BBC cameraman David Prosser provides the commentary for the film he shot of the flight by RAF Lancaster to within 900 miles of the North Pole, an "important landmark in the work of the Empire Air Navigation School".

Departing on February 17th, the planes flew to Gibraltar where the crews looked round the town. After inspecting their own planes, the crews received their final briefing for "Operation Conquest". A map shows their route to Iceland then on to Bear Island, using first the pressure pattern method of navigation saving fuel and time then the grid method of navigation for greater accuracy within the Arctic area. The Lancasters approach low over Reykjavik harbour and later the crews look around town, watching the unloading of fish from trawlers. Taking off at first light on the 22nd, the planes climb above a ceiling of clouds and catch a glimpse of Bear Island before turning round and flying back to Shawbury, where the planes land on a snow-covered runway.

Notes

Condition: heavily scratched.