Target for Tonight
| Target for Tonight | |
|---|---|
 Original theatrical poster |
|
| Directed by | Harry Watt |
| Produced by | Harry Watt |
| Starring | Royal Air Force personnel |
| Music by | Royal Air Force Central Band |
| Distributed by | British Ministry of Information Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | 1941 |
| Running time | 48 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Target for Tonight is a 1941 British documentary film billed as being filmed by and acted by the Royal Air Force, all while under fire. It was directed by Harry Watt. The film revolves for the most part around one crew in a single Wellington aircraft. The film went on to win an honorary Academy Award in 1942, and 'Best Documentary' by the National Board of Review in 1941.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Before the film, several text cards explain bombers and the Royal Air Force chain of command. The film begins with an observation aircraft flying over and dropping a box of undeveloped film. Bomber Command develops the film and analyzes the resulting photographs, which are presented for the audience to see. There has been a massive build-up by German forces in the subject area for the past few months. The film shows the planning of the mission, even detailing how the bomber wing chooses munitions for the task. The weather forecast is expected to be good, and the pilots are briefed. The crew of "'F' for Freddie", the bomber that is the focal point of the film, suits up and takes off. While over Germany, the crew bombs the target, dead on for one bomb, but is hit by flak from 'faceless' anti-aircraft gunners. The radio operator is hit in the leg. Freddie is the last aircraft to return. There is mist covering the water, prompting worry at the Command. Meanwhile, Freddie cannot climb after the flak hit. They are not losing altitude, but are in a bad situation. Tension builds in the film until finally, 'F for Freddie' lands. No aircraft are lost and the mission is a complete success.
[edit] Production
The film was shot at RAF Mildenhall and at the real RAF Bomber Command headquarters in High Wycombe[1] with the then-current head of Bomber Command Sir Richard Peirse appearing in the film. In order not to give away information to the enemy, RAF Mildenhall took the fictitious name of Millerton Aerodrome, and several other aspects were altered involving the day-to-day operations. Squadron Leader Dickson, the captain of 'F for Freddie', was played by Percy Pickard, who went on to lead the real-life Operation Biting and the later Operation Jericho raid on Amiens Prison. The second pilot was played by Gordon Woollatt. Also appearing (and uncredited) is Constance Babington Smith, who as a serving WAAF officer at the time was responsible for photographic interpretation of aerial reconnaissance pictures.[2]
Although the film was about a bomber squadron flying Wellingtons the aircraft shown on the movie poster are actually Boulton Paul Defiant fighters.
[edit] Popular culture
Herman Wouk, in his novel The Winds of War, included a Wellington bomber christened "F for Freddie" in an episode of the story. The lead character, American naval captain Victor Henry, flies onboard "F for Freddie" as an observer during a bombing mission over Berlin. Wouk's fictional narrative evokes portions of the real "F for Freddie's" mission log: one of their bombs hits their target squarely, and flak damages the plane and injures one of their crewmembers in the leg (in the novel, the rear gunner rather than the radio operator). They have trouble holding altitude, but make it back after a long, tense flight over hostile territory.
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Johnston, John and Nick Carter. Strong by Night: History and Memories of No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force, 1918/19 - 1937/56. Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-85130-313-7.
