This is a remarkable story about a remarkable Australian, Sidney Cotton, who was able to fool the German High Command to enable him to fly safely in and out of Germany as that country prepared for war. He took photographs that revolutionised aerial military photography forever. In fact his work in aerial espionage and photographic intelligence was to be instrumental in the foundation of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit of the Royal Air Force. He worked on behalf of the French Deuxieme Bureau and the British MI6 and was a friend of Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond. Cotton was also a confidante of top ranking Nazis like Hermann Goering and Albert Kesselring and acted as a go-between in negotiations between Goering and the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. Born near Proserpine, Queensland, the son of a prominant Queensland grazier, Sidney Cotton, known for his continual defiance and love of adventure, was to be forever remembered as the one who flew the last civilian plane out of Berlin before the outbreak of World War II in 1939. He died in England in 1969 at the age of 74. Filmed as a docudrama with historical re-enactments and interviews with family, friends and former Air Force personnel. Also includes archival war footage, stills and home movies. Presented and narrated by Jeff Watson and filmed on location in Britain, Germany and Australia. Cast includes Geoffrey Morrell as Sidney Cotton and Jim Cullington as Field Marshall Kesselring.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
314753
Language
English
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Aerial photography
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Biographical films
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Interviews
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Australians
Archival, Cinemagazines & Newsreels
Archival, Cinemagazines & Newsreels → Archival materials
Archival, Cinemagazines & Newsreels → Interviews
Armed Forces, Military, War & Weapons → Aerial reconnaissance
Armed Forces, Military, War & Weapons → World War, 1939-1945 - Germany
Armed Forces, Military, War & Weapons → World War, 1939-1945 - Great Britain
Armed Forces, Military, War & Weapons → World War, 1939-1945 - History
Crafts & Visual Arts → Aerial photography
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Espionage
Documentary → Documentary films - Australia
History → Historical re-enactments
History → World War, 1939-1945 - History
People → Cotton, Sidney, 1894-
Television → Television programs
Television → Television programs → Television programs - Australia
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)