New Zealand Was There

[Dave Homewood]

Has anyone seen this film? Is it available anywhere? I am not sure if I have ever seen it.

DOMINION IN AIR WAR

2000 FT. FILM COMPLETED

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) XRecd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 20.

After completion by the Ministry of Information of "Maximum Effort" a short film telling the story of a typical heavy bomber crew of the 75th (New Zealand) Squadron and presented to the Dominion as a tribute to her men in the Bomber Command, R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters and the High Commissioner's office arranged with the Ministry to produce a longer documentary film covering as fully as possible the whole story of New Zealand in the European war. This film, titled "New Zealand Was There" has just been completed. It is about 2000 ft long and shows the development of New Zealand's air strength and the creation of new squadrons. It contains several fine action shots, such as that of the Amiens "Gaol Break" attack by New Zealand Mosquitoes and the destruction of a flying-bomb by a New Zealand Tempest.

NEW ZEALAND HERALD,  22 NOVEMBER 1945

[senob]

Details from the IWM database.



DESCRIPTION

Object description:
 A record of the part played by the RNZAF, within the RAF, in the air war over Europe.

Full description
: After an opening scene in the office of High Commissioner Jordan, the film recalls the history of the force (Commonwealth air training scheme etc) and provides a picture of the seven New Zealand Squadrons and portraits of some of New Zealand's commanders and 'aces'. 75 Squadron (Bombers) is shown in both its Wellington and Lancaster days with film illustrating night bombing. Of other squadrons (485, Spitfires; 486, Hurricanes, Typhoons and Tempests; 487, Mosquito bombers; 488 Mosquito night fighters; 489 Beaufighters; 490, Sunderlands), most attention is paid to 489 and 487, including material on the Amiens prison and Tirpitz raids. The commanders shown include Coningham and Park, the 'aces' E J "Cobber" Kain, Gray, Deere, Checketts, Compton and Scott. Closing scenes show New Zealand air and groundcrew on airfields in liberated Europe. "Be sure that the rest of the Empire will remember with gratitude and pride that the New Zealand was there."

Physical description: 35mm

OBJECT DETAILS

Category
: Film

Related period
: Second World War (content)

Creator
:Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)

British Movietone News (Production company)

Perrin, Raymond (Production individual)

Robertson, E Arnot (Production individual)

Mitchell, Leslie Scott Falconer (Production cast)

Production date
: 1945

Place made
: GB

Dimensions
: whole 
Number Of Items/reels/tapes: 1

Catalogue number
: COI 120

OBJECT ASSOCIATIONS
Associated subjects:
 aircraft, British - combat: Avro Lancaster

aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Beaufighter

aircraft, British - combat: De Havilland Mosquito

aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Hurricane

aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Tempest

aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Typhoon

aircraft, British - combat: Supermarine Spitfire

aircraft, British - combat: Vickers Wellington

aircraft, British - seaplane: Short Sunderland

operations, New Zealand air - routine

society, New Zealand air - friendship
Associated places
: GB, England
Associated people and organisations
: Checketts, John Milne

Compton, Crawford

Coningham, Arthur

Deere, Alan Christopher

Gray, Colin Falkland

Jordan, W J

Kain, Edgar James

Park, Keith Rodney

Scott, Des

Royal Air Force, Sqdn 75

Royal Air Force, Sqdn 485

Royal Air Force, Sqdn 486

Royal Air Force, Sqdn 487


I think that only way that you could get a copy would be to ask the IWM for one. Other option may be enquire if AFM at Wigram or National Archives in Wgtn have a copy.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks!