PREPARE FOR DITCHING [Main Title]

A very detailed training film for RAF Bomber Command aircrew, illustrating the specific actions required by each member of the crew when the aircraft is forced to ditch. Each stage is explained in precise detail by the commentary, supplemented with very clear photography. The film is based upon the re-enactment of a controlled ditching by a plot who survived an earlier fatal ditching (as co-pilot) and realised preparing to ditch training was absolutely vital, and determined his crew would practice to his satisfaction.

Reel one: Film opens with a Handley Page Halifax in flight over the sea returning to base. The seven man crew are talking to each other whilst attending to their specific responsibility, except the pilot who has a very nonchalant manner. The crew are worried fuel is low due to leakage, but the pilot remains unconcerned. The co-pilot, Flight Lieutenant Miller, voices his concern but is overruled by the pilot. The engines fail, the radio operator sends out an SOS but omits to give their ditching position and the Halifax crashes into the sea. Five crew members are killed, the navigator and co-pilot are eventually found after an extensive air/sea search exercise, initiated by the commander of 35 Squadron, home base of the ditched Halifax.

At the inquest a series of errors are listed by the investigation officer and describes the changes necessary to improve safety. Paramount is the requirement to modify the training drill so all crew members know what action to take when the commands 'Prepare to Ditch' and 'Ditching' are given by the Pilot.

Reel two: Air crew are seen talking and laughing in the crew room, because flying has been cancelled due to low cloud. The captain (Flight Lieutenant Miller, now promoted to pilot) enters, joins the fray for a few minutes, then tells them to come and do some dinghy drill. They leave the mess, still laughing and proceed to a hanger where a Halifax is parked. The captain talks to the crew about his previous ditching experience and how when an aircraft ditches, the immediate release of the dinghy is paramount, for it not only provides shelter for the crew, but contains all the equipment and supplies vital to the crew's survival. For the Halifax the dinghy is stored in the port wing; different aircraft have the dinghy stored elsewhere, and the film shows some examples of these. Once in the water the dinghy self inflates in ten seconds. To aid the captains descriptions, a deflated dinghy lies on the hangar floor, is inflated and the contents removed one by one as their purpose and deployment is explained. Apart from items associated with the actual dinghy, the radio and balloon to erect the antenna, marine disaster flares and the discharge of the chemical fluorescein into the sea will greatly assist in their location to those conducting a search. The latter, fluorescein, leaves a vivid green streak which is visible from the air for miles. Food, drink, medical supplies, and a variety of small items are contained in three waterproof cases.

Reel three: The film returns to the Halifax where the captain and his crew are starting a 'dry' ditching exercise. The crew climb into the Halifax and go to their respective stations. The captain asks each member of crew to respond to his order for ditching; engineer goes to his ditching position and confirms; pilot and co pilot, jettison bombs and confirm; rear gunner carries out various tasks as he goes to his ditching position and confirms; navigator calculates anticipated position of ditching, passes it to radio operator; front gunner goes to his ditching position and confirms; wireless operator transmits the message, SOS and clamps down transmission key, goes to ditching position and confirms. With the crew now at their ditching positions, the 'prepare to ditch' routine complete, the Captain goes to each crew member in turn and advises where they could improve their own drill procedures. Next the order in which they leave the aircraft is determined, and any specific item they are required to take with them identified. Finally the exercise is repeated but the only command is 'prepare to ditch'. The crew leave their ditching positions and exit via the hatch in the top of fuselage.

Reel four: The next stage for the crew is the 'wet' ditching exercise. Film cuts to a large expanse of water where the crew are sitting on a mock Halifax wing and the forward half of the fuselage situated at the water's edge. The dinghy is released from the wing, pushed into the water and self inflates, the crew board in prescribed order with their allocated items, the dinghy pushed/paddled away from the 'crashed' Halifax to avoid the downward water suction as the Halifax sinks. Captain calls roll call - all present - crew take stock of the situation and apportion the food and water, the radio and other devices to aid their location activated. A series of potential accidents/damage to both the dinghy and individuals are described by the Captain and their rectification. The importance of keeping warm by moving around is emphasized. Exercise complete, the crew paddle back and depart for tea. The Captain is pleased with the 'dry' and 'wet' exercises but warns the crew that they will be repeating it at regular intervals. One day they may well be grateful to the captain.

Reel five: The camera fixes on a single row on the aircraft location board in the control room for 35 Squadron, featuring Halifax R9385, with Flight Lieutenant Miller at the controls. Other aircraft have returned to base, and the base commander seen awaiting the safe return of R9385.Film cuts to Halifax flying above cloud layer, now clear of flak, the captain completes a check of the crew. Each member replies in the affirmative. A few minutes later the engineer reports fuel leaks in two of the main tanks. "Looks like trouble" replies the captain as the navigator reports they cannot even reach the coast with the remaining fuel. He calculates their ditching location to be 40 miles east of Cromer. The radio operator contacts the control room with an SOS and the ditching location. The Halifax gradually loses height, the captain addresses the crew 'Dinghy, Dinghy, prepare to ditch', they take up their ditching stations (seen earlier in the film), the tail of the Halifax strikes the sea, coming to rest nose down. The roof hatch is jettisoned enabling all seven men to escape and climb into the inflated dinghy. Roll call, all present as the dinghy then paddles away from the sinking Halifax.

Cut to control room, the commanding officer observing that Flight Lieutenant Miller is going to ditch again, hoping for a better job than the pilot of the previous ditching. Having received the SOS and ditching location, the air sea rescue service is alerted. Search aircraft seen taking off and naval vessel departing port as they proceed to the ditching location. Film cuts to dinghy,the radio antenna aloft as the aircraft reaches and circles the waving crew; the naval vessel duly alerted, arrives at the dinghy and recovers the Halifax crew.

Back at the air sea rescue base, Flight Lieutenant Miller telephones the investigation officer who examined the ditching of Miller's previous aircraft, and thanks him for the advice given at the inquiry; primarily practice and repetitive practice. As a result the crew of Halifax R9385 sustained no injuries and are back at base five hours after ditching, safe and sound. They owe their lives to the repetitive procedures insisted upon by Flight Lieutenant Miller.

35mm