The British Overseas Airways Company (BOAC) receives their first delivery of the de Havilland Comet, the world’s first commercial jetliner. Employees working at de Havilland gather to witness the departure of the aircraft from the company’s Hatfield airfield aerodrome (Hatfield, Hertfordshire; 3NM NE of St Albans). The de Havilland chief test pilot, John "Cats Eyes" Cunningham, climbs the airstair to board the aircraft. The BOAC de Havilland Comet airplane, registered G-ALYP ("Yoke Peter"), taxis for takeoff. The de Havilland Comet airplane takes off from the airfield. The Comet jet airplane in flight.
Scenes from British feature film "The Somme" made in 1927, about the Battle of the Somme in World War 1. Part of it depicts events involving the South African Brigade in the battle. The extract opens with shells bursting all along No Man's Land among fragments of trees. Explosions and smoke everywhere. On July 18, 1916, Nine German Battalions deploy to drive the South African Brigade from the Delville Wood. Several soldiers of the Brigade seen entrenched in a sand-bagged position as a German shell explodes only yards from them. German soldiers advance through the broken trees and brush, while under fire by British gunners using Vickers machine guns. Some German soldiers falling and others seeking cover in abandoned trench. A line of South African troops firing their rifles from a trench, as several German soldiers reach them and are shot dead just feet away. A British soldier is shot while climbing out of a trench containing several fallen comrades. Other British (or South African) troops scrambling to find a safer place. One crawling across the ground. A British gunner firing a Lewis gun. German troops starting to go over-the-top, from their trench. British soldiers advancing. German gunner firing Maxim gun from fortified position, as shells burst in the distant background. A horizontal line of British troops advancing toward the German position. Some are cut down by the machine gun fire. German gunner firing a captured British Vickers machine gun. British soldiers hunkered down in a deep shell hole behind a ridge. They use their trenching tools to dig in deeper. Several German shells burst in the air. Two British soldiers watch as a tank approaches through the smoke. Large numbers of British troops attack downhill through smoke and haze. German soldiers preparing to defend an occupied structure, as more British troops charge forward. Post-battle view of the area, with fallen soldiers marked by rifles stuck in the ground with helmets on them. (Note: The tanks shown in this film are models Mark V which did not enter service until 1918.)
Opening scene shows a motor launch being lowered from the transport ship, USS Bayfield (APA-33). View of a Coast Guard Crewman with many U.S. soldiers on deck behind him. Next, the troops are seen descending a landing net over the side of the ship, into Higgins boat landing craft. Waves cause the net to sway out over the water with several soldiers on it. Silhoutttes of landing craft underway in the water with sun rising through haze in background. Landing craft heading toward a beach, and then troops charging ashore over the beach. (World War II; WW II; World War 2; World War Two)
The Labor Party leads the Conservative Party in the British Election. London: A huge crowd waits in Britain to watch the results of the General Election. The result board show the Labor Party leading the Conservative Party. A man with spectacles raises both his arms and cheers. A few men climb on the fountains and cheer. Men stand on top of the fountain. A car arrives. Several photographers take pictures. An officer opens the door of the car. UK Prime Minister and Conservative politician Sir Alec Douglas-Home arrives in the car. Several officials accompany the Prime Minister inside the Conservative Party Headquarters. Number 10 written on the entrance door of the Headquarters. Photographers take pictures of the Prime Minister. Several people seated in the hall inside the building. A board reads 'Transport House' outside the Labor Party Headquarters. People in the Headquarters awaiting the arrival of the new Prime Minister. Newly elected UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson arrives the Headquarters with other officials. People cheer Prime Minister Wilson. The Prime Minister with his wife Mary Wilson and other officials. Mary Wilson holds flowers in her hands. Prime Minister Wilson kisses his wife. Other officials by their side.
United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower tours the United Kingdom. President Eisenhower gets off a United States Military Air Transport Service (MATS) aircraft at London Airport, present day London Heathrow Airport (Longford TW6, United Kingdom). Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Harold Macmillan and other officers receives Eisenhower at the airport. A large crowd of British civilians waves at the President. Honor guards lined. President tours the city in a motorcade. Civilians stand on either side of the streets to greet him. View of Balmoral Castle (Balmoral Estates, Ballater AB35 5TB, UK). Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret receives President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Macmillan.
Soviet airliner Tu-104 prototype,CCCP number L5400-25, arrives at London Heathrow on 22 March 1956, carrying Soviet Colonel-General Ivan Serov, and other Soviet officials. Weather is rainy with water on the airfield runways and ramps. British police officers assist the Soviet party, as a car is brought up. DC-3 aircraft seen in background, parked on the ramp. Refueling trucks drive up to the aircraft. Some persons seek shelter under the wing, from the rain.