British supply convoy from Alexandria to Malta is forced to turn around by relentless Axis air attacks in World War II

Film was made during the Battle of the Mediterranean in World War 2, when Britain was trying to defend supply convoys from Alexandria to Malta. The convoy shown was attacked by Axis planes and forced to return to Alexandria. Opening scene is animated map showing path of the convoy from Alexandria westward through so-called "Bomb Alley" between Crete and Bengazi, North Africa. View of several warships in the convoy as seen from the stern of one. A British Illustrious class aircraft carrier is seen in the distance, and a Revenge class battleship to port astern the camera ship. Cluster of balloons Three biwing scout planes fly close by a destroyer underway and then over the aircraft carrier. Formation of airplanes flies over a three-stacker British battleship in camouflage paint. An aircraft takes off from the aircraft carrier. Closeup of a sailor manning a signal lamp. A British amphibious aircraft in flight. A British spitfire aircraft landing on the carrier. British sailor lookout with binoculars calls attention to enemy aircraft approaching overhead in trail formation. Film switches to animated representation showing the convoy underway in the Mediterranean and axis aircraft attacking it from the South and the North. Sailors in battle gear load an anti aircraft gun and other anti aircraft guns aboard the armored aircraft carrier begin actively firing at the attacking planes. Puffs of black flak clouds begin to fill the sky. A flight of Italian Fiat BR.20 light bombers overhead. Skies full of black flak clouds and bombs bursting in the water raising black smoke. Views from inside an attacking Italian aircraft flying through heavy flak. Glimpse of the Italian camera plane wing. An Italian Breda B.a.65 aircraft in flight. An Italian three-engine Savola-Martchetti SM.79 bomber in flight. Glimpse from the air of Allied ship maneuvering to avoid bombs, that explode around it. Another view of SM.79 and then view through its cockpit floor of bombs being dropped on ships below. More ships making defensive maneuvers to avoid bombs. Water level view of bomb burst raising large column of water, and bombs bursting close to the aircraft carrier. Formation of Italian Fiat BR.20 light bombers heading away from the convoy. Sailor firing anti aircraft machine gun. Formation of Fiat BR.20s splits apart for safety. Sailor firing water-cooled machine gun. Animated map shows convoy turning to port as it heads back toward Alexandria without completing its mission. Enemy aircraft from North Africa continue to attack the convoy as it proceeds. Sailors relax momentarily on a ship's deck and watch smoke from a burning ship on the horizon. A burning ship is nearby. Animated map shows convoy heading straight back eastward. View from bridge of one ship and of other ships heading back with land in sight. They include a camouflaged transport ship. View of a ship loudspeaker calling crew of warship to battle stations. Sailors begin loading their respective ship's guns. Glimpse of pom pom guns. Turret guns begin firing. Soon the air is filled with flak clouds as all the ship's guns fire at a relatively few enemy aircraft. Two enemy aircraft are downed and splash into the water.View of a streamlined battleship with two over three gun turrets forward. View from bridge of battleship with multiple gun barrels pointing the same way. Camouflaged transport ships. Tunis harbor.

This historic stock footage available in HD video. View pricing below video player.