Coastal Command

Classic film made in wartime and has all the expected stereotypes as characters. Throughly enjoyable and perfect for a wet Sunday afternoon.

During the Second World War, it seems that every branch of the military services got a documentary dedicated to it. This one from the Crown Film Unit concerns the crew of T for Tommy in its workaday attitude guarding the waters and shipping for a thousand miles around Great Britain, and it mission one day to sink a German battleship that threatens a convoy.

It shows the plane and crew, part of the 228 Squadron based in Iceland (although it was shot near Islay), as they patrol seemingly endless stretches of empty water. There isn't much going on apparently until the final ten minutes, when they have to face a German fighter squadron, and with the help of fellow airships, down them.

Of course, the way they shoot the crew in their airplane tells you a lot of the attitude. Spaces are cramped, but the cameramen mostly shoot up at the faces of the fliers, while the commanding officer in their spacious officers, are shot at eye level. And there's a score by Ralph Vaughan Williams to let you know they are heroes.

Despite the fact that being in Costal Command did not carry the same risks as being in Fighter or Bomber Command nevertheless they lost over 2000 planes and 5000 crew.This film gives a clear idea as to the risks run by crews.I note that the crew seem to rely on binoculars for sightings.I would have thought that By this time in the war they would have had onboard radar.Maybe it was still on the secret list.

Brilliant war movie. As good as they get and in the middle of the war itself. No watered down after war movie made for money, this was made to improve morale and I must say it still works!

Very authentic portrayal by real servicemen. The acting is so bad it's good but you appreciate the sincerity. Everyone has bad teeth and everyone smokes. Soundtrack is great. The planes are the real deal and great flying footage.

The film has a great pace and keeps the action going, focusing on the main plot. This is a documentary as much as a movie but it definitely keeps you entertained.

It's on YouTube so free to watch. You have no excuse and you won't regret it.

One of the best war documentaries I have ever seen with excellent photography and a stirring soundtrack with totally appropriate music by that great British composer, Ralph Vaughan-Williams. Sixty years on, the action does seem a little stilted in places but the participants are all serving RAF officers, NCOs and aircrew,plus the occasional RN officer. I don't think that much of this film was 'tarted up' but some of the language is a bit prim - not like it would have been. Definitely a morale booster for all of us who were alive at that time. There's lots of humour and one gets an excellent impression of the atmosphere both in the air and in the control rooms.

The film follows the work done my the Sunderland and Catalina flying boats in the north Atlantic and their spats with enemy planes and submarines busy trying to sink merchant ships bringing supplies to a desperate UK from the US and Canada. Wonderful photography and some great footage of attacks on a major enemy ship by Hudsons and Halifaxes from the air force base in Iceland. This shows how the personnel and planes of Coastal Command played such a vital part in the defence of the free world.