New colour archive footage of WW2 pilots in Spitfire's

[Mysticpuma]

Quote:
"RARE footage offering a glimpse at life on one of Cornwall's military bases during the Second World War has uncovered two unlikely heroes.

Following three years of extensive research Dr Harry Bennett, reader in history at the University of Plymouth, has been able to trace two Cornish-based servicemen depicted in a 20-minute "home video" donated to the South West Film and Television Archives (SWFTA).

The film was shot during the height of the war and was donated to the archives in November 2006 by the granddaughter of the man who owned the camera.

Military expert Dr Bennett then began the painstaking effort to identify two of the main characters in the footage – which, rarely for the time, was shot in full colour.

The film, captured on 16mm tape, features two Frenchmen, Jacques Andrieux and Roland Le Blond, who escaped their homeland and became part of 130 Squadron at Perranporth.

Although in colour, the film contains no sound, subtitles or any other obvious clues as to the precise date and location of the footage, or those involved.

It therefore required extensive research by Dr Bennett in order to determine the story behind the film.

He said: "The footage probably relates to between February and May 1942. It is several decades old, and in colour, which makes this a real gem.""

Link:

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news...l/article.html

Cheers, MP