Into The Wind

[speedbird591]

Is the title of a new feature length documentary featuring veterans from Bomber Command. It's been acquired by the 'Yesterday' channel for viewing in the UK. If it's as good as the trailer it will be very tasteful and moving.

http://www.intothewind.co.uk/#

The DVD has just been released and is available from Amazon. I've ordered it and should get it in a couple of days.

Ian

[DaveB]

Thanks for that Ian I'm a fan of the 'Yesterday' channel.. a lot of good stuff on there and this will be no exception by the looks of things

ATB
DaveB

[Paul K]

Ian, can you let us know if the DVD matches the excellent trailer ? It looks a little bit above the norm, so I'd be interested to hear about it, as and when you get the chance. There seems to be a growing interest in WW2 Bomber Command at the moment, what with the memorial and TV personalities involved in associated fund raising etc.

[speedbird591]

Will do, Paul. I'll probably get round to watching it next weekend so I'll tell you what I think after then.

There is definitely a resurgence of interest in Bomber Command and just in time to get the thoughts and memories of the survivors before it's too late. I suppose it's because the thorny question of whether it was right to bomb civilian targets was avoided after the war. People must have been sick of it then and everybody wanted to move on. But it's a different society now and there's a genuine interest in what happened and why.

I imagine that at the time their backs were against the wall and so much sacrifice had already been made. Invasion by Germany would have been unimaginably awful and surrender would never be an option. It was total war on both sides, there was no point in pulling punches, and Germany had to be beaten by all means at our disposal. The bombing campaign was successful in that it eventually destroyed Germany's manufacturing capability to the extent that it couldn't wage total war.

It was unbelievably costly in lives, homes, money and machines but there was no technology available to do it more efficiently. There was no other way.

Ian

[speedbird591]

I've just had a lazy morning watching the DVD, sipping coffee and eating a bacon sandwich. A perfect Sunday morning which I deserved after a late night bringing the drunks home from Bristol and Bath

The film is every bit as good as the trailer and a very original type of documentary. It's gently paced and tastefully done. There's no commentary, just the quiet chat of the veterans as they revisit some difficult areas which most admit they have buried for many years. You'll definitely need a box of tissues or an empty house if you watch it. It's not a factual history and it's not just talking heads. It's like being in the pub listening to them reminisce but regularly interspersed by relevant period film and some movie extracts. There are also some atmospheric shots of disused airfields and a rather moving sequence of an elderly air gunner being helped aboard Just Jane and taxying while in the mid-upper turret. You won't learn anything new about history and the bombing campaign or anything about aeroplanes. But many of the things said by the veterans may well make you see events more clearly from a retrospective view.

Unless you're especially interested in Bomber Command and can't wait to see it then you don't need to buy the DVD. But it's a definite to watch at some time so keep an eye out on Yesterday channel for a screening schedule (not announced yet).

Ian

[DaveB]

Thanks for that Ian. Doubt I'll buy it but it's definitely on my list of things to watch when it hits the box

ATB
DaveB