WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 94 [Main Title]

An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.

I. 'BOMBING OFFENSIVE.' Royal Air Force (RAF) Douglas Boston bomber aircraft (2 Group) fly at very low level over the sea to avoid detection by German early warning radar during the raid on the Philips radio factory at Eindhoven in Holland (December 6 1942). Dramatic air to air footage shows RAF Bostons crossing a coast at very low-level and flying across fields often below tree-line height. Air to ground footage shows the approach to Eindhoven and the bombing run itself. Reconnaissance footage and photographs shows the Philips plant damaged and emitting dense black smoke following the RAF raid (Operation Oyster). The commentary describes the Philips factory as one of the largest radio manufacturing centres in Europe and as such, strongly defended against Allied air attack. An RAF de Havilland Mosquito bomber (no squadron codes visible) lands, apparently on its return from Eindhoven. A damaged Douglas Boston bomber lies forlornly in a field following a forced landing with retracted undercarriage.

II. 'NEW GUINEA.' Supplies are winched off merchant ships at Milne Bay, New Guinea to help consolidate the Allied campaign against Japanese held Buna. Infantry from the 7th Australian Division armed with Thompson M1A1 .45-in sub-machine guns and Lee-Enfield Mk III .303-in rifles, cross one of the numerous small water courses found in New Guinea. The commentary highlights the difficulties of jungle fighting over scenes of bare chested Australian infantry pulling an Ordnance QF 25-pounder howitzer up a very steep jungle track using ropes. A Douglas C-47 Dakota (RAAF) transport aircraft drops supplies at low-level over a jungle village, the rations are collected and a hearty meal is cooked by contented-looking Australian infantry. Men of the 7th Australian Infantry Division walk through ankle-deep mud during a patrol in the jungle of Papua New Guinea. Abandoned landing craft forming part of the Japanese invasion force against Buna, are displayed for the benefit of the camera with damage from small arms fire evident on their superstructures. Australian infantry walk past two abandoned Japanese Type 95 (HA-GO/KE-GO) light tanks which were possibly used as ammunition carriers as their armament has been removed. Wounded Japanese casualties are carried on stretchers by Australian infantry. A Japanese bullet-proof vest is displayed for the camera along with one of its armoured plates. Australian troops wave to the camera as they pass through a village clearing at an unidentified location in Papua New Guinea.

III. 'NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN.' Moroccan Arabs congregate at a tented refugee camp at Hamadna near the Atlas Mountains in order to collect ration cards issued by a Free French official. An Arab water seller pours water into a chipped enamel mug for a grateful customer. British field artillery located near Medjez-el-Bab fire at unseen targets from the cover of camouflaged emplacements. German artillery fire a counter-barrage against the British guns. General Patton and the sons of Sultan Sidi Mohammed of Morocco watch a tribal procession during the Great Bairam Feast. The Sultan on horseback receives homage from chieftains. Horses given as gifts to the Sultan are paraded for the benefit of onlookers. Elsewhere at Port Lyautey the first United Nations review in North Africa is held. United States (US) infantry march past a reviewing podium bedecked with the US and Moroccan flags. US M3 Stuart light tanks drive at speed along a road past the offices of the Compagnie Algerienne. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Douglas DB7 Boston bomber aircraft perform a low-level fly-past as part of the United Nations review.

35mm