Help - old TV prog with Lysander...

[treadigraph]

Ok, you PPRuNers have never failed a tricky question yet...

Two of my mates in the quiz team tell me that way back in the 60s (or possibly 70s) there was an old black and white TV programme, the title sequence of which featured a Lysander landing by moonlight (I think).

They say it wasn't Secret Army, Fairly Secret Army, or even Dad's Army. They are desperate to know what it was and there may be a packet of Ready Salted in it for me... or even a whole pint!

I don't remember it at all and know no other details...

Anyone have an inkling as to what it was called?

Cheers

Treadders

[Opssys]

Treadders.
I think it was called Moonlight. The title 'music' included a chatter of morse. SOE/French Resistance. Although the producers had no choice in the matter, my faded memory indicates that somehow B&W was 'right' for this series, much more evocative than colour!

I also suspect, that in the unlikely event it is ever shown again (tapes wiped, it was that era), I might be disappointed that my fragmentary memory of it, makes me think it was better than it was!
Opssys

[treadigraph]

Strike a light! Half an hour!

Well done Opssys! Like some crisps?

[effortless]

Sorry chaps but it wasn't Moonlight. It was Moonstrike, all about dropping off spies etc..

Edit: more here. (http://www.action-tv.org.uk/guides/moonstrike.htm)

[Opssys]

Well done effortless.
Also thanks for the Link.
I didn't even have time to get the crisps off Treadders. But you obviously deserve them!
Opssys

[treadigraph]

Fantastique! Great stuff, Effortless.

I'll ask for a bigger bag, no, wait, that'll be three pints of the finest ale please!

Cheers,

Treadders

[Bof]

Cor! I am gobsmacked! Not only was the answer provided in a flash Treadders, but Effortless's post provided a synopsis of each of the 27 programme series!! Where would we be without pprune (and the internet)

[effortless]

Ah I were but a lad in them days but then, as now, anything with a flying machine in it kept me rapt. Mind you I watched the Aviator the other day and I have to say that CGI is really disappointing. Still at least the manoeuvres were realistic, unlike Pearl Harbour. :yuk: :yuk:

[treadigraph]

The powers of PPRuNe are indeed truly amazing!

I haven't seen the Aviator but PPRuNe Pop and I were discussing it last week and he professed a certain disappointment - the trailers I've seen haven't made me want to dash out and see it, but then again the same guys last night were saying how much they enjoyed the film. Shame that the Hughes H-1 replica was lost before filming took place.

Agree with you about Pearl Harbour, I watched some of the "Tora Tora Tora" sequence and I suspect the CGI team were potty trained on programming computer games. Absolute crap... Tora Tora Tora on the other hand...

Cheers,

Treadders:ok:

[Talkdownman]

'Moonstrike' was based on operations from Tempsford.

[vintage ATCO]

Blimey, a blast from the past. I had a letter broadcast on Junior Points of View over Moonstrike. I wrote in complaining that you could see the string holding up the model Lysander!!

The BBC sent a telegram saying they were going to use the letter which put my mother in a dither. You only got telegrams in those days when someone had died! Happy days.

[Conan the Librarian]

About 30 years ago? Yup - that was the death of the BBC....

[JDK]

If this thing is your cup of tea, then I may recommend 'Now it Can Be Told' a British war film made in 1944 by the SOE themselves. A VHS version is available from the Imperial War Museum Lambeth.

It's remarkably accurate, explaining the work of the SOE and the acting of the SOE head office staff is a bit wooden, but that's hardly surprising as they are the real people playing themselves.

It puts 161 and 138 Squadron's work in the proper perspective, and there is a splendid Hudson scene and the appearence of a Lysander on a couple of occasions (this is the RAF Museum's example 'acting', and it was, actually, a 161 Sqn machine in it's career too) as well as a Halifax parachute drop.

It's mostly well played, the two main agents are credible; but then, they would be, being real... You get the idea.

Well worth seeing.

[Lon More]

Unfortunately i can't open the link to "Moonlight"but from memory the Lysander was normally a model.

I recently tried to download the Aviator from the net, before it was released in Europe. and ended up with a French porno movie. Her indoors wa not amused. (well i had to watch it in case there were any aircraft in it)

[Carry0nLuggage]

Sounds interesting but before my time. I do remember the series "Pathfinders", about a Lancaster Pathfinder squadron. They used a radio controlled model in that which was supposed to be one of the biggest flown up till then. 4 engines and 12 - 15 foot wingspan.