Battle Of The Skies: Real Footage From WWII Bombing Missions | Battlezone | War Stories 

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Lest we forget! My father was a Lancaster pilot, his stories are both amazing and horrifying!!

The men that flew with the allied forces are the reason I continue to work with warbirds. They deserve not to be forgotten along with their bravery in such an unforgiving war

In memory of RCAF Co Pilot G.S.Moreau who survived 33 missions!

May one never forget these heroes for the free world we live in!

I was born in 1969 and feel quite privileged to live in relatively peaceful time’s, reading books and watching documentaries give a really good insight but living it and surviving it ...... well only a few know what that’s like. I Bow To You All 👌👌👌

My father was a rear gunner, Bomber command and ended up in the pathfinders, so proud of him and all of them. He ended up as a squadron leader DFC

My Dad was with Bomber Command from 1941-42. Their losses were horrendous. As a bomardier/toggler, he survived enough missions to return to Canada where he trained bombardiers from other British Commonwealth countries. Their losses were equally horrendous.

Like many other comments here, my father flew 32 sorties with the 101 Spec Opps Squadran out of Ludford Magna. The 101 flew decoy above and ahead of the main group they carried more armour and 50 cal machineguns to engage the night fighters, his was one of only two 101 crews that completed their 30 missions.

My father volunteerd for aircrew in bomber Command during the battle of Britain. He lived immediately opposite Croydon Airdrome so was getting bombed regularly. He said to his brother 'I'm fed up with those barstards bombing me , so I've joined up so I can go and bomb the barstards back"! He trained as a radio operator/Air gunner before being seconded to SOE , making trips by Lysander and submarine to occupied territory. He didn't tell me any of this until the day he died! He had kept the secret until on his death bed in 2004 . The questions I wanted to ask him , but never got the chance to . I miss you dad ,

My Grandpa was a B-17 navigator, which means he saw everything. The odds of him surviving were low, but he survived. People don't realize how lucky they are to be living, because if my Grandpa died, I wouldn't even be here😢😢😢😢.

My late uncle from NZ flew the Lancaster bombers in the RAF during WW2. He also ferried planes from Halifax in Canada for the war effort as well as a time as a flying instructor. I remember him telling me because he was very good at navigation the RAF wanted him to be a bomber navigator so he “failed” his nav exam to make sure he was the pilot. He escaped injury from all the sorties he flew but it affected him after the war.

My Grandfather was a new pilot with British Airways and he was trying to land at Hamburg but was confused by the runway system. The German ATC asked dryly if he had not been to Hamburg before ? He replied "Yes, back in the '40's - but we never landed."

We will never see another war on such a scale, so well documented, the extent of the war impacting so many people and countries, so horrid, cruel and so much of deaths everywhere.

With what has happened to our country it makes me wonder if all the sacrifice these brave boys made was really worth it

It's such clear bravery against a brutal , hateful nation. I salute all the brave airmen who helped the allies win against tyranny.

Thank you to all veterans from every war for your courage and sacrifice, Welcome Home Soldiers Welcome Home! God Bless our Veterans and God Bless America!!!

Wow, Just 'WOW' - Such bravery from 'just' teenagers . . . . . and such horror on the ground Living/serving both then, and after, must have been a daily torment RIP those people who were born in such violent, tumultuous times

Crazy respect to all who flew.

This was the most fascinating war footage I have EVER seen. My father served in the US Army during the Battle of the Bulge and I've seen footage from that time. But, I have never seen the likes of this video. I had no idea of the number of planes the Allies put into the air - a thousand bombers at a time????? It's unimaginable - so many planes, so many crew members - so many dead. I'm in awe of what was done and the bravery and dedication shown. It just seems impossible.

I will remember them, always... You gallant, brave men and women of WW2

I was aware about the 50 thousand British airmen being lost, but I was not aware that 80 thousand American airmen were also lost. Just amazing.

