AIR RESUPPLY OPERATIONS BY RAF 194 SQUADRON TO 23RD BRIGADE AT UKHRUL, MANIPUR, INDIA [Allocated Title]

Men of 23rd Brigade shown reoccupying the village of Ukhrul in Manipur, India and being resupplied with food and other items by parachute supply drops from Douglas Dakotas of RAF 194 Squadron.

Column of troops shown entering Ukhrul in muddy conditions, many of the men wearing ponchos or rain capes. Short pan over village. Airborne footage looking over an RAF Douglas Dakota's port engine cowling towards a mountain ridge and looking down over rugged terrain. Shot of RAF Signals Corps wireless operator/signaller using a radio to contact the supply aircraft. Airborne footage of very low pass over village. Wireless operator passes note to another airman. Air-to-ground view of dropzone. Airman operating an Aldis signalling lamp. Men scanning the skies expectantly. Air-to-ground footage of supplies falling and parachutes inflating before aircraft banks away. Ground-to-air view of supplies descending. Men break cover to run for supplies. Men carrying supply bundles. More air-to-ground footage. Men try to retrieve a parachute from a tree, one man climbs the tree and shakes the branch. Air-to-ground footage showing dropzone with signal smoke. Men gathering up canopies and carrying supplies away. Supply bundles cut open. Men carrying bundles, some smoking and many heavily bearded after a presumably long period in the field. Boxes of K-rations removed from bundle and stacked up. Boxes are piled up and contents distributed. A sack is opened to reveal contents of shaving tackle - razors and brushes - which are distributed. Men shown busily shaving. Column leaves the village, some men seen to be carrying American M1 Carbines. Others carrying Lee Enfield No.3 rifles and Bren light machine guns.

35mm