NATIONAL FILM BOARD

CANADA

OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT FILM RELEASE THIS CANADIAN FILM MATERIAL SUBMITTED BY NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA Approved and Passed by Canadian Censors

DIRECTION AND STILLS BYt MILTON MEADE MOVIES BY: JOE GIBSON

NORTHWEST STAGING ROUTE

AIR HIGHWAY TO RUSSIA AND FAR EAST

FIRST PICTURES OF NE7 FERRY ROUTE OVER NORTHWEST CANADA AND .

EDMONTON, — December 00—1944: Part of Canada's huge wartime airway expansion, is the Northwest Staging Route, a chain of airports from to Alaska, Canada built the route, offered it freely for use of the United States Government, will pay the U.S. more than $39>000,000 for installations and extensions put up by U.S.

Here are first pictures of the vital new aerial highway to Russia and the Far East, The Northwest Staging Route until recently under strict military security is another link of the Allied chain around Japan,

Canada pioneered the air route across the northwest when Canadian bush pilots began operating in the area during the 20's. The Canadian Department of Transport made,a survey of routes to the in 1935 when the present route was chosen4

After outbreak of war in 1939, work was hurried to completion by the Canadian Government so that when the United States entered the war in December 1941 > Canada was able to offer the free use of an airway to Alaska, removed from the Pacific Coast, comparatively free from danger of enemy attack.

Construction and enlarging of airports, improving facilities building barracks, was carried by Canada until July 1943 during which time the was completed, the two projects being interlinked as of paramount military importance.

After July 1943, the United States Government undertook further extension of the airway to meet the increasing volume of air traffic. Over and above Canada's own expenditures, Canada will pay the U.S, a total of more than $39,000,000 for installations and facilities built by the U.S, along the Route,

Here is an example of co-operation between two great Allies, Canadians and Americans take pride in building of the Staging Route which opens the Northwest to air and land traffic. Built as a military necessity, after the war it will be a vital link of the world chain of air routes, Here are scenes of U.S.-made planes for Russia being ferried over the Northwest Staging Route to , Construction scenes from the northern wilderness, the Bush pilots who pioneered the Route, the U.S. Ambassador's visit along the Route, bringing in supplies that keep the new Road to the North open and working in the Allied cause!

FACTS AND FIGURES

Canada will pay for U.S. extensions of the airports along the Northwest Staging Route - $31,311,196

For additional flight strips along the Alaska Highway 3,262,687

For additional projected improvements 5>161,000

5,000 American built planes have been flown to Russia over the Northwest Staging Route. 2,200 went over the Route during the first four months of 1944.

American ferry pilots fly the ships from bases in the U.S. The Russians take over at Fairbanks, fly the planes with Russian markings across the Bering Sea to bases in Siberia.

The hop from Great Falls Montana is 600 miles to Edmonton, 1000 miles to Fairbanks, Alaska. From Fairbanks to Siberia the Russians tack on another 540 miles. From the U.S. assembly line to Siberia an endless stream of airpower covers more than 2000 miles.

First planes to Russia over the Route passed through September 1942, a week later many of thise planes were in action against the Germans at Stalingrad. "

THE AIR ROUTE TO RUSSIA.

1. 2 airviews of U.S.-made Russian planes en route to Siberia from Ladd Field, Alaska.

2. 2 airviews of rugged terrain over which planes are flown.

3. Another view of Soviet planes in flight.

CANADIAN BUSH PILOTS BLAZE TRAIL

Long before the war, Canadian bush pilots in fragile planes, have been making regular flights all through the north west and Yukon. Their knowledge of the terrain, their experiences and, in many cases, their misfortunes have made the Staging Route a possibility in such a short time. They blazed the trail that became the Air Highway to Russia, The North West Staging Route.

1. M.S. Bush pilot Herman Peterson receives last instructions before take-off. As always he carries with him his rifle and food-pack.

2. Telephoto shot of plane taking off,

3. L.S. of plane against background of towering mountain peaks.

4. Views of terrain along North West Staging Route,

BUILDING AIRFIELDS

Behind the bush pilots came surveyors who laid out the Staging Route, selected the airfield sites, A flood of the most up-to- date construction equipment and materials poured into the wilderness by road, rail, water and air. Then began the tremendous job of hewing airfields out of the forest, muskeg and mire of the north. 1. MtiSj Levelling an airstrip, a carry-all scoops up tons of dirt, helped along by a, push from a bull-dozer.

2. M.L.Ss Assorted gravel from nattiral gravel pits moves up conveyor belt to asphalt mixer.;

3. L.S.

4. L.St

5. C.U,.

6. M.S. x~ V —-*0 w « wwwvw J J. VJ.J.V/J. MX VHO UUU material, all in one continuous operation,

7. L.S. RCAF construction crew assembles pre-fabricated buildings at Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

Cell. RCAF man working on rafters,.

9. M.S. Construction crew erecting log building at Watson Lake.

10.. S.C.U. Putting shingles on side of new hangar,

11, L.S, and M.S. of Control Tower at Watson Lake in construction.

12. L.S, Putting finishing touches on field at Fort St. John. *

FOOD. FURNISHINGS AND OTHER SUPPLIES ARE FLOWN IN t 1. M.S. RCAF truch checks in at Edmonton Airfield to load miscellaneous supplies for transport by air to various key points along Staging Route.

2. L.S. Truck pulls up to aircraft. ' \ . I ~ 3. M.S. & C.U. loading aircraft - bed spring, meat and food supplies, chairi etc.

4-. M.L.S. Pilots board plane.

5.. Air view of plane taking off at Edmonton.