My ex Wifes Uncle Pat was part of the Dam Busters crew on one of the Lancasters charged with the destruction of one of the major Dams controlling the Ruhr valley I believe. I met him several times and one of my regrets was not talking to him about his experiences. I was born in 1943 named after my uncle, who was killed in the Tobruk area in North Africa fighting against the Germans in that area. He was killed just before I was born.

My father couldn't fly due to eyesight problems his brother was with the pathfinders ,7 missions. Dad was running airstrips ,the RAF would be doing night bombing during the day they would " sleep" he would hear them screaming and having terrible nightmares. He snuck onto a Lancaster for a raid just so he could have a better appreciation of what the crews were going through. He told me he needed a change of underwear was in order never been so frightened in his life and these crews were doing runs day after day.

I have watched all of these World War 2 documentaries since I was a child sixty years ago. Now what I do, is simply turn off the sound, and enjoy the priceless video images, derived from the sound free film at the time. Most World War Two footage was never done with sound. We can never know the unreal loud sounds or awful smells or extreme cold or heat or starvation these men endured. But there is a pilgrimage, that comes from just looking into the unedited, real time footage and seeing the struggles of men trying to stop evil, from taking over the world, that is easy to make. All we have to do is open our eyes and our mind to see it. Thank you to all the veterans who fought to keep us free and all the active service members today who still do the same.

My grandfather's brother was a nose gunner in a liberator. They went down in the North Sea and were not found. I can only imagine what it was like back then.

My uncle was with the pathfinders he had trained in Florida under the Arnold plan and was a check pilot for newbies he got USAF wings returning to england he survived six missions not the seventh

I was born in 1955. We, one of the last generations To have lived and saw the Aftermath of WWII. Driving around hospitals seeing all the wounded soldiers lined on acres and acres of rolling hills of grass, so they could get time in the Healing/outdoors. PBS’s programs are the best to Learn of our past. Replaces growing up in Neighbourhoods and the close bond Everyone had and the history classes taught on the porches.

Salutes and tributes to all allied forces. 🙏😪..

Outstanding video! Excellent video & narration. TY!

My father trained pilots during WWII in a place called Dafoe, Saskatchewan and whenever we would watch a movie about submarines he'd get so into the movie he'd say: "I'll take my chances in an airplane any day, with those bloody things if something goes wrong you're trapped like a rat!" I must say I do enjoy flying more than sailing. Once you are free of the earth the engine makes you feel so free and powerful just buzzing around up there. Bliss.

Fantastic to see , real hero's , keep it up.

Today's youth will never believe how much their freedom was owed to so many that are not alive today. Do we really need a world war to make them wake up to what is important.

One of the outstanding bomber pilots of the war - Leonard Cheshire - 39:02 - 39:14. A man amongst men.

In the second part of WW2 my father was a simple soldier in the german supply troops. He defended his homeland and tried to survive (in which he luckily succeeded). But I don't claim he would a hero!

34:30 the guy flew two tours totalling 50 missions. That has got to be the most astounding luck I've ever heard of, titaniums not tough enough for his pair!

Currently reading ‘One who nearly made it back’ RCAF, very sad and brave men.

Good production which avoids the trap of producing a history from the point of view solely of one country or even one part of one air force. I think many don't recognise that Germany had a very effective defence system. However, one point that I thought was omitted was that Germany ran out of fuel. They couldn't fly the aircraft that they had.

My uncle flew two missions over Berlin. He survived and came home. He said he only lost one person. A photographer riding along. The photographer was leaning out over the bombay taking pictures when a AA went off near the plane and jarred the photographer out the bombay.

My uncle Fred flew 27 ops. Rear gunner in a Lancaster and rear and waist gunner in a Flying Fortress. He survived the war and lived out his days in Peterborough UK

Glad someone mentioned the B-24 also the last year of the Battle of the Atlantic allies went on the offence with hunter killer groups of destroyers and the B-24 long range version. Good documentary. Sawadee Khap.

