FERRY PILOT ROYAL AIR FORCE WWII DOCUMENTARY FILM 34560

Made in 1941 by the Crown Film Unit, FERRY PILOT was directed by Pat Jackson (of "Western Approaches" fame) and focuses on the work of the Air Transport Auxiliary or ATA. By 1941, literally hundreds of RAF fighters and bombers needed to be flown each day between aircraft factories, maintenance depots and RAF aerodromes. This vital task was carried out by the men and women of the ATA, a civilian air force operating from their own pools and stations all over Britain. Essentially a dramatized account of typical ATA deliveries, the film features coverage of the ATA's own fleet of Ansons, as well as being notable for some excellent Spitfire film and very rare footage of the Whitley bomber, including take off and in-cockpit sequences.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@stupitdog9686]

My Landlady - Peggy Laidlaw - was a ferry pilot during the war, she didn't go on about it, but mentioned she loved "hooning" about in the fighters when no-body was in sight. I met her in the 1970's when she and her husband were retired and owned a farm in Hampshire where they rented out the land and a few static Caravans, one of which I lived in for a few years while I was in the Navy nearby in Portsmouth. She could usually drink me and most of my mates under the table !! Top Lady ! :)

[@georgielancaster1356]

Oh. I am so envious of being able to talk to her!

[@CrusaderSports250]

My uncles sister was a ferry pilot, she had flown all but the big heavies, Stifling, Lancaster, and Halifax, never said anything about it unfortunately, it would have been good to see her log book, as soon as the war was over she never flew again, a generation of experience gone but not forgotten.

[@georgielancaster1356]

Oh! They are my equivalent of movie stars. I so wish I could have talked to her!

[@TheByard]

I bought a house in Brockworth Gloucester about a mile from the Gloster aircraft factory, my next door neighbour showed me a photo of our houses being guarded by a soldier. A plane taking off had clipped the chimneys of the semi's but managed to continue. I met an old guy in the local and it was his job the tow artificial hedge rows around the airfield, to different locations each afternoon to confuse the German pilots.

[@Watson1]

My mothers cousin was Amy Johnson, who was lost during a night delivery. They still can’t agree on how or why she went down.

[@atomage2006]

Watch the pipes and telephones display about 5 minutes in of the desk flying chaps - marvellous. Overall an excellent film

[@jamesanderton344]

Had an uncle who flew Whitley’s and Wellington’s in Bomber Command....said a Whitley would barely stay airborne on one engine, and early in the war they were expected to bring bombs back if they couldn’t find their target. Very dangerous if an engine quit on final.

[@abundantYOUniverse]

SO fantastic to see a MK1 spit with the non injected carb cutting out when he rolls inverted!!! You can even see the puff of smoke right before it starves the engine. I bet thats the first and only time in history during the war they clearly show that in a film, wonderful.

[@sideshowbob5237]

I noticed that too and was really surprised how long it could fly inverted farting and banging. Marvellous flying.

[@dirtydave2691]

@@sideshowbob5237 That puff of exhaust! Man that was something.

[@kevinpittman2517]

kept expecting it to land and a woman getting out

[@harbourdogNL]

I'm gobsmacked watching that footage...effing marvellous!! And the pilot was probably a kid of 19 or 20 too. Wow.

[@rogermathews6924]

@@harbourdogNL The film makes reference to the name Alex, so am guessing that was Alex Henshaw, Vickers' chief test pilot at Castle Bromwich who would have been 29 at the time of filming.

[@MrSebfrench76]

Focus on unsung heroes.Thank you for that , this movie is excellent with very good acting.

[@jameswebb4593]

Spitfire test pilot Alex Henshaw , used to roll Lancasters for fun. Probably those built at Castle Bromwich .

[@markshrimpton3138]

These people truly were unsung heroes. Most returned to civilian life and hardly ever mentioned their war work.

[@tomarmstrong1281]

I did my flight instructors rating at Booker in 1979 with Joan Hughes ex ATA. A character and a first class pilot. One of few to be cleared to fly four engined bombers.

[@richardhyatt7261]

Joan also helped me understand the secrets of the flare at landing, also at booker. It was then I discovered she had cushions behind her and blocks of wood on the pedals when flying lancasters

[@tomarmstrong1281]

@@richardhyatt7261 A remarkable lady.

