The Plane That Saved Britain

Former Royal Marine Commando and pilot Arthur Williams is an enthusiastic presenter for this documentary about the Mosquito, the aircraft he believes saved Britain in World War II. After presenting the Paralympics on C4, this is clearly his chance to indulge in his pet subject. Williams can barely contain his glee as he marvels over a Mosquito and interviews veterans who recall its power, including an ex-pilot who joins him for a test flight and a spot of reminiscing. ‘If it’d been any other aeroplane, I wouldn’t have been here,’ says one with conviction.

You can imagine Williams’s delight when he gets to fly in a Mosquito thanks to an American man who’s restored one, although it’s not an experience without trepidation. Archive footage is plentiful, both of the Mosquito in action and being constructed (part of its secret was being made of plywood, apparently). Aviation fans will enjoy and, even if Spitfire enthusiasts may contest some of Williams’s points, they’re sure to find it interesting.