Target for To-night

This film I believe the was one of the first in a series made during the Second World war using only serving forces personnel and not actors . The crew of F for Freddie were skippered by Squadron Leader Pickard . I think one of the subtle messages that comes across is the informal method of command within the crew for they all knew that their lives depended upon the skills and performance of each other . The crew captain's role was to ensure they worked as a team and this film demonstrates aspect this well . It indeed would be interesting to know if any of the crew survived the war . Regrettably I do know that Group Captain Pickard , as he became , was killed in action about four years after the film was made . His last operation was the bombing of the Amiens Jail to release imprisoned French Resistance Fighters . The raid involved precision bombing by Mosquitoe Bombers to create breaches in the perimeter walls and demolish German Guard buildings . The raid was a success and over 100 Resistance Fighters escaped . Group Captain Pickard was killed during the return journey to England .

I remember seeing this film when I was boy which made me as well as many other youngsters want to join the RAF

I know it was made by the Crown Film Unit and I think it was directed by Harry Watt who was a well known documentary producer and director. The skipper of the crew was Flying Officer Pickard, unfortunately "F" for Freddy was shot down late in the war with the loss of all the crew.

The comment made by most subscribers are very fair, though I cannot agree that the film was "Laughable" as on person put it. I always thought the US war films were more unreal than the UK equivalents. Usually about one man saving an entire army. Example Errol Flynn in the Burmese jungle.

Another good propaganda film was "The Way Ahead" a movie about the Brtish Army which was more fictional than "Target" but based on fact. Has anyone seen it?

I would like to know if a copy of Target for Tonight is available as I would very much like to see it again.

About 45 minutes short but good, this film takes the viewer through the phases of a bombing mission, starting with the recon photos being dropped by a light bomber in the morning, retrieved by an officer at the base, developed and examined and then the mission being planned by the squadron operations officers.

From there the strategy is laid out: F for Freddy will go in first and hit the target (an oil refinery) with incendiary bombs, the others will follow in a stream about 15 minutes apart and target the fire at the refinery and hopefully destroy the surrounding structures.

The focus of the movie now turns to F for Freddy. The Wellington bomber launches, follows its designed path, hits the target and is itself hit by anti-aircraft fire. The other bombers encounter bad weather and have to turn back, while F for Freddy struggles to get home on a bad engine and with a wounded radio operator. Reaching the base, the crippled bomber finds the airstrip socked in with thick fog, so they land blind, with only oil-burning lamps to mark the runway.

The real heroes of the film are the RAF aircrew who do a pretty good job of acting (though you can tell the boys are real cut-ups and hamming it up a bit for the camera). Aviation enthusiasts and fans of WW2 will enjoy seeing the old Wellingtons flying around. Military historians will appreciate the details that go in to planning the bombing strike, right down to the fake attacks by aircraft over the Channel, designed to keep the Luftwaffe from intercepting the real strike over Germany.

Worth a look if you can find a copy of the film. I found mine in an Experimental Aircraft Association museum gift shop.

I have seen "Target for Tonight" many times, as I am one of the lucky few to have an excellent 16mm original print of the film. I inherited it from a former director of Civilian Defense. It came mounted on the original WWII-issue wire reel. My print even has spare "replacement" footage of the head title, spliced in after the end of the film. One thing that always comes to mind when I view "Target for Tonight" is: These guys had guts! Whereas American raids were high altitude daylight missions, RAF missions were low altitude night attacks, which made bombing particularly difficult and the planes vulnerable to ground fire. Indeed, special lead bombers were sent ahead with incendiary bombs to set the area around the target on fire so the lead bombers could actually see their target at night. The subject of "Target for Tonight", the Wellington bomber "F for Freddie", shows considerable wear and tear. I suspect Warner Bros. may have produced this film: although their logo shield does not appear in the credits, the viewer may recognize the familiar musical intro theme common to most Warner films. The musical score is performed by the Royal Air Force Central Band and all actors in the film are real RAF personnel. If you have a chance to see this film, do so by all means. It is a great document of World War II. "Target for Tonight" won a special Academy Award: Best short documentary film of 1941.

A very realistic film although one has to get used to the old English accents which are rarely heard these days. The pilot of F for Freddy was ultimately to be Gp Capt P C Pickard, DSO, DFC, at this time playing a Sergeant Dixon, although I am unsure of that. Pickard became one of the best specialists at pin point low level missions, mainly using Mosquitos and a great air leader. In 1944 AVM Basil Embry, selected him to lead the raid on Amiens prison, a raid of very great daring. Unfortunately after his run to the target a FW190 attached itself to his tail and he was shot down. Gp Capt P C Pickard, aged 28 years of age and his navigator Flight Lieutenant J. A. 'Bill' Broadley, aged 23 years old, were killed. Rest in peace.