6., Airview of Edmonton

7. Airview of terrain in .

FORT ST. JOHN

1. High angle shot of control tower at Fort St. John.

2. M.S. F/0 R. 0, Wilcox watches RCAF transport passing overhead.

3. Two views of terrain beyond Ft, St. John.

WATSON.LAKE

1. L.S. of buildings and hangar at Watson Lake - these were built by U0S,

2. Air shot of RCAF transport landing.

3. Plane taxiis past tower.

4. L.S. USAAF gas truck pulls up to gas RCAF plane.. .

5. M.S. Fuelling transport. 6, M.S. Unloading some of the supplies brought by the transport

7, Transport takes off at Watson Lake*

8, Air view of oil refinery at Carcross, near Whitehorse, Y,T.

WHITEHORSE. YUKON TERRITORY - U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CANADA, HON. RAY

ATHERTON. VISITS WHITEIIORSE

1, L.S, Transport lands at Whitehorse,

2. M.S. Atherton, arriving by another plane, is greeted by RCAF and USAAF Officers, 3» M.S, Atherton inspects RCAF honor guard, 5 4, C.U. Air. Vice-Marshall Lawrence> RCAF Hon, Ray Atherton Lt, Col, Ellis Pagan, USAAF Com, Off, at ^hitehorse,

3LD Aim THE NEM IN TRANSPORT AT WHITEHORSE

1,' M.L.S, Three RCAF men look over the old river steamer AKSAIA (Alaska spelled backwards), once the only means of transport into the far north,

2, M.L.S, the men climb over the Aksala's stern paddle wheel,

3, M.L.S, R,H, Baker and JjtL, BdWney of the RCAF*try the springs on an old royal mail coach in Whitehorse,

4, C.U. Bowney points to the sky indicating that air travel is the thing to-day,

5, L.S. of USAAF dog rescue team as they pull simmer training vehicle past American aircraft at Whitehorse,

6, C,U. Corp, Herman White, US Army, stroking sled dog and adjusting harness. , :

7, C.U.. of head of sled dog. These are real G.I, Joe dogs,

LIDD FIELD AT FAIRBANKS ALASKA

1. L.S. of Ladd Field with USAAF hangars in background. In the foreground are P-39s and P-63s lined up to be flown to Russia under Lend Lease,

2. Low angle shot of control tower as plane taxis by.

3. M*L.S, Pan of dozens of Soviet planes ready for the flight,

4. L.S. Another view of rows of planes. t

5* High angle shot of mechanics hauling a lend lease plane into position for a final once-over before its take-off.

6, M.C.U, U.S. mechanic looks into the fuselage.

7. , M,C.Ui Another mechanic checks elevation gears,

8. M.S, Two men turn propeller.

9, , C.U, Of two Americans and a Russian mechanic chatting beside plane. Left to right, Roy Moravetz, Val Postovsky, U.S. mechanic and interpreter, and Lt. Kivan, Soviet mechanic, • f <9 e

10, M,S# Russian pilots leave operations office after briefing,

11, M.L.S, Russian pilots around jeep,

12, C.U. Soviet pilots in jeep, looking through an American magazine (Esquire)

13, L.S, Soviet transport takes off,

14» Running shot as transport passes parked planes along landing strip,

15, L.S, P-63 taking off,

16, Two air shots of Soviet Squadron in flight to Siberia,

—— THE EI© — Kx Mi/tJuklAt TITLE 7 X.J.QI-- .VAY TO RUSSIA ISSUE 14-4-7 \ — % 1, a£R- shot :^anes-fiyiag in formation over Canada/en route to t 6 r Ms&* J v , 6 vv|tvtxZ^u>l U, 2. Air shot showing lakes of Canada 5

; ; s 3. Ait shot 'plants flying in formation ,_j; 6 1 >•=• Bl ,,11 m— '•""""-1• ii,^ ] A.. GVyplant for manufacturing asphelt for airfield construction 4 .1 5. gravel on conveyor belt going into asphfelt mixer 4 6, GY strip laying machine laying asphelt and/ steam roller-following 4 .ScU strip laying \achine advancing / 4 8. GY H^C.A.F. construction crews assembling prefabricated buildings 4

9. Angle shot.man working on rafters 3 \ 10o SY men putting shingles on side of ne^hangar 4 11. yf control tower and buildings at Forp S. John 5 J0 - 12. CU signboard m.C.A.F. FoXt St.- John L C. Elevation 22*6" 4 1 / V 13. QTV Watson Lake Airfield 5 .rr, 14. CU pan up control.14. tower ^ J %£iJv 2-a^T^ "$> oA^Gu t 15.- GY plane landing 6 V 16. Nearer shot plane taxiing to standstill 5 17. SY unloading plane * 4 18. gif American petrol waggon pulling up in froAh of plane f j sf , . :Sm " j \ (\' 19. SY men preparing to refuel/plane ?! x\^ x" ^ 20. LY pan planes lined up outside Ladd 1 re Id wad Eairbanxs , Alaska 7 21. Shot plane^passing in f6ont of control \ower 4 , j / 22. GTY pan aircraft lined up - \ , 8 23. Angle shot looking Sown two lines of aircraft lined 4

24. SY^mechanics turning propeller ^ \ a - 4

2^. SY anothe#megha/io seated in cockpit oheckinl elevation gears 3

26. SY two Americans talking to R ussian mecnanic 3side plane 4 4 27. CU ditto

28. BY Russians/walking towards other Russians in jee 5 29. CU pan Ru^ians looking at American magazine "Esquire" 4 6 30. LY plane-'taking off ca. 6 5 33'. SrVo^tomatloi^f Oaiada on'route to Sibeiia.5 341 ^.r/shot ditto total length with--- title.• - 168i£a»1 *