TARGET FOR TONIGHT
Sign in to track this film in your collection or want list.
Year Published: 1941
Format: 16mm
Description: Released in 1941, "Target for Tonight" is a Crown Film Unit documentary directed by Harry Watt. The movie -- which uses obvious re-enactments, some model and process shots and some degree of acting -- shows the crew of a Wellington bomber nicknamed "F For Freddie" preparing for, and taking part in, a nighttime raid over Occupied Europe and Germany. Despite the fact that the movie isn't entirely non-fiction, the film was awarded an honorary Oscar for Best Documentary in 1942. The Royal Air Force engaged almost exclusively in night time bombing raids during WWII, after daylight raids proved extremely costly. The American Army Air Force preferred daylight attacks, although in 1943 as losses mounted they were called off for a time. Notably, an American documentary counterpart from WWII is entitled, "Target for Today". The Vickers Wellington bomber shown in the film was a long-range medium bomber designed during the mid-1930s. Led by Vickers-Armstrongs' chief designer Rex Pierson; a key feature of the aircraft is its geodetic airframe fuselage structure, which was principally designed by Barnes Wallis. The Wellington was used as a night bomber in the early years of WWII, but was eventually superceded by larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. The Wellington then continued to serve in other capactities, particularly as an anti-submarine platform.
Complete Record:
Transcription
[Music] [Music] [Music] quarter-day some negative right to y'all later as soon as they're done pretty good I really think we have got something this time yeah would you get me the 5000 five years certainly sir and it is most interesting they've done a Miss tremendous amount yeah to colossal installation now let's have a look at that file remember we saw it about three months ago quite a small little PEZ nothing much happening mr. wood here we are you can see if your small siding is an empty would paint in there traffic there barges nothing but now look at practice brick extended sidings oil tanks along a rare by this railway line pipelines coming out of the wood will or more installations tried out these barges in the river it's very big certainly is a peach of a target isn't itself just what seems you must have a look if you read the analysis I'll get on with the intelligence report for you good morning met officer confirms the good weather forecast for tonight sir right then we'll go ahead with our mix move method Kula warned all groups carry out operations k tonight yes Father command to all groups targets for tonight maximum effort tonight town for free for Germany target naval stalks and barracks heavy three group go through to a ch3 groups huh dad you make them I've just been looking at the photographs of fry houses they confirm exactly what we thought I want you to divert one squadron on this target tonight the experienced squadron which will get in love that's it I'll send you the photographs immediately thank you stand by all stations for the AOC I'm putting you through now 44 that's a yes no screw something next time F up tonight on keel objective naval that's better I want every available aircraft right if it intelligence room please how's the wing tomorrow found evidence room new captain one - yes sir try - sir it's on the Rhine sir yes sir yes sir it's on the right back about 15 miles north of the fiber in the Black Forest what I want his target information the latest target maps any recent photographs showing the new oil tanks and storage briefing is at 1430 hours got it hey good sir that's our objective briefing at 2:30 that what's it got that ham hasn't gone that's a good thing I haven't been off the ground for a week so very well you very much that's a fine thing that's the second time in four nuts has been washed up you were a better navigator you'd go off in her listen jock who wasn't know where they overhead over Hampton Court oh okay you're a reasonable target spot thing that we've got the moonlight and the water landmarks but anyways and send you two best man fights with incentives next I'll send him tulips mandersohn first that my two best in total do very well the rest better have a G these tanks representing about heavy concrete tops and it's no good trying to draw their power they show you fire on the target no then Spears they will zone there's bound to be an awful lot of stuff around there there always this round that types target it's mostly light back there I think we'd better have a delayed action bar mini bar mode they won't be able to get in the other place after that they're going zone you better send O'Reily last to make sure he's mad enough for anything yeah here's today's orders a and B fights to be operational C for Charlie and R for Robert and sundries rest for five hundred and one thousand pounder what time take off huh around 7:30 oh and there's a camera on you for uncle that'll mean a flat phone [Applause] that's me boy hi danette friend amen I got a massage okay we start to these gunbound guys doing front area I'll be done in a minute okay one hundred and thirty one point six nineteen point six one hundred and thirty one point five eighteen point five we intend to mark now 309 degrees this ability twelve miles three times to killer disparity with the right attitude the briefing is all tuned drawn to new targets nice try not as funny as we've seen the theme starting called up has been extremely important target there's one thing first crew therefore predator Dixon your captain I want to take Leah's violence office tonight not careful bad luck after so the crew will be Dixon Willett McPherson leave bill and Harris the restaurant change now for actual objective else receive from your target map it looks like an unimportant railway siding a natural fact as received from third Gras it's the sights of a large oil down it's very well hidden amongst the trees but a suddenly there must've been finding the position and your job tonight Malad is to find us and destroy us now just what I need a Wilson will describe the target to all now it takes more off this is your target oil storage and fry houses there are indications of considerable storage in the wood here and char but the principal feature is the accumulation of oil wagons on the sidings and bulges on the river the river you will be free of target Matt runs away to the north when it gets off the picture the canal runs from east to west about three miles I suggest you make your bombing run down canal from east to west and that will bring you straight up the target out of their mouth or railway today the canal with the bridge over the river half a mile south of the target you can get your target maps from the outside the door would you be able to going load in Iceland Sanders tonight there take off for an hour before everybody else and George all this to death through the Cape the target and step the wood on fire right so take your time about it cuz the others will be following you up there's no reason for the rest our goal to bomb the first fire that's um comment or you must definitely locate the target before you bomb after all even Anderson's make mistakes Araya to make sure our individual captain found the target you'll get the usual sense for supply of