[No. 3 Squadron RAAF in the Western Desert 1940-1941]

Activities of the members of No. 3 Squadron RAAF in the Middle East. Features No. 3 Squadron pilots and ground crew with their P-40 Kittyhawk aircraft. Official war photographers at work. A 25 Pounder Field gun battery in action. Living conditions in the desert. Various captured and wrecked German and Italian aircraft. Test flight of a Messerschmitt Me-109 painted in 3 Squadron colours. King George VI visits the Squadron. Grave of P/O Lawton Lees, No.40009 RAAF, 22 November 1941. Identified personnel are: Frank Hurley Department of Information Photographer (filming from the top of a motor vehicle); Damien Parer in a scene using a still camera to photograph "Bobby Gibbs" - 011961 - in the same scene is artist Frank Norton sketching ART26051 showing a recently returned Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk flown by Pilot Officer L. Spence of No.3 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force being prepared for immediate take off. "Snakey" Britton, (Rigger 2A) is cleaning the windscreen; "Bluey" Inkster, (Fitter) is refueling and "Snowy" Horne checking the wireless. Under the wing Bill Gordon is attending the guns, Antelat, Libya; Squadron Leader Robert (Bobby) Gibbes (Close up gesturing with his hand on his nose and then walking to his aircraft). [N.B. This film is the camera original and is the same film as F02829. See also Sound Recordings S00045, S00938, S01646 & S01784 for interviews with Squadron Leader R.H. Gibbes DSO, DFC and Bar.