Description

Compiled from the IWM film vaults, this title collects together much rare and previously unseen film material shot by official cameramen. Highlights include a filmed account of a Blenheim raid on Northern France, a Sunderland flying boat sortie over Norway, and Winston Churchill inspecting new American aircraft for the RAF including the B-17, Douglas Boston and P-40.

Full description from the producer:

The Royal Air Force at War 1939-1941 is a collection of rare and previously unseen film material shot by official cameramen on behalf of the RAF before the formation of the RAF film Production Unit in September 1941. It tells the story of the RAF in the early years of the Second World War through the phoney war, the Blitzkrieg and the Battle of Britain, capturing everyday life for those who served as well as the RAFs frontline aircraft of the period. Alongside the more familiar Spitfire and Hurricane fighters and Wellington, Stirling and Halifax bombers, there is rare film of less-celebrated RAF aircraft including the Fairey Battle, Boulton-Paul Defiant, the Whitley, Gloster Gladiator, Bristol Beaufighter, the Anson, Airspeed Oxford and the Tiger Moth Trainer. Other highlights include a filmed account of a Blenheim raid on Northern France, a Sunderland flying boat sortie over Norway and Winston Churchill, inspecting new American aircraft for the RAF including the B-17, Douglas Boston and P-40. Also including film of RAF recruits in training, work at the Air Ministry and film from the aircraft manufacturing plans, The Royal Air Force at War offers a powerful and well-rounded film record of the RAF during its finest hour.

BONUS FEATURES: THE KING MEETS THE MINISTRY: King George VI visits the Air Ministry to confer with the RAF Chiefs. EAGLE SQUADRON: Many American pilots helped out in the Battle of Britain and by the end of 1940 the Americans had RAF Squadrons of their own – these were known as Eagle Squadrons.

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