§ Mr. Stracheyasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will now make a further statement about the 22W United States version of the film "The Dam Busters."
Mr. WardThe version of "The Dam Busters" film shown to American audiences has been reduced to the normal length of a cinema feature film, but a few short sequences have been added in order, I understand, to increase the tension. One of these sequences shows a Flying Fortress, bearing R.A.F. roundels, crashing in a wood. This comes immediately after a damaged Lancaster aircraft has been seen turning away after making its attack on the Eder dam and before an explosion is seen over the ridge of a hill beside the lake.
The appearance of a Flying Fortress is so momentary that its identity is difficult to establish but the R.A.F. roundels are nevertheless quite clear. I am placing a "still" of the crashing aircraft in the Library.
I am satisfied that neither in this particular matter nor in the general handling of the film is there anything derogatory to the Royal Air Force and that there was no intention of suggesting that American aircraft took part in this operation. I propose, therefore, to take no further action.