1943: Celebrating the birth of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Air Vice Marshal G E Brookes is seen heading an operational planning session with Group Captain Swenham and other staff. Ground crews service Wellington Mk IIIs of 425 Squadron and gunners check their weapons for alignment and jamming. Wellingtons take off for a trial flight before returning to be bombed up with "a nice little bouquet for Hitler". At another airfield Halifaxes of 405 Squadron are filmed in flight and landing.
Planes are serviced and refuelled and navigators work out route for the night's operation. Crews are briefed and flare path laid. Tension inside the crew room is compared to locker at school before a hockey game, then crews don clothing and boots and reach planes by truck .
Halifaxes take off for night raid and airmen's faces are superimposed over the planes in flight. Canadians back home are assured that these men are worthy successors to Canada's First World War flying aces.