633 Squadron 1964

Mission assignment and briefing

Lieutenant Bergman travels to Britain to report the location of the German V-2 rocket fuel plant. No. 633 Squadron, equipped with fast Mosquitos, is tasked with destroying it. The plant sits beneath a cliff at the end of a narrow fjord, heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns. The mission is framed as a crucial strike to cripple German rocket production.

633 Squadron trains in Scotland

The squadron trains in Scotland to master low-level flying through glens similar to the target fjord. Wing Commander Roy Grant, a former Eagle Squadron pilot, is introduced to Bergman’s sister Hilde, and the two feel an immediate attraction. Grant’s war-weary stance makes him wary of wartime relationships, even as the crews prepare for the dangerous mission. The team cultivates familiarity with the terrain that will shape the attack.

Resistance briefed to neutralize defenses

The Norwegian resistance is assigned to neutralize the anti-aircraft defences immediately before the airstrike. Bergman returns to Norway to rally more forces as unexpected German reinforcements arrive. The plan relies on suppressing the guns to allow the Mosquitos to reach and strike the cliff.

Bergman is captured and tortured

Bergman is captured while transporting weapons and taken to Gestapo headquarters. He is tortured for information in an attempt to silence him before he talks. His capture raises the stakes for the mission, as his knowledge could cripple the operation.

Raid on the Gestapo building

Grant and Pilot Officer Bissell fly in with a single Mosquito to bomb the Gestapo building. They succeed in the strike, but their aircraft is shot up during the mission. On the return, the damaged Mosquito crashes, and Bissell is wounded.

Bissell wounded and Hilde's gratitude

Bissell sustains injuries from the crash and becomes blind, while Grant survives the crash with the aid of locals. Hilde thanks Grant for ending her brother’s suffering, expressing the personal cost of the mission. The incident deepens the human toll of the operation.

Davis moves up the attack to the next day

Air Vice-Marshal Davis moves the attack up to the next day in Britain’s planning room. The resistance fighters are ambushed before the assault, and many are killed while the defences remain intact. Grant faces the choice to abort, but decides to press on with the mission.

The raid proceeds despite the ambush

With the defences still in place, the squadron proceeds toward the target and the cliff. The plan to destroy the plant remains on track despite the setback of the ambush, and the team maintains resolve under heavy pressure. The operation tests the crews’ endurance and resolve.

Destruction of the V-2 plant

The factory is destroyed as the cliff collapses and buries the facility beneath rubble. The cost is the entire squadron, with several crews able to ditch in the fjord and survive in the cold water. The destruction marks a grim but decisive blow to the enemy's rocket program.

Grant's crash and rescue

Grant crash-lands after the bombing and is pulled from the burning wreckage by a local man, aided by Flight Lieutenant Hopkinson who works to reach him. The rescue underscores the human cost and the help provided by ordinary locals. The operation leaves a lasting impression on those who survive.

Britain learns of the losses

In Britain, the losses provoke a stark response from the leadership. Davis bluntly states, 'You can't kill a squadron,' signaling the price paid in human lives. The mission’s impact reverberates beyond the operational success as it affects morale and future planning.