Coastal Command | Liberators ’Night and Day’ (1945)

An wartime propaganda film offers an impression of a typical day of the continuous “arduous, often monotonous work“ of the men of 311 Squadron, Coastal Command (Czechoslovak Air Force). The crew of a Liberator patrol aircraft are woken up. Over breakfast, the crew members are identified and their pre-war lives sketched in; they are briefed, and set off on their patrol. Thereafter, shots of the patrol alternate with film of activities at the seaplane base. In the aircraft, the patrol continues: observers change stations; a convoy is spotted and photographed; a periscope is sighted and depth-charged; further photographs are taken. Meanwhile, at base, the patrol’s position is plotted on control room map; returning patrol crews go to bed; routine instruction (Link trainer etc) proceeds; aircraft are serviced; a decoration is awarded; sports and a dance are shown; new crews are woken up. The patrol returns and their photographs prove their successful destruction of the submarine; as the incoming crew retire to bed, the outgoing crew receive their briefing.