Rushes for the film 'The Volunteer'. A miscellaneous jumble comprised of record footage of the daily air operations interspersed with acted sequences.

LS of a passing Grumman Wildcat. A Wellington circles the carrier. In the distance, Albacores practice torpedo attacks against the battleship HMS Howe. HMS Farndale (L.70) passes left to right, 4-inch and 2-pounder AA all trained to starboard. An Albacore of 820 Squadron is flown off. Two Swordfish in close formation pass low over Formidable. HA from the island as 885 Squadron Seafire takes off. A Scott Class (?) escort accompanies the carrier - the destroyer has a Hedgehog ATW in place of A gun, and after gun and torpedo tubes removed (Douglas or Malcolm ?). Seafires make a low pass and orbit the ship. HMS Farndale is seen through the barrel array of some of the carrier's 4.5-inch AA. Sequence showing an Albacore belly-landed on the flight deck - probably faked as the aircraft lacks either spinner or propeller. A crewman releases a weather balloon. Mock sequence in which a first aid party runs through the smoke of a recent aerial attack to attend the wounded who lie scattered across the deck - one has his leg bandaged before being put on a stretcher, another grimaces dramatically as his shirt is stripped from his shoulder. Further shots of Wellington circling the ship at low level. Cut to a sequence showing Formidable entering Algiers - she steams close to starboard of HMS Howe. Dusk at sea - men walk about the deck and a Martlet is parked at frame left - in line ahead is a King George V Class battleship which flashes a signal. A signalman replies with Aldis lamp. LS pan over the fleet in gathering dusk - two King George V Class (?) are present (presumably Howe and King George V). Interior CU as a man with binoculars looks through an open side scuttle - framed in the opening is a blurred image of HMS Unicorn - at the end of the sequence the man turns to camera and gives the conventional sign for '2' (or 'V for Victory'). LS sequence as Albacores circle low over the sea, practicing torpedo attacks - smoke from the markers hangs over the surface emphasising the still conditions. HA as forward starboard-side 4.5-inch AA open fire - in foreground is a Seafire of 885 Squadron parked on an outrigger. MS across the deck to the two 8x2-pounder AA emplacements in front of the island - in the foreground stands a man holding chocks and the Flight Deck Control Officer with his hand-flags - he signals an aircraft forward into the deck park and a Seafire taxies right to left through frame. Reel Two. Series of HA shots showing 4.5-inch and 2-pounder AA in action - near the cameraman an Oerlikon is also fired off. Mock sequence showing the replacement of a damaged Seafire propeller - the new propeller is lifted on without bothering to refit the spinner backplate. As the work continues (with the backplate now fitted) the 2-pounder emplacements in the background slowly train round and then open fire - the mechanic 'wounded' in earlier sequence runs on to take over the fitting of the new airscrew. At the same time the aircraft is also being refuelled, and the pilot stands waiting for the work to finish - at the end of the shot the director, Michael Powell, walks on signalling the end of the take. LS of flak-speckled sky. CU of the wounded mechanic at work on the propeller hub - a medical officer checks the dressing on his shoulder while he works. MS to ship's wake from beneath round-down as the shadow of a landing aircraft closes on the carrier. Cut to interior of the island - aircrew are grouped about an open door, watching the flight deck operations - a Wildcat taxies past to the deck park and a pilot enters and retails his adventures to his colleagues. LS aft down the deck as a Seafire lands on and taxies forward - in landing the port mainwheel tyre has been ruptured. A Wildcat lands on, and another Seafire, which bounces on touch down. The Seafire with the damaged mainwheel is pushed down the deck. A staged sequence showing mechanics bringing up a spare Seafire propeller on forward elevator - as they reach the deck they scatter as a simulated explosion is touched off. The scene is repeated - at the start of the first take, Michael Powell, wearing a hat to protect his bald head against the sun, is seen standing, looking down the lift well. MS across the deck to the island - two Seafires take off and the Flight Deck Control Officer signals to a third. LS of an escorting Hunt Class destroyer. HA onto an Albacore and two Wildcats parked with wings folded - the deck crew are straightening the wings of one of the fighters in preparation for take off. (These are Lend-Lease F4F-4s without power folding.) At the head of the range a Wildcat taxies onto the catapult and is launched - two more follow. MS from a position behind the Landing Signals Officer as he directs a Seafire landing. HA aft as a Seafire approaches but turns away to port, then cut to shot of a Wildcat parked aft on the centreline, deck crew preparing it for take off - three Seafires are parked on outriggers along the starboard deck edge, and a signalling destroyer, HMS Velox, steams right to left in the background - the carrier is turning to port so Velox remains in centre frame as she and the camera move temporarily in the same direction. A Seafire makes its approach but aborts. Seafire (recognition code A) lands on. Reel Three. Repeat of Seafire landing, and earlier HA as Wildcat is pushed aft and a Seafire is manoeuvred to join the two others on outriggers - in the background HMS Velox closes rapidly until she is immediately astern of the carrier. Seafire (letter C) makes several passes before landing on. MS-CU-MS as a Seafire Mk IB takes off - a second Seafire follows. HA onto a centreline range of 893 Squadron Wildcats - three are launched by catapult. Cut to sequence of Formidable entering Algiers, crew manning the side. At sea again, the