Chisman collection 15: Footage taken in Waziristan, 1937

Further filming of RAF activity in Waziristan, with sequence showing Pashtun people. Footage shows an Army convoy heading for a tented camp close to the airstrip where leaflets are to be dropped over the locality. Also shown is the loading of planes with bombs, followed by aerial view of bombardment. (00.00 to 00.16) Pashtun in traditional clothing at airstrip. (00.16 to 00.21) Young Pashtun with rifle over his shoulder strides out leading his camel across the military airfield with aircraft and RAF personal sitting in background. (00.21 to 00.53) Group of Pashtuns with pack animals and camels. (00.53 to 01.18) Seated Pashtun prepares his basket pannier for his camels with a RAF lorry in background. (01.19 to 01.45) Signboard on which is written 'Civil Sarai Miranshah'. Army personnel get into armoured cars (with Vickers body and solid tyres) and move off in column. The cars have pet names given to them by the crew. (01.45 to 01.56) Armoured car column overtakes camel train. (02.00 to 02.14) British military convey on mountain road has halted to retrieve lorry on edge of drop. (02.17 to 02.55) Mountainous countryside, hilltop forts and large hill-top town with tall wind catcher towers. (03.00 to 03.37) Shots of tented British army camp in valley. In centre of camp there is tall wind catcher tower. (03.38 to 03.43) Shot of wheel arch of armoured car with bullet hole. (03.44 to 04.18) British soldiers unpack items of kit in the camp. There is single parked light tank, and an Indian soldier with pony train. Gang of Indian soldiers with pickaxes break up ground. (04.20 to 04.26) Long column of horses move up steep stony hill. (04.48 to 05.22) Open countryside on plateau. British Army field battery, drawn up on hill slope, fire their guns at distant targets. The smoke from the shell explosions can be seen in the distance. ( 05.41 to 05.48) Military sign on open rocky countryside slope reads 'Coronation Camp, Dosalli 7 miles, Bannu 60 miles, Bombay 1209 miles, London 6078 miles'. (See reference to Coronation Camp in newscuttings - 2006/005/3/4-5) (05.48 to 05.59) Group of senior military officers meeting beside military vehicles before moving off in convoy. RAF officer drives large staff car towards camera. Indian chauffeur stands smartly awaiting instructions. British army despatch rider moves towards to camera on his motorcycle. (05.59 to 06.09) Pilot stands beside biplane (registration number 'K1255') as he is helped into his flying suit. (06.09 to 07.02) Sortie for dispersing propaganda leaflets from the air. Pilot in flying suit stands near his aircraft with roll of paper which he unfurls for the camera showing that it is in Urdu (see 2006/005/4/1 for leaflet). Air to air shots of theplanes over hilly countryside (accompanying aircraft with registration number 'K5572'). Air to ground shot of the leaflets being discharged by the aircraft. (07.02 to 08.10) Sequence showing the preparation of RAF two seater biplane for bombing mission. Ground technicians lay out bombs which are then carried to an aircraft and fixed to racks on the under-side of the aircraft's fuselage (registration number 'K4848'). (08.10 to 11.08) Sequence showing a bombing mission. Air to ground as the aircraft takes off from an airstrip bordered by mountains, showing the terrain. Shots from the cockpit of the plane through its wired stays. (09.07 to 09.18) Close shot taken by air gunner through the gun site. (09.18 to 11.08) Air to ground shots of the impact of the bombs as they hit the ground. The columns of smoke appear to come from habitated area. (11.08 to 11.37) Sequence with good detail of Pashtun men walking through a street [possibly prisoners?]. (11.38 to 11.41) Fortress and airstrip. (12.31 to 13.17) Sequence of British officers posing for camera in succession (13.23 to 14.25) Sequence at airstrip. Various RAF pilots and members of aircrew pose for camera. Creator: Air Commodore Leonard de Ville Chisman