Great film sir! I love both perspectives, as this couldn’t have been easy for anyone. May God be with all…

Ya me to 1969 these were the bravest men who ever lived I salute them all

I love hearing from the people who were there.

History is fascinating

The Bomber Boys betrayed by their own. The attrition rate was such that you had better odds of predicting a coin toss than doing a full tour as a bomber crew member.

Serious respect to all who served...not sure what they would think about what western democracy has become today

Thanks for posting this. Great to see men on both sides speak and footage from both sides. History can be revisionist, but this video is a primary source from the decades following the end of WW2. Great to see it.

the shockwave from that explosion at 4:31 was awesome

When you see this the U.S or RAF were going against Aircraft replenished from Downed of their own , thats how it goes ..great Footage to a great vid.

Excellent !!!!!!

The expression the whole nine yards comes from the fact that a waist gunner would have a nine yard long belt of ammo It would indicate a fierce battle if you had done the whole nine yards.

Brave brave men

Saundby was & is completely underappreciated 💜.

Outstanding movie!!!!

That dogfight footage is amazing

Why you have not a million sub's is beyond me.👍

This is really Awesome!! You can see the eyes of the men as they re experience their military service in the air. Amazing video,well done

I was waiting with a production worker for a tanker to arrive from Germany, the old chap was over his shift hours but had to wait. The lorry arrived and was unloading lethacin, when the old chap replied to the driver he only took about 12 hours to Germany and back including unloading. The driver was impressed and asked what he was driving, "A Lancaster" was the terse reply

Thank you for sharing this.

Britain never stood alone. We had millions of Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Rhodesians, Kenyans, Malawians, Indians, Nepalese, Fijians, West Indian and many other nations fighting with us from the first day to the last of the war.

I've seen another documentary like this, exact same format and some of the same voice actors. I never realized it was a series! It would be great if there were even more of them to come! Now that I think about it, I'm sure they are chronological, following most of the same people. Wonderfully well done, in any case.

Another documentary showing that when a German military force had to fight on an equal footing - it failed. The allied air forces took enormous punishment before victory was won. Let us not forget those who gave their lives in the war against Facism.

Not the longest battle. That was the battle of the Atlantic, with the most casualties being Merchant Navy ships. I am not decrying the brave men of Bomber Command. But the first casualties came on the first day and the last at the last day. Brave guys all of them. Thanks

In memory of most souls who perished due to WW2. Apart from the German colonel and the nazis

Wow what an extraordinary documentary!! Can't believe it's only got 94 comments having been up for a year

superb footage thankyou

My dad was a flying fortress pilot on the ball bearing factory mission. He started on coffin corner when the Germans took out the inside main planes this time and then he flew up to join another group and they took out most of that group. After delivery, he made it back with all the emergency lights on. He said it was a very quiet day when they told the experienced pilots they would have to do 5 more missions before they could go home to the U.S. because they had lost so many pilots, but they got credit for one extra mission. All the early pilots had the odds against them surviving if they flew a lot of tough missions. He had been there when the army air force arrived in England and lost a lot of his friends. He felt he was truck driver delivering the cargo and getting his crew home as quickly as possible. He did not like dropping bombs on people's houses and never talked about it very much. He said that if all the leaders had to see the ugly stuff themselves and put their own life into harm's way first then wars might not be stated or would come to a conclusion quicker.

The British technology in WW2 was on a different level.

Effective. Men on both sides fought honorably. God bless them.

this was very interesting to watch thank you

After the war the RAF conducted a study into the accuracy of night bombing. They concluded that only one out of 10 bombs dropped fell within 5 miles of the intended target. Night bombing was a waste of time and resources given the relatively inaccurate bombsites and navigation methods available in the 1940'sw.

Thank you

Great Air Battle Story

I've often wondered why P-38's & P-51's weren't used sooner. The P-38 was used, with drop tanks in the Pacific in 42. The British bought P-51's in 1940, found that the Allison engines sucked so they stuck Rolls-Royce Merlins in them & turned them into the most awesome fighter of the whole damn war ! How many bomber crews would have survived the war ? The world wonders...