miscellaneous shots of air operations continue. Howe is in company, and is variously shot framed by an Oerlikon gunshield, or floating over the port wing of a Seafire Mk IIC. At Algiers again, HMS Maidstone lies with submarines alongside. Good HA study of the bridge of a destroyer, possibly E Class, as she prepares to make away from alongside Formidable and leave port - her crew man the side. On the flight deck two men fence with foils, watched by a few idle spectators. Mechanics work on a Wildcat's Pratt and Whitney radial engine. The fencing match continues and is then followed by a practice bayonet fight in which one of the contestants is decisively 'killed'. Mock sequence showing a Seafire being refuelled and rearmed while the carrier's AA beats off enemy air attacks - the aircraft is chocked up and the pilot helped from the cockpit as men run up with fuel line and fresh ammunition. HA aft as Seafire approaches, well off the centreline and closing too fast and at too shallow an angle - the initial touch down damages its port mainwheel, and the Seafire is bouncing as it takes the wire, which then throws the aircraft back onto the deck, slewing it round to port. Deck crew run out to secure the aircraft, and the pilot kills the engine. Another acted sequence - deck crew are preparing Seafire O6 K (serial MB.345) for flight, but the pilot points to the airscrew, gesturing heatedly. Another pilot joins the group and lends his support to the first, sending one of the mechanics off at a run - the two pilots then walk over to the second man's aircraft 06 A, which is ready for flight. MS across flight deck and HA from the island as 06 A is launched by catapult. Reel Four. LSs over a convoy from a troopship, possibly the Letitia which carried the film crew to Gibraltar - the camera is located by one of the ship's Oerlikons, surrounded by pipe guards to prevent the gun firing into the ship. Cut back to Formidable as she prepares to enter Algiers in company with HMS Howe and escorting destroyers. More of the acted sequence in which a Seafire is rearmed and refuelled while the carrier is under attack - CUs as armourers put fresh 20mm in the cannon ammunition box and work the belt through to the feed drum while top main tank is refuelled. LS of Howe surrounded by smoke floats from practice attacks by Formidable's Albacores. Entry into Algiers. At sea - CU as funnel makes dense smoke (fuel burning in the funnel ?), then pan down to flight deck as a Seafire takes off. HA onto a running range of Albacores - aircraft are taking off as one of the 8x2-pounders in front of the bridge trains round. CU of a group of aircrew standing by the island watching the flight deck activity - external version of earlier interior scene. LA.CU as 8x2-pounder trains round. Bridge scene - the officers are all looking forward, their backs turned to the camera. HA again to a running centreline range of Albacores, and CU of men looking down on the flight deck activity - all are stripped to the waist in the Mediterranean sun, two wearing sunglasses. HA as Wildcat 07 J of 888 Squadron (serial FN 123) ploughs into the safety barrier and noses over - it falls back again, propeller severely damaged, as the deck crew run out. HA aft to Seafire 06 B after its bad landing (see above) - a second Seafire lands on very nicely. Various shots of Howe in company with Formidable, and practice by the carrier's AA guns. MS as an Albacore is pushed aft, engine running. A Wildcat goes low overhead. Sequence shot from a position near the Flight Deck Control Officer as Wildcats are launched by catapult. MS along the deck as Seafire lands on - in the foreground stands a man in asbestos firesuit, who turns and looks into camera - although he wears the helmet, the man does not have on any gloves - a second Seafire lands on. XLS to an Albacore and explosions from bombs or depth charges dropped into the sea. Albacore passes the carrier. HA to Oerlikon gunners on watch from positions on the island. Cut to LSs of Gibraltar, seen variously over parked Seafires and 8x2-pounder barrel array. In harbour mechanics carry out on-deck maintenance - Wildcat 07 J, seen earlier in a barrier collision, has its engine removed - the flying martlet badge of 888 Squadron is visible on the fuselage. At sea - HA as an Albacore is struck down on the forward elevator - a second aircraft is having its wings folded. An Albacore lands on. HA to another Albacore which has made a heavy (dead stick ?) landing, partially collapsing the undercarriage and 'pecking' its propeller - the damaged aircraft is pushed forward. A Seafire lands on. MS across signal flag locker to RN and a Marine officer in conversation. CUs of 18-inch torpedo as armed Albacore is brought up on the lift and moved aft. LS through a range of Albacores parked aft to the island - the yardarm flashing lights are signalling. Sequence showing Wildcats being launched by catapult - the camera shoots beneath the aircraft to show the moment the catapult strop is dropped, freeing the aircraft, and the retraction of the shoe ready for the next launch. Cut back to sequence showing aircraft maintenance in port - Wildcat FN 123 has had its engine removed and a mechanic tinkers with the bearer assembly joint (?). CUs of men at work on Albacores - one is polishing the ASV antennae mounted on the interplane struts. Crewmen wash down the barrels of 4.5-inch AA. Mechanic works on a Wildcat's generator (?), another on the engine, while a third has raised the outboard gun access panel in the starboard wing.

Notes

Summary: in his autobiography Michael Powell is rather vague about this film. He states that the carrier he filmed on was Indomitable, but the ship featured here is clearly Formidable. He also cannot remember the date, which is probably May or June, 1943. The Seafire IB, serial MB 345, featured in some of the sequences, crashed on deck on 27 June, after bouncing on a fast approach.