Ferry Pilot was made in 1941 by Crown Film Unit and directed by Pat Jackson (of Western Approaches fame) and focuses on the work of the wartime ferry pilots, the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA).
By 1941, literally hundreds of RAF fighters and bombers needed to be flown each day between aircraft factories, maintenance depots and RAF aerodromes. Essentially a dramatised account of typical ATA deliveries, the film features coverage of the ATA’s own fleet of Ansons, as well as being notable for some excellent Spitfire film and very rare footage of the Whitley bomber, including take off and in-cockpit sequences. The opening section was filmed at White Waltham (masquerading as No.15 Ferry Pool). All the stars are genuine ATA pilots, including Jim Mollison and Joan Hughes. There is a superb sequence of a Spitfire and later on a Messerschmidt Bf110 makes an appearance - flown for the film by the RAF.
Ferry Pilot comes with a Bonus Film, called 'Big Pack', made in 1944, looking at the work of RAF Maintenance Command. It includes coverage of ATA, seen here delivering Hurricanes required for a new offensive. Video running time 76 mins.
The DVD has extra film footage of the Avro Anson Mk1in the form of mute camera rushes. DVD running time 90 minutes