One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942)
During the Allied Bombing offensive of World War II the public was often informed that "A raid took place last night over (city name). One (or often more) of our aircraft Is missing." Behind these sombre words hid tales of death, destruction, and derring-do. This is the story of one such bomber crew who were shot down, and the brave Dutch patriots who helped them home.
A sensational characterisation you wouldn't believe possible
Else Meertens: Do you think that we Hollanders who threw the sea out of our country will let the Germans have it? Better the sea.
Boston, Lincolnshire, England, UK
The Fens, East Anglia, England, UK
The Wash, East Anglia, England, UK
King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, UK
(Location)
RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
(bomber airfield at end of film)
One day, No?l Coward visited the set and after seeing how the crew staged and wrapped up an elaborate sequence in about two hours, decided to use most of them on In Which We Serve (1942).
The film has no musical score at all (a rarity). The opening titles play over the sound of the bomber's engines.
The extra squadron members were all active members of the Royal Air Force (XVI) squadron.
Second credited theatrical movie of Sir Peter Ustinov, the first being "Let the People Sing" (1942), which was released in August. This movie was released in October.
Sir George Corbett (Godfrey Tearle) was reported to be fashioned after the real-life Sir Arnold Talbot Wilson. In 1939, he joined the Royal Air Force at age fifty-five. He died in 1940 when his airplane crashed in France.
Continuity
After dropping its bombs the plane starts heading for home when its hit by anti-aircraft fire and one of the engines is hit but soon after a shot of the plane shows that both propellers are turning.
When they are escaping with the help of Jo de Vries, she tells them to look out for a boat with 2 white diamonds on the starboard side, but when seen they are on the port side. If the diamonds are on both sides why did Jo mention the starboard side?
Factual errors
At the very start of the film a list is shown of the five Dutch nationals who were executed for aiding the British airmen. The first name in the list is shown as "Arie van Steenset". This is a typo. His name was actually "Arie van Steensel".
The bomber crew bail out at such long intervals that they would have landed miles apart, making it impossible for them to find one another on the ground.
Miscellaneous
Even though they are British actors, the crew uses the word 'railroad' several times. 'Railway' is the common British term.
Plot holes
It seems unlikely that the sentry who starts shooting at the escapees from the bridge would not sound an alarm that would summon a patrol boat that could easily catch six men in a rowboat headed out to sea.