Battle of Britain Colour footage - Dig1940
 

After watching an episode of Dig1940 last night I was intrigued to know if anyone knows where the colour home movie taken by William Henry Rhodes-Moorhouse was filmed?

The Hurricanes, which maybe early model Mk1's, are from 601 Sqn (County of London). They have the black underneath port wing and yellow ringed roundel. The "A" on both leading edges is interesting (A flight?) as is the sword through a pair of wings emblem painted in red below the prop.

The Squadron converted to Hurricanes in March 1940 and were based at Merville, Saint-Valery-en-Caux, Middle Wallop and Tangmere during this time.

Dick Demetriadi who was killed in action on 11th August was in the footage so it presumably pre-dates this. Could it be France? Any guesses as to the the a/c in the background, my guess is an Armstrong Whitworth Ensign.

Apologies for the poor quality of images as they were taken off a tv screen on a mobile phone!

Re: Battle of Britain Colour footage - Dig1940
 

The aircraft in the first photo looks like a Handley Page Harrow (Sparrow). The othe aircraft looks like a Ensign, as you say. I think its more likey to be around the Battle of France.

Dave

Re: Battle of Britain Colour footage - Dig1940
 

Demetriadi was seconded to 607 Squadron, April 14, 1940 and returned to 601 Squadron, May 21, after the Battle of France: if this helps.

Re: Battle of Britain Colour footage - Dig1940
 

Phil,

Regarding this programme, do you by chance have the ability to paste in a copy of the same film that shows a green and brown camouflaged RAF truck in the background to those aircraft?

It would help settle an argument with a friend who believes that RAF vehicles were always blue in WW2 as seen in various modern TV films etc!

Re: Battle of Britain Colour footage - Dig1940
 

Phil

This was all shot at Tangmere. In total, I viewed something like 47 minutes of colour film and about seventeen minutes of black and white.

Believe me, its all stunning stuff! Only a small selection was used in "Dig 1940"

Re: Battle of Britain Colour footage - Dig1940
 

Hi Andy, judging by the interest shown on this remarkable film, and rightly so,
are there any plans to reproduce this in its entirety would you know?

Best regs,
Steve.

Re: Battle of Britain Colour footage - Dig1940
 

I don't think so.

I am in contact with the family, though, so you never know!

Re: Battle of Britain Colour footage - Dig1940
 

Hi Andy,

Wow! That's an amazing amount of footage. Like so many others i would love to see it.

I recently saw an amazing colour home movie which was taken by a Doctor in his garden during the BofB on 16mm Kodachrome. He was filming his nephew on a swing bench when he turns the camera skyward and captures a dogfight, between fighters over Ashford, apparently around 31st August. Both groups immediately wheel around to get on each others tail, the sun glinting of the aircraft as they do so. One falls streaming smoke and a Spitfire flies low and fast, possibly out of ammo. Amazing to see an uncensored view of the BofB.

Regards
Phil

ps 'Finding the Few' is a great read!