[@richardhyatt7261]

@@tomarmstrong1281 indeed

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

Great film the ATA and the American version the WASP started by Jackie Cochran were just a forgotten part of the war. Quietly yet faithfully doing their part to the war effort. It was decades later before congress recognized the WASP.

[@josephking6515]

When they advertised for WASP pilots they made the minimum qualification CPL (or equivalent at the time) and 500 hours. *35,000* women applied!

[@andrewlavey6992]

Their Flying Log books must reveal an amazing selection of aircraft they are authorized to fly.

[@CrusaderSports250]

Not entirely sure how authorized authorized was," I've never flown one before!" five minutes talk through later and of we go, flying without even the seat of your pants!. F35 ferry pilot "I've flown a harrier (AV8)", " OK sign here and of you go" yes of course that's how its done today

[@andrewlavey6992]

@@CrusaderSports250 That was when aircraft were relatively "simple" and no electronics involved, even lack of radio calls!

[@Queen-of-Swords]

@@CrusaderSports250 they did their training by type, so its unlikely you would just have a "heavy" handed to you. You'd work your way through types, smallest and lowest powered planes first. They also had a book of swot cards that included basic facts about each aircraft, e.g. take off speed, stall speed, and so on. As Andrew said aircraft were more similar in those days. Even so, they are reckoned to have lost 10% of their pilots, it was a dangerous job.

[@CrusaderSports250]

@@Queen-of-Swords I could well imagine they would work their way up as losing a large aircraft would have been worse than a small one, cost/availability etc, my uncles sister had been a ferry pilot and it was said she had flown all but the four engined heavies, it would have been interesting to have spoken to her about her flying, or even seen her log books, despite living to a good age it was something she never talked about, unfortunately more history lost.

[@verasmith4767]

Great film . Thanks

[@bluetopguitar1104]

If you can find it there is a book called "fly and deliver" about the ATA. Some very cool stories.

[@sixfootbear]

That and Forgotten Pilots by Lettice Curtis, also Sigh for a Merlin by Alex Henshaw. He was the chief test pilot at the Castle Bromwich factory.He test flew Spitfires and Lancasters.

[@peterjohnson617]

read a book years ago about the corp of woman pilots who did this work in America. A skilled & brave lot they were....thanks for the film.....

[@highrevs6110]

Woman flew in Britain too.

[@georgielancaster1356]

They were known as WASPS, led by Jacquie Cochrane. She had come over, expecting to basically take over. Very brash, and offended so many British people, that they closed ranks and she went home to start the WASPS. But she did do a great thing for the women in ATA. I wrote about it in an earlier comment

[@wcstevens7]

It makes one proud to be British !!!!

[@waynester71]

“Here comes Alex” Sigh for a Merlin (Alex Henshaw) one of my favourite books on the Spit 👌🏼

[@rovercoupe7104]

“Two Spitfars please”.

[@TheWareek]

i havent flown a whitley before any thing i should know. how terribly british. imagine doing that these days.

[@dirtydave2691]

So nonchalant! "Right then off you go". This is such a great movie for WW2 nerds like me. I love the proper accents and pipe smoking.

[@Moonbahmemories]

Two spitfires please! That’s cool

[@bluetopguitar1104]

There is a book about this group. They flew everything.

[@elpoderdelasgalaxias]

Jim Mollison at 8:18, if I'm not very mistaken.

[@josephking6515]

9:05 Is that Pauline Gower in seat 0A of the Dominie? The ATA weren't flying in combat but their losses were still 10%. Fairly grim for delivery pilots. (RIP Amy Johnson. That was tragic) *Fun Fact:* The ATA was the first job where women got the *same* pay as the men. 👍 The aircraft new from the factory flew without radios or guns. The women ATA pilots would fly in lower met conditions than the men. Search KZbin for the _Spitfire Sisters_ because it was mentioned in there from memory. Also take note of the name Mary Ellis (née Wilkins) and look at what she flew along with all the other pilots. The ATA, absolutely incredible women and courageous pilots. As a pilot I have massive respect for them and everyone who pulled on a uniform during those years and even extra for the SOE officers/agents. I would give my left testicle to be able to read their logbooks and the other left testicle to have a copy of their aircraft Checklist handbook that gave the basic technical information (speeds, Ps & Ts etc) for the various types delivered. Singles, twins, heavies and jet.

