"The War Lover" BBC2 Wed 12 August 12.00
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"The War Lover" BBC2 Wed 12 August 12.00
The War Lover.
BBC 2 12.00 This Wednesday 12 August.
With Steve McQueen, Shirley Ann Field etc.
Good WW2 movie with outstanding B.17 low-flying sequences filmed at Bovingdon (after I'd left Bovingdon - more's the pity!).
YouTube of Bovingdon sequence here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGGynxYbA48
BBC 2 12.00 This Wednesday 12 August.
With Steve McQueen, Shirley Ann Field etc.
Good WW2 movie with outstanding B.17 low-flying sequences filmed at Bovingdon (after I'd left Bovingdon - more's the pity!).
YouTube of Bovingdon sequence here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGGynxYbA48
Sometime in 1961, on my way home from school in Chesham, I heard a sound similar to the familiar Dakotas based at Bovingdon but a bit 'heavier'.
Looking through a gap in the trees, I saw the underside of a 4 engined aircraft which a friend walking with me asked what it was. I replied 'if I didn't know better, I'd say it was a B17 Flying Fortress'.
As we all know now, it was a B17 (one of 3 based at Bovingdon to film 'The War Lover') and they were frequent sights in the sky for the next few months.
I was still too young to join the local ATC Squadron then, but the next film to be made at Bovingdon (633 Squadron) I was a cadet and visited once or twice during filming, the only problem we encountered being to figure out who was an actor/extra and who was a real RAF Officer whom we had to salute!!
Splendid shots of the low flying sequences in an area where 4 engined aircraft were not even supposed to taxy!
A few years later (late 1966 I think), on a 613 GS detachment from Halton, I landed a Sedburgh glider through that gap between the control tower and the hangars and believe me, it felt narrow even in that!
Looking through a gap in the trees, I saw the underside of a 4 engined aircraft which a friend walking with me asked what it was. I replied 'if I didn't know better, I'd say it was a B17 Flying Fortress'.
As we all know now, it was a B17 (one of 3 based at Bovingdon to film 'The War Lover') and they were frequent sights in the sky for the next few months.
I was still too young to join the local ATC Squadron then, but the next film to be made at Bovingdon (633 Squadron) I was a cadet and visited once or twice during filming, the only problem we encountered being to figure out who was an actor/extra and who was a real RAF Officer whom we had to salute!!
Splendid shots of the low flying sequences in an area where 4 engined aircraft were not even supposed to taxy!
A few years later (late 1966 I think), on a 613 GS detachment from Halton, I landed a Sedburgh glider through that gap between the control tower and the hangars and believe me, it felt narrow even in that!
Last edited by chevvron; 11th Aug 2015 at 07:35.
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A good book if you can find a copy is "Everything But The Flak" by Martin Caidin which recounts how John Crewdson and Greg Board acquired the B-17s and got them to the UK for the film.
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Yep, Chevvron. Had much the same experience. Riding my m/cycle back from Police Training College at Eynsham Hall [rows of silver B47s at Brize, dragging their braking 'chutes on finals to my right!!!], looked to my left, and saw my first ever B.17. There for the film of course. The only film Steve McQueen ever made in England.
Well I watched it. As you said some good flying sequences. Steve McQueen seemed to specialise in playing total creeps - I wonder if he was one in real life. Interesting seeing Michael Crawford playing the young air gunner, and Bernard Braden as the doctor. I also saw Burt Kwouk at the pre flight briefing but he didnt get a credit at the end. Usual lazy train continuity mistake, the loco changed its class and number somewhere between Cambridge and London! Still at least the B17 didnt change to a B24 in mid-flight!
3/10 - and that was for the flying sequences!
3/10 - and that was for the flying sequences!
Originally Posted by Tankertrashnav
Steve McQueen seemed to specialise in playing total creeps - I wonder if he was one in real life.
B17s were no strangers to Bovingdon either; during WW2, it was a 'Combat Crew Replacement Center' with - you guessed it - B17s.
It's also been suggested Glenn Miller actually departed from there on his last flight, the aircraft having positioned from Twinwoods, but there doesn't seem to be any evidence to support this.
It's also been suggested Glenn Miller actually departed from there on his last flight, the aircraft having positioned from Twinwoods, but there doesn't seem to be any evidence to support this.
