Eureka! Classics
Night Bombers
Specifications
- UK, 1981
- directed by Air Commander H. I. Cozens, CB, AFC
- 1.33:1
- Dolby digital mono
- black & white, 59 minutes
- Certificate: E (exempt)
- Date Released: September 2009
DVD Features
- Contains rare archive colour footage from No. 1 Group, Royal Air Force, in action, winter 1943.
- Additional material, including cover photograph, by courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.
Eureka! Classics | A unique record of the nightly air raids made on Germany during World War II. There are no actors – this is the real thing as it happened.
Contains rare archive colour footage from No. 1 Group, Royal Air Force, in action, winter 1943.
In the winter of 1943, RAF Bomber Command was sending massive raids almost every night into the heart of Germany. This is the story of one of them, an attack on Berlin, probably the most heavily defended target of them all and one which made terrible demands on the courage of the aircrew.
On the long, cold and desperately dangerous missions over Northern Germany and back to a difficult landing in wintry England, thousands of men died or suffered ghastly injuries. One must imagine that they were terrified much of the time, but there is very little sign of doubt or anxiety on the brave faces in Iliffe Cozens’ film.
Although certain scenes had to be re-created for technical reasons, make no mistake, the raid is a real one and there are no actors.
The programme contains extracts from the films Rebecca/Eureka and AGLT which are Crown copyright 1981 and are reproduced with the permission of The Controller, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
User Reviews
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A M Street from UK, on 18 May 2007, 1:22 PM
This is an excellent film. It was shot in Spring 1945 not 1943 as implied by the sound track. RAF heavy bombers did not attack Berlin after March 1944. What it does do is give a first rate impression of a typical Bomber Command raid, which was the purpose for which Air Cdr. Cozens made the film. As colour film was hard to get in wartime Britain it is not likely that any other film on this subject exists. What the modern producers have done is cut in extra footage and added a sound track that supports the film without detracting from the original. The highlight of the film must surely be the take-off of a Lancaster filmed from alongside, this is not something I have ever seen repeated in any other film and displays Air Cdr. Cozens skill both as a pilot and camera man. In all a superb film of interest to enthusiasts and general viewer. The details of the fitting of a Rose-Rice 50 cal. turret being unique. The cover photograph is of Lancaster W4118 "Admiral Prune" of 106 Sqn. the mount of Guy Gibson later to become famous as the CO of 617 Sqn "The Dam Busters"
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A M Street from UK, on 18 May 2007, 1:22 PM
This is an excellent film. It was shot in Spring 1945 not 1943 as implied by the sound track. RAF heavy bombers did not attack Berlin after March 1944. What it does do is give a first rate impression of a typical Bomber Command raid, which was the purpose for which Air Cdr. Cozens made the film. As colour film was hard to get in wartime Britain it is not likely that any other film on this subject exists. What the modern producers have done is cut in extra footage and added a sound track that supports the film without detracting from the original. The highlight of the film must surely be the take-off of a Lancaster filmed from alongside, this is not something I have ever seen repeated in any other film and displays Air Cdr. Cozens skill both as a pilot and camera man. In all a superb film of interest to enthusiasts and general viewer. The details of the fitting of a Rose-Rice 50 cal. turret being unique. The cover photograph is of Lancaster W4118 "Admiral Prune" of 106 Sqn. the mount of Guy Gibson later to become famous as the CO of 617 Sqn "The Dam Busters"