Scenes of a Roman Catholic Mass held in a pagoda at Sadaung, Burma.

Pagoda spires. Several takes of an RAF Bristol Beaufighter passing low overhead, seen through trees. An open-sided pagoda. A sign reads 'RC Chapel. Mass 1800 hrs each Sunday. Rev T Sweeney, RC Chaplain'. Men entering the pagoda, some of them kneeling to acknowledge the altar. Various scenes of the service in progress, taken from a respectful distance. Airmen on their knees in prayer. The priest preparing the sacrament and giving Holy Communion to the airmen. Airmen kneeling. Airmen getting up and leaving the 'church'.

Notes

Location is Wing HQ (likely RAF 906 Wing) at Sadaung, Burma.

Mindful of religious sensitivities, a pencil annotation on dopesheet instructs: 'Not for release in India'.

For more footage from 'So This Is India' and religious observance in this theatre, see references below.

Photographs of this service and the vicinty of Wing HQ at Sadaung under references below.

One of the cameramen of this piece, Flight Lieutenant Sidney Woodcock, was killed in action. He and his pilot, Flight Lieutenant J G Buchanan of RAF 110 Squadron, failed to return after a Mosquito sortie over Rangoon on 2 May 1945. They are buried in adjacent plots in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Rangoon War Cemetery.