[@georgielancaster1356]

This is filmed late 41. Pre Lancasters. Sounds like they were still being limited to non bombers.

[@georgielancaster1356]

Maureen Dunlop retired to breed arabs and have children. I believe post war, she took 5 tests to pass her driving license and her kids said they were surprised she ever passed! Lol. Became Maureen Dunlop de Popp when married.

[@georgielancaster1356]

Do you know Spitfire Girl channel? Run by daughter of Jackie Moggridge. One of at least 4 ATA girls who were 5'2" and got through minimum height requirements of 5'5"...

[@MrMarcus5191]

It's a wonder those Spitfire Merlins didn't burn their exhaust valves flying inverted with lean mixtures...good thing they finally fixed that issue...!

[@sideshowbob5237]

So low, so close to the ground for so long too.

[@kiwidiesel5071]

The engime cutout would actually help prevent any valve singeing purely because cylinder Temps would decrease initially due to the high airflow through the cylinders, and an almost nill fuel supply. High rpm and extended periods with an excessively lean mixture would however have a hot pot quite quickly.

[@MrMarcus5191]

@@kiwidiesel5071 Yes I agree, the engine would not be under high load in these circumstances....

[@yetizero5563]

спасибо

[@jadams3427]

I think Chummondly Warner (Harry Enfield) is in there somewhere !

[@johnclarke2553]

Two Spitfires taxi out without squadron markings which miraculously appear on take off, and disappear again during flight.

[@MJ-fy2no]

I knew women who flew Lancasters to the UK from the factory in TO.

[@plumduff3303]

Reminds me of my first easyjet flight

[@allandavis8201]

It’s such a pity that this film concentrated on the male side of the ATA, the Women’s ATA (WATA) was, as I understand it, just as, if not more important than the ATA, the male pilots in this film obviously had reasons, personal, medical or otherwise for not being enlisted, but the women were unable to be in combat or even a pilot of non combat aircraft within the RAF, such was the male ego at the time, hats of to the ATA, but more so to the WATA. 😀👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@fraserm803]

where is Wallbrook??? Im not sure im hearing it correctly.

[@garethgriffiths8577]

How British is that pipe

[@hjo6824]

kirk's the man!

[@chrisangove8997]

made in 1941? wonder how they got the film shots from inside the german 110

[@CrusaderSports250]

Captured aircraft and filmed on the ground, with the size of the cameras the instrument panel would probably have to be removed as well, still it gives the right effect and that sort of thing is still in use in the film industry today.

[@johndell3642]

The Bf110 was one shot down and repaired. It was a Bf110C-4, shot down near Goodwood on 21st July 1940. It was repaired with parts from another shot down near Wareham 10 days earlier. It was flown again at Farnborough in February 1941. Given the registration "AX772" It was used for evaluation and training for the following 4 years. Details from "Wings of the Luftwaffe" by Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown.

[@georgielancaster1356]

Do you know Spitfire Girl channel? Run by daughter of Jackie Moggridge. One of at least 4 ATA girls who were 5'2" and got through minimum height requirements of 5'5"...

[@carmelpule8493]

I cannot understand why these intelligent people thought that cigarettes and smoking pipes in enclosed spaces was not so stupid and did not make any sense.

[@peterjohnson617]

18;58 with all the thought that goes into making an airplane one would think they would make it a wee bit easier to get into.........

[@CrusaderSports250]

Whilst I tend to agree the problem is openings have to work round the aircraft structure, you still have this problem with modern aircraft but with a stressed skin construction it is easyer to get around this, older aircraft even though they may have had areas of solid covering still relied on the framework for structural integrity.

[@vumba1331]

When you have young fit pilots able to get in and out of tight spaces the issue of accessibility to their aircraft and stations is often secondary!

[@josephking6515]

And out of, especially out of when in a little bit of a hurry while descending _rapidly._

[@grogery1570]

@@josephking6515 Don't laugh there are stories about pilots jumping out of airplanes and putting on parachutes on the way down. I read about some of these in a book about the caterpillar club. that may be what the book was called, I can't remember the title for sure.

