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Air Operations

1943 , Mildenhall (Suffolk)

Cat no. 1718

A shorter version of the COI feature documentary ‘Target for Tonight’; a dramatic reconstruction of the WWII operation to bomb German territory, featuring the real-life crew of RAF Mildenhall.

At the RAF Bomber Command headquarters, weather conditions are reported favourable, enabling a planned attack on German territory to go ahead. The necessary instructions are given. Royal Air Force squadron of Mildenhall - renamed ‘Millerton’ - are deployed for a specific operation, and briefings take place, with the aid of intelligence photographs of the target area, Freihausen, a town on the Rhine river. The squadron take to the skies to perform the bombing raid, with tight communication between all parties; aircraft and control room. The aircraft crew of ‘F for Freddie’ successfully identify and unload their bombs onto the German target, however, are hit in return by ground fire, causing damage to their aircraft and wounding the wireless operator. With all other aircraft successfully landed back at base, control officers wait nervously for the return of ‘F for Freddie’. The crew, struggling to make height, and hampered by fog, pull together, taking the brave decision to land instead of parachuting from the aircraft. Their pluck pays off, with a rocky but successful landing at 'Millerton Aerodrome', to the relief of crew and ground control.

Featured Buildings

RAF Mildenhall

Keywords

Bombing raids; Royal Air Force; World War II

  • Director : Harry Watt

  • Sponsor : Ministry of Information; Air Ministry

  • Script : Harry Watt

Manifestations

Air Operations

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