Target For Today (1944)
Target for Today is a U.S. Army Air Forces documentary film produced during World War II by the First Motion Picture Unit, a division of the Army Air Forces staffed by Hollywood professionals. Released in 1944, the film runs approximately 90 minutes and was designed to educate military personnel and the public about the planning and execution of strategic bombing missions over Nazi-occupied Europe.
Content Summary
The film follows the 8th Air Force, based in England, as it prepares for and carries out a daylight bombing raid deep into Germany. It documents every stage of the mission:
- Intelligence gathering and target selection
- Mission planning and weather briefings
- Crew preparation, including equipment checks and psychological readiness
- Takeoff and formation flying
- Enemy encounters, including flak and Luftwaffe fighters
- Bombing runs and photographic analysis
- Debriefings and damage assessments
The featured mission targets Anklam, Germany, and includes footage of the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombers in action.
Production Notes
- The film was directed by William Keighley, a Hollywood veteran known for The Fighting 69th and Each Dawn I Die.
- It uses actual combat footage, including aerial gun camera reels, cockpit views, and bombing runs.
- Narration is provided in a calm, authoritative tone, typical of wartime propaganda, emphasizing precision, discipline, and the moral imperative of defeating fascism.
- The film was shown to both military audiences and civilians to bolster support for the air war and highlight the complexity and danger of strategic bombing.
