Air transport in New Guinea

At Port Moresby wharf Australian soldiers take delivery of supplies, which they re-pack and load on to C-47 Dakota transport aircraft at Ward's Aerodrome. The transport planes take off and fly in staggered formation over the Owen Stanley Ranges to the dropping area - a clearing on top of a mountain ridge in the Bitoi River area near Salamaua. Supplies are pushed out through the open door of a Dakota as it flies over the dropping area. A large package attached to a parachute is dropped from a B-25 Mitchell bomber. Troops on the ground recover the packages and carry them through the jungle to a clearing. While one man keeps watch with a Bren gun, the others open the packages and distribute the rations. The troops eat a meal of bully beef and army biscuits in the jungle clearing. (These scenes were staged in cooperation with 9 Platoon, A Company, 2/61 Battalion). American mechanics work on a Dakota transport plane. HMAS Swan, carrying members of 2/4 Field Ambulance, 7th Australian Infantry Battalion and 2/2 Pioneer Battalion, moves in to Port Moresby wharf. The troops climb into a motor truck and are driven away from the wharf. Jeeps are unloaded from the transport ship MV Duntroon on to the wharf at Port Moresby. Motor trucks crowded with troops drive on to Ward's Aerodrome. Troops of the 6th Brigade AASC (Australian Army Service Corps) climb aboard Dakota transport planes. Jeeps are driven up loading ramps and manoeuvred into position within the planes. The Dakotas take off and fly in formation over rugged mountain country then along the coastline and over Dobodura Aerodrome with what appears to be the wreckage of planes scattered over the area. The film ends with a single Dakota flying high above heavy cloud [adapted from scene list].