Battle of Britain Reel 5 (1943): Night Raids on London & Coventry Destruction

Reel 5 of Battle of Britain (1943) documents the terrifying Luftwaffe night bombing raids that turned London into an inferno. Harbor docks, factories, and homes blaze under relentless German attacks, as civilians seek safety in air raid shelters. At dawn, Londoners emerge to survey the damage, discuss the night’s destruction, and carry on with life under wartime conditions. The film then follows RAF bomber crews boarding aircraft for counterattacks on German targets, while Luftwaffe fighters scramble in pursuit. The devastation of the Coventry Blitz is shown in harrowing detail—ruined buildings, mass casualties, and long funeral lines as victims are laid to rest in a common grave. Yet even amid tragedy, the resilience of Britain shines through, with men and women working tirelessly in munitions and aircraft factories to keep the fight alive. This reel captures both the horror of Germany’s night raids and the determination of a nation that refused to be broken.

• Luftwaffe night raids turning London into an inferno
• Docks, factories, homes ablaze under German bombs
• Civilians in air raid shelters
• Dawn aftermath: Londoners survey damage
• RAF bomber crews launch counterstrikes
• Luftwaffe fighters intercept RAF
• Coventry Blitz ruins and mass casualties
• Funeral processions to common grave
• Munitions & aircraft factory workers