My father flew the Halifax Mk 3 plus with the new engines. 158 Squadron. DFC. SOME WILD STORIES So grateful for their bravery

One thousand plane raid….what a massive undertaking…..but needed

It's horrific enough, but seeing those fighters attacking head on sends chills down my spine.

“This is a story of an enemy who’s resources were stretched to their limits. Oh! And bombs.”

Exellent!!⭐⭐⭐⭐

The longest battle of the war was the battle of the Atlantic . Not the air battle over Germany.

I took a ride in a b17 some years ago. While we were in flight i kept thinking, how did these guys do it? 8 hrs or better in the cold, with people shooting at them? I got to in some small way step in theyre shoes briefly to get an idea of what they saw, smelled and felt. Ill never forget it or those guys that flew the 2nd world war.

Greatest generation.

The combat footage was awesome! The casualties in Dresden were claimed to be much higher because the city was packed with refugees from Prussia and Easturn Germany.

And then the P51 came in to the game, and the jig was up. Why do humans follow a crazy individual into wars like this.

Those planes killed so many children and civilian people. What a shame!

The narrative is great, familiar, the pickle misconception with the barrel, today it's a real possibility.

The longest Battle of World War II was the Battle of the Atlantic. It started the first day and went to the last. The Air War in the West took a while to get rolling although it did go to the last.

So many souls lost.

"Inaccurate navigation and bombing, though in fact the biggest obstacle to the progress of our offensive, had not thus far been the Air Staff's main worry, for the seriousness of that particular problem was only gradually becoming realized. What was more obvious was that the total bombing effort had been disappointingly small. Bombers had been diverted-to O.T.U.s, to the Middle East, to Coastal Command. Bomber crews had been called upon to ferry Blenheims and Wellingtons out to Egypt, and force one reason and another throughout the winter little more than half the full establishment of crews had been operationally fit. On top of this, naval targets had absorbed most of the available effort. All told, it was little wonder that German industry had escaped lightly." --239-- Hyperwar Royal Air Force 1939-1945 Vol I

The bombing of Hamburg by the RAF and USAAF in July 1943 caused over 40,000 dead, the highest casualty rate during the air offensive over Germany in WW2, greater even than the bombing of Dresden had in 1945. The horrific fire storm caused by the very warm temperatures was the main reason for the extensive damage to the once beautiful old city.

a nice story about the picle barrel.

It's interesting to watch videos detailing some of the the tools and strategies used to snuff out the life of other human beings. Humans are such peaceful, benevolent creatures.

Please do mention when the interviews were taken in description box.

the plane enginesounds are stunning

Early 2000s was a kid heard an almighty thundering! Me and my dad practically ran to the garden and a Lancaster did a low pass over our house could pretty much read the markings on the wings n stuff I was amazed. I’m now 27 and think my god I’m glad I wasn’t in Hamburg

There were no significant amount of long range Thunderbolts. The 8th Air Force didn't resume deep penetration raids into Germany until the Mustangs arrived. And there weren't enough of those until about April of 1944. No Thunderbolt was covering bombers to Berlin and back.

Only brave took such bombing missions! The Nazis and Japanese had to be stopped! Amazing filming with OUT Hollywood movies!

It's, the COLDEST HOUR is just before the dawn. Those who laboured outdoors never get this wrong. I had a bread round.

The bombing of any structures or targets, unless it involves actual military targets in active service such as a shore battery, armored convoys, enemy fleets etc., is a war crime, 1. the sinking of the USS Arizona & KMS Tirpitz was a war crime, 2. the usage of the V1 & V2 rockets on London was a war crime, 3. the deployment of sarin gas is a war crime, 4. the use of concentration camps & slave laborers is a war crime 5. the use of the atomic bomb in the bombing on Japan was a war crime! 6. the mass city bombing used by all parties is a war crime 7. the destruction of Warsaw was a war crime, 8. grave robbing and monument destruction is a war crime,