Fuss Over Feathers (1954)

This film is reminiscent of "Passport to Pimlico", as it concerns the battle between a local population against the powers that be. The RAF intends to commandeer a small island in the Norfolk Broads to use as a firing range. The locals are up in arms about this and stage protests. Then someone discovers an ancient act whereby Henry VIII had given the land to the church in gratitude for the town helping to quell a long forgotten rebellion (shades of the Duke of Burgundy plotline in "Pimlico"). Vampire jets based at the local RAF base have been equipped with new rocket firing apparatus and the firing range is required to train the pilots using the new systems. Whilst the residents' Henry VIII claims are being investigated, the RAF decides to carry on with the exercise. The residents decide to take to the boats and 'occupy' the island in order to deter the exercise. The climax of the film is when they occupy the island, but accidentally damage the telephone link from an RAF spotter on the island to the control centre. As the residents invade, he attempts to warn the commander to abort the exercise, but of course, he can't make contact. Low cloud cover means that the approaching aircraft don't see the ground until the last seconds. The occupiers wave frantically and just as the order to fire is about to be made, the lead pilot spots the danger and aborts the exercise just as the rockets are about to be released. The RAF base used in the film looks quite a major one, but sadly it is not mentioned in the credits.