Dave, May be poor quality but a very interesting record of more than just the Spits. The fact that it was/has been done is amazing and reaffirms my view that what's in front of view sometimes can be eclipsed by what's fleeting or in the background. Went onto the net and also delved into my records and volumes at home.
There is a black night fighting Boston landing in one sequence and also a very interesting Stampe. The blurred Stampe serial number is shown under the port wing and seems to read (**)777 in the very quick, grainy shot. Searching through Stampe articles and trying to find a reference, as Stampes would be few and far and between in the RAF, it would appear that it probably is OO-ATD - quite a famous machine. After the occupation of Belgium, this aircraft (in quite bad shape) was secretly 'restored' in a hangar within the grounds of the Chateau de TerBlock (just outside Brussels) by Michel 'Mike" Donnet (later LT Gen Baron), his friend Leon Divoy with two others under the noses of the Germans who had occupied the Chateau as a depot. Donnet and Divoy had flown for the Belgian Air Force against the Germans and months after the occupaction, they were released from prison into the general population. Wishing to continue to fight and knowing that was from England they sought ways to cross the Channel. They were trying to build an aircraft for this purpose when they heard of the Stampe. Subsequently the four cycled 20 miles each night to the Chateau where the aircraft took three/four months to be made airworthy - guessing pilfering and manufacturing bits and pieces (all at night) and with fuel obtained on the black market from the Germans. Donnet and Divoy flew the machine across the Channel at night landing near Clacton in Essex early on 5 July 1941. It was reported as later being painted "J777". Another search through "British Military Aircraft Serials" and through the Belgian Civil register appears to show that the Stampe was impressed into the RAF as MX457. This is 'very' close to the (**)777 as it appears in the grainy footage and aligns with the other information of "J777". BMA Serials states that it was used by No.24 Sqn RAF (a transport unit) and No.510 Sqn, an offshoot of No.24 Sqn. While 24 Sqn operated a weird, wide and wonderful variety of aircraft, there is currently no mention of a Stampe. The same applies to No.510 sqn. (More research here). The Spitfires shown in the footage are from No.64 and 122 Sqns so....with 'drawing the long bow' ... it is possible that No.24 Sqn should possibly have been meant to initially read 64 Sqn (much more research needed here). However, it is known that after their unusual arrival in England Donnet and Divoy were commissioned in the RAFVR and Donnet was assigned in November 1941 to No.64 Sqn. In March 1942 he gained his first victory (an FW190) and was still assigned to the squadron in March 1943 when he was given command of the unit. He would quite probably have been in this footage !! An interesting aside to this is the fact that Australian Sqn Ldr Tony Gaze was 64 Sqn CO from August 1942 to Oct 1942. The case for the Stampe being OO-ATD and the very grainy footage appearing to show (**777) - possibly J777 is therefore very strong.
Interesting to see all the Spitfire footage. It would have been taken in the months before June 1942. Quite a few - in fact I think the majority - of the 64 Sqn machines do not appear to wear serial numbers and I doubt they were removed surgically by any censors. SH-Z, the CO's aircraft of Sqn Ldr Wilfred Duncan-Smith bears the presentation name "Atchashuikar" (BM476), Hindi for "Good Hunting". Again more research to trace its origins. Other references to SH-Z about the film indicate that the Sqn Ldr is shown wearing a Luftwaffe Life Vest...over to those who are experts in that field. The unfortunate SH-B is shown on its nose immediately - and I mean immediately - after its nose over...the cockpit door is shown opening in the sequence for the pilot to evacuate the scene of the crime. The sequence of the film is obviously out as well as after the nose up on SH-B it is shown later starting up.
A number of film crews - or at least cameramen ( possibly up to three) are shown taking the various shots. A quick glimpse of some of the footage taken from the Stampe before landing shows a group of people including another cameraman on the top of the revetment in which the Sqn Ldr's SH-Z was housed.
Also clearly shown is the fact that these grass fields were not bowling greens. You can clearly see the results of the undulations on the landings - and the resultant mishap with SH-B. All you have to do is touch down just before the top of one of these then bounce a bit to start the oscillations. This is evident at Duxford even today when the Spitfires and Buchons land. At Duxford today there is a slight transverse rise in the grass to the left of the control tower when the aircraft are landing from the left and each pilot seems to treat it differently....but with obvious expertise. This must have caught out quite a few neophytes when coming from Tigers into heavier machines later in their training. Did anyone note the what I would call 'apparent' camouflaging of parts of the grassed areas of the runway where large, irregular black areas are shown. Well this is my guestimate of the colour variations anyway
Probably the most thought provoking and evocative outcomes of this film to me is the fact that it is 80 years old this year. The pilots and ground crews display an apparently very carefree attitude - I guess in part due to and inspite of the cameras. It just looks surreal to be seeing these men who were in the middle of a war - unknowingly defending us who are today looking at these views, where each and every one of them we see has passed away. Gives you a great deal to think about. Can you imagine yourself standing there that day of the filming and watching it all take place in real time.
Donnet's escape and subsequent experiences in the RAF were told in his book "Flight to freedom"
