This brief drama film created during WW2 depicts the Arctic Sea Lanes and shows the Canadian conquest of the northern frozen tundra section of the country through air power. It features the northern route to Europe and Asia, isolated weather stations, outposts in the northern tundra, as well as bombers being fortified to Europe. It is presented by Official Films (:07) and is dedicated to the pioneer flyers whom had originally blazed the air routes of the northern route (:23). Pilots are seen stepping from under a sign reading West Division Air Corps (:37). British and US forces knew the rising strength of air power was to be vital to win the war (:73). Prior to the start of WW2, the Northern Atlantic sky was already in use as a trade route (:57) and once the war began it became a steady supply line of bombers to Britain (:57). Aerial footage of Iraq and Sudan follows as crafts fly through this route (1:09). RAF planes are seen heading to cities of India across the Irrawaddy River (1:11). The foresight of Canada to establish these air routes for reasons of defense and development aided in the wartime efforts. Since it’s earliest days of settlement Canada’s major issue was communication as it was spread over a massive area on the third largest country riddled with natural obstacles (1:34). Canada sought to overcome these boundaries as a railway cuts through the northern section of the country (2:13). Dog sled teams moved over the tundra which was rich in mineral resources (2:18). A tractor scrapes the frozen land (2:25). Steamboats were used to search for minerals and metals in Arctic Rivers (2:33). Methods to charter and search for vital minerals was improved as technological advances in aviation increased (2:40). Carrier surveyors were used to charter the land (2:44). This dropped the travel time from three months to three days (2:59). Snow laden pastures were used as air fields (3:07) as Canada’s pioneer fliers took off to map the northern route. A delivery of mail is seen provided by air transport for miners whom had been previously cut off from the news of the world (3:32). Fur trading became a major industry (3:32). A Yukon Southern plane is seen as airlines of the Canadian north became the largest carriers of airborne cargo in the world (3:36). Some of the early Canadian pilots continued to carry cargo of food, tobacco and bins of dynamite into the farthest northern reaches (3:54). An aerial span of a mining city which had grown exponentially due to these efforts follows (4:03). Other pioneers were now flying bombers to Britain (4:10) and more were fighting in the European skies. Young pilots of a new generation from flying clubs all over the country learned as apprentices (4:24). The weather service was vital to these air routes and flying men as weather conditions varied greatly (4:37). Piloted balloons, automatic transmissions and 600 weather stations kept an up to date flow of weather conditions (4:46). Pilots are seen gathering around forecasters and listening to the changing air currents and weather fronts (5:05). As the second world war began, men and equipment at these air bases acquired new duties to ready the planes for military use (5:44). Airline mechanics at the terminal of Dorval are seen standing by to assist in servicing of Ocean Transit Service planes (5:49). A westbound transcontinental plane is seen awaiting to being its journey through the night (6:07) as government inspectors, gunnery experts and pilots returning for another bomber load in (6:11). The craft takes off for England (6:32) and flew westward over the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes (7:09). Ammunition plants are viewed from above (7:14) as well as from within as men work to forge shells for the war effort (7:20). The craft heads over northern Ontario (7:30). Thousands of Canadian airmen were now dedicated to the war (8:25). Canada’s air route is pointed to on a globe as it cuts northward to China (8:39) as it was to be a gateway to the far east. Another route was to connect Central America to Europe (8:50).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com