A Very Short War facts for kids

A Very Short War is an exciting documentary film made in 2010. It tells a true story from World War II. Karl Conti's company, Conti Bros Films, produced it. Susan Young wrote the film, and Bill Young and Myles Conti directed it. Many groups helped fund the film, including Screen Australia and The History Channel.

Discovering an Australian Hero

This film shares the amazing life of an early Australian pilot named Cliff Carpenter. He was a brave aviator who even built his first airplane in a garage in Sydney!

Cliff Carpenter's Final Flight

Cliff Carpenter joined the RAF (Royal Air Force) during World War II. He was flying a Sunderland Flying Boat called L2167. On April 9, 1940, his plane was shot down over Norway. This happened on the very day Germany invaded Norway.

Susan Young, the film's writer, and Bill Young, a co-director, are Cliff Carpenter's niece and nephew. They helped bring his story to life.

Remembering the Fallen Heroes

Nine RAF airmen died that day, including Cliff Carpenter. They were the first Allied soldiers to die defending Norway. Every year, a special ceremony honors them. It takes place at their graves in the Sylling churchyard, near Oslo, Norway.

One person survived the crash: Ogwyn George, the radio operator. He fell about 3,000 feet without a parachute! Luckily, he landed in deep snow and hit some trees, which helped him survive. A Norwegian man named Johan Bråthen rescued him.

The Volunteer Mission

The crew of the RAF Sunderland Flying Boat L2167 volunteered for their mission. There were ten crew members on board:

• AC2 George Eveson (29) from Wales
• AC1 Robert (Bertie) L Millar (18) from Northern Ireland
• AC1 Graeme H Maile (22) from Wales
• AC1 Ogwyn George (1919–1986) from Wales (the survivor)
• LAC Douglas W B Upham (27) from Kent, England
• LAC Frederick A Morrison (30) from Northern Ireland
• Sgt James A L Barter (21) from Monmouth, Wales
• Sgt Pilot J C Carpenter (28) from Sydney, Australia
• PLTOFF Arthur F LeMaistre (26) from Winnipeg, Canada
• FLTLT Peter W H Kite (20) from London, England (the Captain)

The Tragic Crash

On April 8, 1940, the crew left Pembroke Dock in Wales. They flew north and stayed overnight in Holyhead. The next morning, they flew to Scotland. There, they switched planes to Sunderland L2167 because of a mechanical problem.

They took off at 1 PM and opened their secret orders. Their destination was Oslo, Norway, for a reconnaissance mission (to gather information). The survivor, Ogwyn George, said the crew didn't know Germany had invaded Norway that day.

The Sunderland arrived over Oslo around 5:30 PM. It was hit by anti-aircraft fire from German ships in Oslo Harbour. The pilot tried to escape by turning north-west. But two Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighter planes chased them. These planes were flown by Werner Hansen and Helmut Lent. The Sunderland exploded and crashed in the mountains north of Sylling village.

Helmut Lent became a famous German pilot during the war. He shot down 110 enemy planes at night. He died in a landing accident in 1944. Werner Hansen was also killed in 1941 by his own side's anti-aircraft fire.

The story of the invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, is told by Norwegian writer Cato Guhnfeldt. His book, Fornebu 9. april, includes a detailed account of what happened to Sunderland L2167.

A Legendary Pilot's Interview

The documentary also features an interview with Nancy Bird Walton. She was a famous Australian aviator. She once flew with Cliff Carpenter! They even got lost over Bass Strait while trying to find King Island. They eventually landed back in Victoria, Australia, very low on fuel.

This interview was recorded in September 2008. It was the last long interview Nancy-Bird Walton gave before she passed away in January 2009.

Images for kids

• 

  Cliff Carpenter's homebuilt monoplane Christmas Day 1932

• 

  Sylling Church in Buskerud, Norway, where the nine RAF airmen are buried.

• 

  Jack Clifford (Cliff) Carpenter - 210 Squadron RAF - 2nd pilot/observer on Sunderland L2167