flare there's no good expecting an easy passes cuz you won't get far remember don't risk aircraft on never left your main object is to bomb the target and then to bring your out across backstage they're not much strength you'll find your bomb load written up there one of the bombs in each aircraft is a delayed action that is with the exception of C & R you don't need to worry about that being taken care of in the section right where the man watch shows this time well the weather should be favorable cloud increasing across the North Sea but the breaks in it good visibility navigational winds Northwest 30 miles an hour at all Heights risk of fog at base aerodrome towards dawn charts you can stare dark words remain calm how about signals all honest operators will get the call signs for tonight for me in my office and don't forget there's your weather over the other side you can usually get your very involved if you're stuck well chaps no doubt about it we've got a good one for tonight it should be fairly easy to find and with those water landmarks and the light you should manage a good run out go in and flatten it and good luck till okay so it'd be in the cream on time where's that Scots navigator all right but y'all are gonna have a little bit cause listen I can't pay my mr. little and you anata can i hey some cuts pinched my food come on pull your finger out where's my boots let me say a big coin of SAP / so what's here but I said let that what are you what to do Oh being a gentleman I said you have a cheap I think I know probably see our other lads giving the Channel ports are bashing on the whole we'll probably have a pretty clear one right into a target Oh permit for Freddy here I'm here Lana wait here sir BOM house give up okay so okay so well that's a change anyway [Music] my help [Music] [Music] are they all set [Music] I thought hey I never kept on calling I receive [Music] decoy heresy charlie pause on string parsing yesterday taxi I'll take off me sexy I can take off dzifa Charlie airborne sir 99 35 minutes and co 50 hello container living tear apart our seat Charlie took off 1935 era [Music] [Music] [Music] Freddie Freddie answer me giggles Walker go over there okay Jeff here we go [Music] infiltrating all Vikings Watsa Danko [Music] [Music] we're gonna can you hear me I'm okay to get back gonna get okay come back go to sleep it no I have not hello operator everything okay well it seems to be all here sir hello second pilot ready to do some oil pumping that's all a second pirates more right house here we come [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] hello me where are we now as though you're likely to know I can't find where we are but come to Carol's were Emma spirits breweries you know good Olmec let's go down Spanish bread hello everybody let me know if you see anything hello skips s Tyson faked the starboard quarter thank gosh so there is the natives of town hostile hello skipper the targets about 50 miles upriver I suggest we make a sweep and approach it down the river we'll see the canal better then over to you okay [Music] [Music] I can see the canal as plain as my face okay I'll turn around and check up [Music] any signs of life not that things if I wonder where end is he was getting lighter sir [Music] [Music] he's like Ana target society okay stand by I'm going in a glide [Music] [Music] can I strap the Flex get back yes okay [Music] Mack [Music] [Music] doors open doors open left left right ready [Music] I'm Scott [Music] [Music] [Music] I got the bullseye with the last one good man Begum not so cigar oh here we go test of a sandwich [Music] hello operator will you send a target for signal okay [Music] okay Jeff done water everything's all right anybody heard the wireless often it just copped it badly no I don't think so fully in the leg okay you take her over widow she seems to be okay make - don't flaca [Music] an interrupted message maps a predator this all we've got yes I suddenly stopped after giving the target bomb signal no all right well how's it going seat for Charlie and offer Robert are on their way back sir several other aircraft have on the target oh good better Machiavelli over the target Gregerson hello seen this hmm not so good Oh max while astray other tabs perhaps up I can't get nothing on the sensor it's dead let me try sir now you keep quiet we'll manage without it [Music] I say skipper here a moment what's the trouble oil pressures dropping on the port engine and I can't make any height losing in it no but I can't make any alright I'll take care of it you go back and look after wireless operator having walnut for Freddie I'm pretzel lady is getting a bit late how's the weather holding not too good I think but I can't find us hello airport control calling how is the winner please hmm I was afraid of that [Music] [Music] [Music] Oh skipper I've got two saved but about halfway to had it okay if I can keep it from losing any more than Bob's your uncle don't forget about our balloon Mac don't worry I'll not forget their balloons how sinfully oh he's fine but cooling off or cold it's a shock I expect I had to see him when I fell off my bike [Music] [Music] [Music] they're all down now except for yet freely of course all right call up the observer Corps and see if they can give us a line on him until all the aerodrums to be prepared light up meet them case Wellington times over yeah [Music] that gentleman is good old England and I must say I'm glad to see it do you see what I see skipper what do you see my young Scottish friend just a yellow stinking fog huh come on let's get out and have a look at the weather get a breather it was later John hells bells just look at this muck Dixon gets a move on probably got into top of the course huh wait a moment off then they'll fall stand still that's wonder what must be afraid in their case oh I'm going straight down to that bar right pay attention everybody well over the error term but I can see predator noting the porn engine is very round we could make a bit of height and jump out or we could have a stab at landing let's try it sir I had go in Atlanta try a landing sir have a crack at it sir I'm awful ending okay keep your fingers crossed coming in now sir right to the third light on quickly right [Music] [Music] don't get napkins will you the operators cocked it come in Dixon I know you made a nice landing I hope I haven't kept you waiting huh come sit down well how'd you get on well we did a low-level attack they were over the target 2345 bombs were dropped at 23:53 and the first four bombs my face fell short of a target but the last one was a direct hit yeah that was the big one uses a Smasher right onto it course they have a great big foul back it's a slip visible 50 miles away you know ninety I should say of color dollish red with black smoke that's all all right [Music] I'm afraid I didn't see very much as wrong busy time right well that seems to be old hotel good night Group intelligence is intelligence militant speaking tonight's operations objective has reached and heavily formed large fires and explosions were seen all our aircraft returns I'll send you details in the morning good night [Music] well uh boy how about some bacon and eggs [Music]
1 user has this film:
Periscope Film
No related films.
Original permalink · Record added: 2025-01-23 16:42:20