RAF Training Films

I wish you'd slow down....I aint got the time...This lot better not dissapear on me...Good finds...Brilliant finds...

 

I agree with urgh, truly brilliant films. Will watch them all closely. And best of all they are entirely new to me . Arming the bomber makes one tense while watching, of course you know a training film will not go wrong but empathy with the folks that did this daily certainly causes one chills. Now flying over the target on the run in would pick that up a bit !

Gaines

 

We can not thank the people who are salvaging these films enough.
The stock film to digital conversion equipment is a very considerable investment.

A local doctor has taken this on.
If you had any idea of the variety of film stock used in WW2 you would appreciate just how much equipment he has.
Let alone the dedication of time, research and cost of obtaining the raw footage to work with.

The results of their dedication is clear. The last year or two has seen a considerable increase of releases on YouTube.

Hero's. One and all.
Keep a sharp look out for your favorite topic areas. You may (soon) be very pleasantly surprized.

Star Identification 1942 Vintage USAAF Training Film (16 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcIZNAu21ek

 

Released by: http://www.britishpathe.com/

Strafing Tactics 1943: http://www.britishpathe.com/video/strafing-tactics/query/wildcard

Work Of The Wellingtons 1943: http://www.britishpathe.com/video/work-of-the-wellingtons/query/wildcard

Anti-Mine Wellingtons 1943: http://www.britishpathe.com/video/anti-mine-wellingtons/query/wildcard
- an astonishing film. A real eye opener.

(Combined) Newsreels of Wellingtons, (2 Minutes)
The First one is of Mine Laying Wellingtons
The second one is interesting because it shows the "Magnetic Hoop" used to set off magnetic fused mines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAMIsP92EQo

 

Squadron 992 (1940)
26 minute film on Barrage Balloon Training.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PhhhRBsBv8

 

RAF The Story of an Air Communique (1940) (6 Minutes)
Ministry of Information Propaganda Film to show how accurately the figures for destroyed enemy aircraft were compiled and checked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAS4w8Vv_-g

 

Plane Spotting

There is a good video used to train these Civilian volunteers throughout the Commonwealth and USA.
Can't find it for the time being.

There was a substantial training course. A recognition booklet was issued
- but their best resource was Sweet Caporal Cigarette Packages which had images of aircraft on the back of every package.
Some were issued with radios, but most were given special identification and maximum priority to use National Phone Systems.


The obvious advantages of their long hours dedicated to their jobs were spotting enemy aircraft.
But less well known is the countless lives and aircraft saved - those with navigation aids shot out, and for long range ocean operations.
It was common to run into heavy fog, and a simple compass gives simple headings when there are no stars to guide you home.

Crews would return low on gas, mentally and physically drained. Coastal Plane spotters would quickly sort them out.
There were innumerable records of cases of ditched crews whose lives were saved by Plane Spotters:
here in Canada, most famously in NewFoundland. Equally invaluable off the west and east coasts of the USA.

Read more at: http://legionmagazine.com/

For the time being: Plane Spotting- A Conversation with Elaine (2 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz4Hg7c-l5Y

===> FOUND IT! <===

Watch and Warn: Canada's Home Front Aircraft Detection Corps (5 Minutes)

Of Canada's 3.9 Million square miles, and astonishing 528,000 were monitored full time by ADC throughout the war.
Divided into 91 sectors they were subdivided into Chief Observer ares of 48 square miles.
Each sector was further divided into number coded observer post names approved by the Chief Observer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soW8ub9trmI

 

How to fly the B-17 Part 1 Ground Operations 1943 (34 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChFGBgvVBtA

How to fly the B-17 Part 2 Flight Operations 1943 (14 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IWur1n7SHc

 

How to fly the B-17 Part 3 Air Test Flight Operations 1943 (9 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHCVUsx8K7M

How to fly the B-17 Part 4 Flight Procedures 1943 (27 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL-zRFEt9lI

 

First operational B-17 mission with the RAF (1 Minute) (Thanks to British Pathé)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhpJv1eTsLs

Flight Characteristics of the North American P-51 Mustang (30 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caJtGXMdxGM

 

How to Fly the North American B-25 "Mitchell" Medium Bomber (1944) (22 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YQmkjpP6q8

How To Fly The P-47 Thunderbolt - Pilot Familiarization (1943) (23 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcGoc7P1MnA

 

How to Fly the P-47 Thunderbolt: Ground Handling, Take-Off, Normal Flight, Landing (24 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y3v1-WMJS8

How to Fly the P-47 Thunderbolt: - High Altitude Flight and Aerobatics (1943) (21 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NWaHlnI_LQ

 

How to Fly The Lockheed P-38 Lightning Fighter Plane (34 Minutes)

Interesting primary focus on how to bail out safety...

Unusual to see so much color film used in this Training Film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKtfvcfHizk

Part 2 examines the history, development, maintenance and operational role that this Allied fighter played in WWII using historical footage and narrative. (9 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz17_rEOXNk

 

FUNDAMENTAL FIXED GUNNERY APPROACHES (31 Minutes)

1943 USAAF (Waist) Gunner Ground Strafing Training Film.

This training film uses clever animations and classroom lecture techniques, the film demonstrates some of the basic approaches used in air combat.
Films like this one were a staple of the fighter pilot training schools, and did a great deal to improve the effectiveness of classroom lectures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QZAESQoYQg

USAAF Flying Regulations (1943) (13 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sujtuen3gY

 

RAF Mae West Training Film (1940) Pt. 1 of 2 (Silent) (4 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2yRjQU-UH0

RAF Mae West Training Film (1940) Pt. 2 of 2 (Silent) (4 Minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=say4iW0kWn4

 

USAAF Primary Flight Training - Keep it Flying Part I (1945) (10 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d5MCddUuJM

USAAF Primary Flight Training - Keep it Flying Part 2 (1945) (14 Minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TNDbzBLBEM

 

USAAF Primary Flight Training - Before You Fly (1945) (34 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sjwxqwrKIQ

USAAF Primary Flight Training - First Flight (1945) (12 Minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kG6098PFbA

 

Training Film of Flying the Consolidated B-24 Liberator Bomber (58 Minutes)

The plane that won the Battle of the Atlantic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO0iSx-ZCAQ

WW2: C-47 Douglas Dakota Skytrain Troop Carrier Airplanes - Cockpit Procedures (34 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3kLhoVCGto

 

WW2: Law for Air Combat (1943) (25 Minutes)

The "Thach Weave"
Eager to abandon the three-plane formation, John Thach developed a German style two-plane formation, that would provide a better defense against superior fighters. Thach called this the "Beam Defense Maneuver"
The most strategic air defensive maneuvers of the war, particularly for the pilots and aircraft that were outclassed by their opponent(s.)

This tactic greatly benefited fighter pilots. Once they developed the maneuver, they were more adept at deflection shots, and many of the encounters were full deflection shots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMybfYfP12s

The Fundamentals of Formation Flying (1942) (25 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvX1pUCU7uA

 

WW2: Intermediate Acrobatics - Inverted Spin Recovery (1942) (9 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ecVUp67D0Q

Intermediate Acrobatics - Wingover Roll Flight Training (1942) (11 Minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW6pw17uPz4