Royal Naval Air Station, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire.
A group of girls from the Windmill Theatre arrive by a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide plane to christen some Westland Whirlwinds helicopters which have been named after them. The girls totter down the steps of the aircraft and walk across the tarmac. The 820 squadron is nicknamed "The Windmill Squadron" and the girls are introduced to some of the naval officers and men. Yvette Davies christens the helicopter named after her with a bottle of champagne then autographed it with lipstick. The girls are presented with bunches of flowers and badges by some of the HMS Albion navy boys.
Paperwork currently missing for this issue.
The pilot of the Rapide is named as Zita / Zeta Irwin (sp?) but we do not see him (or her!) - no paperwork to confirm spelling.
-
Description
-
Data
- Archive
- British Pathé
- Issue Date:
- 01/12/1958
- Sound:
- sound
- Media URN:
- 1349
- HD Format:
- Available on request
-
Appears in...
- Categories
- Lifestyle & Culture Entertainment & Humour
- WorkSpaces
- Jill Millard Windmill 820 Sqd
-
Stills
Gordon Parkes says
I was the Naval Airman Safety Equipment(SE3). I am the far youngster carrying the flowers at the end of the clip
jamied says
The aircraft the ladies arrive in is a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide, Reg. No. G-AKSD, named "Windmill Girl".
The sailors seen are from HMS Albion.
The helicopters are all Westland Whirlwinds. The five Windmill Girls they were named after were Yvette Davies, (seen in this clip), Xenia Scott, Zoe Allen, Terry Keighley and Victoria Peterson.........
www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1
958/1958 - 0589.html
jamied says
CORRECTION: "Victoria Peterson" in my notes should read Victoria Patterson.
British Pathé says
Thanks.