[@tommyvictorbuch6960]

A twin engine ME-110 gets hit, a single engine fighter hits the ground.

[@rickey5353]

"Sorry ol' chap. I've been smoking your bloody pipe for twenty minutes."

[@mnpd3]

Old propaganda films fun to watch. The enemy are always sadists grinning at their good fortune to find a defenseless victim.

[@JohnSmith-pd1fz]

And hardly a mention of all the women ATA pilots who regularly flew every aircraft in service at the time.

[@wingco214]

Women ATA pilots got plenty of publicity then and later, to the extent that some people thought that the ATA consisted entirely of women. In fact they made up slightly less than 20% of the total strength and that wasn't until much later in the war.

[@doctorshawzy6477]

Look at England today.. and realize.. all their efforts were wasted

[@bobbiggley6992]

Two cabbage crates coming in over the briney..Sorry old chap I dont understand your banter

[@rovercoupe7104]

I am supposed to be making lunch. M.

[@sideshowbob5237]

Fantastic film and with the exception of a terrible attempt at an american accent just before half way, really good acting. Now just reflect, if this lot had been managing the NHS would there have been PPE shortages. NO. Maybe NHS management should be entirely ex-service types - who do know how to organise a piss-up in a brewery.

[@jayizzett]

Wonder how they adjusted for the earths fake curve. Ha

[@marsdenk.6162]

😂

[@andyrbush]

Good movie. But have the Masterclass advertisers deliberately sought out the most annoying, arrogantly obnoxious, self important people to promote?

[@carmelpule6954]

At 4:05,, those two officers/gentlemen, the manner they are handling their pipes, certainly, look like a couple of silly fools according to modern ethical indoor smoking standards! I cannot pinpoint a good reason why intelligent people with such responsible posts should use a smoking implement as they are using the pipe in that manner, and it certainly does not look natural and a bit of over-acting I presume. They are not concentrating on their job in a responsible manner.

[@andybelcher1767]

Are you joking?

[@Ms2blackcats]

@@andybelcher1767 maybe she was there!

[@harbourdogNL]

"They are not concentrating on their job in a responsible manner." Says you. Did they get the planes to their destination? Right.

[@georgielancaster1356]

Seriously?

[@deeremeyer1749]

"Ferry pilots" should be "fairy pilots". Most U.S. aircraft ferried to the "European theater" were flown there by American WOMEN.

[@allandavis8201]

DEEREMEYER1 For your very limited and poor information, there were a huge number of female ferry pilots, they flew every type of aircraft produced, sometimes without even radios or maps, they carried no armed defensive weapons, even during the Battle of Britain they carried on ferrying replacement aircraft to front line units, despite the danger from enemy aircraft, trigger happy anti-aircraft battery’s and allied fighters and bombers who couldn’t tell the difference between RAF/RN markings and German swastikas, not to mention barrage balloons, farmers with shotguns and Royal Observer Corp mistaking them as hostile.The men of the ATA were almost all barred from service on medical grounds or reserved occupations. Your sexist and ill informed comment just makes you ignorant of the facts, try researching your opinions before opening your big fat mouth.

[@arjunuk1]

ps. the heavies some times were "crewed" by Air Cadets( to young to join up) to assist the pilots, the ATC have over 40 CWG's to sadly prove it

[@superancientmariner1394]

Deeremeyer 1. Once again I find you spouting your lack of knowledge. The only WASPS that went to Britain were Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran, to learn how the ATA worked in order to start the WASPS. She then took 25 women in March 1942 to Britain with to join the ATA.. All the other 1000 WASPS were used to to ferry planes from factories to US bases and US port cities.......Not one WASP ferried an aircraft from the US to Britain (or any part of the European theatre.)

[@allandavis8201]

SuperAncientmariner, thanks for adding your knowledge to the debate, I learnt something from your comment, I didn’t realise that American ladies joined the ATA, thanks ladies, and thanks for teaching me something new. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@allandavis8201]

DEEREMEYER1, NOTHING TO SAY, NOT EVEN A GRUDGING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT YOU ARE WRONG, TYPICAL.