Made by famed Canadian documentary direct Grant McLean for Canada Carries On, the documentary Target Berlin shows the building of the first Lancaster bomber to be made in Canada. Then, the film takes us on a harrowing nighttime bombing raid over Berlin in Germany. The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber designed and built by Avro for the Royal Air Force (RAF). It first saw active service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and, as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it became the main heavy bomber used by the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing its close contemporaries the Handley Page Halifax and Short Stirling. The “Lanc”, as it was affectionately known, thus became the most famous and most successful of the Second World War night bombers, delivering 608,612 long tons of bombs in 156,000 sorties.

At mark 0:46, there is a phone call on the construction of a bomber plane. Yes we can build the bombers now, the materials are available, supply material running day and night from raw material sources to the assemblage ground. All that is needed now is the tools. At mark 01:50, it can be seen the designs and the blue prints of the plane. At mark 02:14, see the designers and engineers studying the blueprints of the plane. At mark 2:45, there is need for tool makers to do the job of the plane construction and like 300 manpower is needed and they decided on using the average public; farmers, laborers, men from converted industries, even housewives. Toolmakers were made out of these ones as seen at mark 3:08. At mark 3:26, there is a phone conversation about the materials and tools needed and they were to make priorities on what they need. That’s how the work started at mark 3:35. At mark 3:57, there is the joining of the pods. As seen at mark 4:20, the tool makers fixing the wings and the blades. At mark 4:45, the bomb compartment of the plane is seen. It carries 50,000 pounds of bombs 3 times more than normal planes. At mark 5:10, here the toolmakers are making the seats of the plane. The seats of the plane don’t have to be un-posted; they’ve got to be hammered so the builders must be careful because they carry the lives of the crew in their hands. At mark 5:37, the ship was given its first name – KB700. At this mark all the other finishing were added. This job was done by the Canadian crew and at mark 6:40, we have the military at the assemblage house. At mark 7:02, this is the last day before the plane is ready for its flight, each and every one were happy on the jobs they’ve done on the ship. At mark 7:20, the plane came out of the hanger for its flight. The crew member took over after the work was done and up they flew as seen at mark 8:50.

They navigate to set his course for England and were flying over seas and oceans. It was cold and as they reach 7000 feet in the Atlantic over the clouds. As the sun came out, they were some thousand feet away to landing as they were over England. At mark 10:40, the crew prepares for their landing. They were back at the base around 10:00am with 50,000 gallons of gas still in their tanks as seen at mark 11:05. They were welcomed by their senior officers overseas and by Canada’s high commissioner. At mark 11:57, plans were made on how the attack will be and how the lives of pilots and many depend on them. At mark 12:25, there is the crew men strapping all there gadgets getting set for the mission ahead. Now it is seen, the battle of Europe, in this battle they is 1000 planes, 7000 men and 5 million pounds of bombs which are prepared against Argus 600 miles away as seen at mark 12:50. At mark 13:40, it is seen the public listening to the reports on the war from their radio set. At mark 14:20, the crew men are communicating to one another on their course and mobility. They communicated on the temperature, speed and height. At mark 15:07, shots are been fired at the planes. And like that the battle commenced at mark 15:30. They started dropping bombs at the enemy. T mark 16:13, they set course to their target and they fired their bombs at them at mark 16:37. They hit the bull’s eye and set course for home. This was done every night until their work is done.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com