RAF EVACUATES DUTCH INTERNEES FROM BATAVIA [Allocated Title]

RAF transport aircraft evacuate Dutch civilian internees from Batavia, Netherlands East Indies (Jakarta, Indonesia) as part of operations for the Recovery of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees (RAPWI).

Reel 1: Panning view of an airfield, probably at Kemajoran (also known as Batavia). Parked Douglas Dakota transport aircraft and an RAF De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk VI fighter-bomber with airmen standing around. A Mosquito with rocket rails below each wing, RF713 'L', taxis past camera. Another Mosquito FB Mk VI, RF749 'C', taxis towards camera. Wounded soldiers, apparently of the Indian Army, unloaded from a Dakota. The walking wounded are helped down and a number of stretcher cases are put aboard ambulances. Ambulance drives away with fuel bowsers passing. A man with a bandaged shoulder drinks from a mug. A man, his face heavily bandaged, is put aboard an ambulance. A fiercely burning wooden warehouse, apparently torched by Indonesian nationalists. Brief shot of men and women standing in an open-sided hut behind barbed wire. Aerial footage over the sea with a County Class cruiser of the Royal Navy's Eastern Fleet visible. Air-to-air footage; Dakotas pass the camera. Low altitude footage of countryside. Interior Dakota; airmen push parachute supply bundles through the aircraft's open door. A crate can be seen to be marked 'Sourabaja' (Surabaya). View of parachutes inflating with others scattered on the ground. The drop zone features a number of small buildings, tree-lined roads, railway lines and an engine shed or station. Air-to-air of escorting fighter aircraft (RAF Republic Thunderbolt Mk IIs). More parachutes inflating, over the same area as before; the drop zone would appear to be a large open square enclosed by low buildings and is marked with a large white 'X'. After the last bundle is despatched one airman lies prone on the cabin floor to check the accuracy of the drop while another gathers in the parachutes' static lines. Their drills appear slick and well-practised. A Dakota in the distance drops supplies. Air-to-ground of a number of buildings, probably part of a civilian internment camp at Ambarawa. An engine of a Dakota with mountains behind. A Dakota, mostly silver with a dark rear portion, marked 'RAPWI' on the fuselage and 'VHRDJ' on the tail. A Dakota takes off. Civilian women are helped aboard an aircraft. Women and a number of young children board a lorry; an RAF man checks their names against a list. The civilians board a lorry. A sign reads 'RAF Transport Command Staging Post Batavia'. Interior shots; European civilians sitting around with refreshments. In the background 'Bandoeng' (Bandung) and 'Semarang' can be seen on the wall along with 'Passengers report here' in English and Dutch. Two of the men appear to be Dutch officers; on their epaulettes are dark triangles with two and three stars, suggesting a Lieutenant and Captain of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger; KNIL) respectively. A lorry full of airmen drives towards Dakota KN536. Thunderbolt Mk II FL:C (RAF 81 Squadron) taxis past.

Reel 2: Aerial landscape views. Atmospheric night-time footage of a wooden building on fire, apparently set alight by Dutch incendiary ammunition.

35mm