RAF RETROSPECTIVE FILM [Allocated Title]

First reel of a retrospective compilation on the rôle of the RAF in winning the First World War.

The film describes the achievements of "the Cavalry of the Clouds". It starts with an RAF squadron in France in 1918 (actually 84 Squadron at Bertangles) being briefed and taking off in their SE5as. They cooperate with the advance of the Cavalry and Infantry (all training scenes) before flying off into the sunset. The contribution of RAF airships to defeating German submarines is shown. An officer puts on a harness and is hoisted up into airship R26, tethered some distance above the ground. Airship NS7 on patrol over the North Sea spots a U-boat (actually a British L Class submarine) and calls in a destroyer to sink it. A Sopwith Cuckoo torpedo bomber makes an attack against the submarine (actually training film). On return the airship flies over "the city of York" and "York Castle" (probably Windsor). An SSZ airship continues on patrol. The contribution of the "floating aerodromes", the aircraft carriers, starts with HMS Campania. A Fairey Campania seaplane is launched from its deck and "after a long vigil" returns and is taken on board. (Actually a training flight in the Firth of Forth, 5th July 1918.) A two-seater Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter is launched from the flight platform over the turret of HMS Australia. The flight platform is built out over B Turret of HMS Repulse and another 1-1/2 Strutter is launched. Finally a Sopwith Snipe landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Furious. One of the landings is misjudged and the aircraft tips over into the sea. (Although claimed as more than one operational aircraft, this is in fact film of the alighting trials with a test pilot.) The film ends with "end of part one".

35mm