CASUALTY EVACUATION FROM YAZAGYO

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: FUB 11).

Synopsis

Light aircraft of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) evacuate casualties of 11th East African Division from Yazagyo, Burma.

A USAAF L-5 Sentinel named Lacy's Lassie; a pilot boards and starts up. Another L-5, serial 299149, with the word 'Wet' and a question mark on its cowling takes off; diagonal stripes on rear fuselage indicate 1st Air Commando Group. L-5 taxiing after landing. L-5 299636 passing. An African soldier is helped out of a Sentinel by an Indian soldier wearing the patch of XXXIII Indian Corps and led to a tent with a small sign reading 'Reception'. Ambulance with a USAAF Douglas C-47 Skytrain (Dakota) taking off in the background. More Dakotas. Air-to-air view of Sentinel 299415 with good views of the terrain below, including the River Myittha. Casualty out of L-5 and onto stretcher; he is carried to the reception tent and a Dakota takes off in the background. A Sentinel named 'Pappy' with shot of the pilot, Technical Sergeant H H Myers of Bridge Port, New Jersey; according to the dopesheet he is reputedly the oldest pilot in the USAAF. British soldier with arm in a sling by a Sentinel. Stretcher cases carried to and from ambulances. Close-up of an L-5 cowling with inscription 'Angel of Mercy - Sponsored by the students of Barber School - Detroit Michigan'. More stretcher cases with an L-1 Vigilant passing. Tent 'Medical Officer'. More shots of comings and goings. Aerial air-to-air of 299138, often in close formation. Local labourers at work on the strip; stretcher cases are carried past. Various shots of locals cutting rice straw. Casualties conveyed on mules. Parked L-5 with locals behind. More shots of the locals at work. 299149 takes off. 'Niki III' takes off. Stretcher case to aircraft. Take off. A crashed L-5, apparently with collapsed undercarriage, with its injured pilot awaiting evacuation.

Notes

Aerial casualty evacuation was a characteristic feature of the war in Burma. Most of these casualties are African troops of 11th East African Division, which at this point were pushing across the River Chindwin.

Series continuity: no film held under references FUB 12 or 13. Dopesheet for FUB 13 describes Christmas at Teknaf in the Arakan; this is held under JFU 228.

 

Titles

  • CASUALTY EVACUATION FROM YAZAGYO (Allocated)
Series Title:
BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
 

Technical Data

Year:
1944
Running Time:
9 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Silent
Footage:
767 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
War Office Directorate of Public Relations
cameraman
Beech, P M (Sergeant)
cameraman
Govan, H W (Sergeant)
cameraman
Hammond, R G (Sergeant)
Production company
SEAC Film Unit