FORCE V PROVIDES AIR COVER AND CLOSE SUPPORT FOR OPERATION AVALANCHE [Allocated Title]

Opening LS from flight deck of escort carrier, panning over the other four carriers in the force - three Seafire L Mk IICs are ranged aft on cameraship. Various shots of the carrier group at sea include good MS of escort carrier immediately astern of the cameraship, HMS Stalker flying off Seafires, HMS Attacker in company with the flagship HMS Euryalus and escorting motor launches. Onboard shots depict the routine course of air operations - aircraft brought up on the lift and walked aft by deck crew, running ranges of Seafires, take offs and landings, aircraft struck below, on-deck maintenance and refuelling. Shots of flight control officer at work, flying officer on the bridge with 5-minute warning and hand flags, pilots smoking, giving thumbs up from the cockpit, taking early morning tea, etc. One Seafire lands too heavily and the port mainwheel leg collapses, the retracting arrester wire dragging the aircraft back along the deck - batsman and deck crew approach as the pilot climbs out unhurt.

35mm