Blake collection 3: Flying boat and RMS Queen Mary at Southampton, 1936-1937
2005/097/003
This film includes 2 main events - the arrival of the RMS Queen Mary at Southampton after crossing the Atlantic in 1936, and scenes at the Flying Boat factory in Southampton recording the arrival of the Sikorsky S-42 flying boat from America in 1937. These clips are interspersed with footage of domestic family scenes taken mainly at a large country house in Hampshire and showing many pet dogs and cats.
04.10 to 05.20 - Arrival and docking at Southampton docks of RMS Queen Mary. Ship is shown moving in from the sea to be met by tugs and small boats and then passing close to a wooden pier which is crowded with people and covered in flags and bunting. Stern of the ship is shown edging into the docks. This may be the ship's arrival in August 1936 at Southampton Water after capturing the Blue Riband for crossing the Atlantic Ocean with the record highest speed.
10.15 to 10.38 - Large unidentified building on steep mountainside.
10.48 to 11.32 - Workmen cutting down a tree.
12.29 to 13.43 - Arrival of four-engined American flying boat at Southampton Water. Plane overflies then lands on the water with some tenders in attendance and taxis towards the shore. Crew disembark from a tender and are met on pier by a Mayor with his chain of office and group of dignitaries. The officers of the crew smile and shake hands with dignitaries. Visit to the slip and factory premises of British Marine Aircraft Company by group of civilians in suits. Two flying boats each with four engines are shown at the yard with work being carried out. One is the Sikorsky Clipper and the other an Imperial Airways, Short, Class C flying boat.
This is probably the Sikorsky S-42 (flying boat) named Pan Am Clipper III, built 1937. This aircraft had just completed the first commercial survey flight eastwards across the North Atlantic, and the pilot shown touching his cap to the civic dignitaries on the landing stage is Captain Harold Gray.
The visit by the Clipper would have been in connection with the opening of the Flying boat factory at Hamble by British Marine Aircraft Company (later known as Folland). This factory with its specially constructed slip way would be constructing the Sikorsky S-42 flying boat under an American licence.
