talking. Dakota pilot at controls. Spitfire pilots watch the Dakota. Dakota pilot leans out of cockpit window and gives a thumbs-up. Dakota leaving dispersal. Spitfire taxiing away. Dakotas taxiing. Spitfires taxiing and taking off. Spitfires and Dakotas overhead. Aerial footage showing various views of Dakotas in flight with Spitfires escorting. Dakotas at times in close formation with escorting Spitfires passing close by. Interior of the Dakota - crew preparing cargo for dropping by parachute. Supplies being pushed from the aircraft. Supplies seen dropping both from the air and the ground. One parachute malfunctions; it detaches from its supply bundle and is seen to flutter away. Men on the ground run to collect supplies and later a soldier climbs a tree to release a snagged canopy. Dakotas in flight and returning to base.

Notes

One aircraft identifiable, Spitfire Mk VIII DG:X of RAF 155 Squadron.

Dakota squadron is either RCAF 435 (Chinthe) Squadron or RCAF 436 (Elephant) Squadron.

Some of this footage reused from an earlier production. See related items.

The dopesheet quotes a broadcast by Air Marshal Garrod: 'This is a Theatre where air power plays an all important role. Lack of land communications compels the Army to depend upon air supply. Our transport aircraft have been able to take advantage of our air ascendancy to move freely whenever they are required to drop or land supplies to our forward troops. As a result the army is developing new standards of mobility and flexibility, the success of which is shown in recent advances...'.

No slates, date from dopesheet. Shooting date likely to be earlier than that given above. No cameraman named.