Boy Paratroopers (1961)

Farnborough, Hampshire.

L/S of an army camp, male and female soldiers are stood behind a long table giving out uniforms to young boys who are lining up. M/S of a young boy being given a pair of boots. The narrator explains this is the headquarters of the Junior Parachute Company and the boys are all aged between 15 and 17 and a half, they want to become paratroopers when they reach their 18th birthdays. The boy moves along and is given more kit. C/U of the jackets in a pile. M/S as a paratrooper puts a helmet on the head of a young boy, C/U of two boys waiting in line. C/U of two officers. L/S of the boys walking across the camp carrying their kit, they walk past a sign saying 'Junior Parachute Company Depot The Parachute Regiment'. C/U of one boy in khaki uniform wearing a red beret, he starts smearing his face with mud for camouflage. M/S of various boys putting camouflage on. C/U of a boy with a knife, he places it in his jacket. M/S of two officers talking, one of them shouts "advance!" L/S as the boys walk forward with their rifles, they all throw themselves on the floor and roll over a couple of times. C/U of one boy crawling through the grass with rifle poised, C/U of two other boys doing the same.

L/S of a boy on an assault course, he swings across on a rope and onto some netting which he climbs and goes over the top. Various shots of other activities on the assault course. L/S as the boys climb up a big scaffolding tower and across the top. L/S of the boys in uniform wearing red berets, an officer is fitting parachute packs to them. C/U of two boys talking and watching, C/U of the instructor showing them the parachute. C/U as it is unfurled, L/S of a boy running with it. M/S of the instructor with the parachute. Various shots of the troops boarding the aeroplane. L/S of the aeroplane flying through the sky and the paratroopers jumping out. C/U of the boys looking up as the paratroopers come down. M/S of the paratroopers dropping to earth. M/S from inside the aeroplane as they jump out. The camera moves from the boys on the ground to the paratroopers coming down. The boys watch as the paratroopers land. M/S as they hit the ground.
FILM ID:163.25

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