Making the Film The Battle of Britain
For anyone interested Leonard Mosley wrote a book 'The battle of Britain, the making of the film', published in 1969: SBN 297 17909 8. Long out of print of course but you might be lucky to be able to read it c/o the British Library or if really lucky, get a copy through a specialist book seller, which is where I got mine about 3 years ago.
It was an ex-Pathfinder Gp Capt Hamish Mahaddie who played one of the most significant parts in getting the film made: he spent 3 years trawling the world for the aeroplanes and then striking the deals to get them. The Spanish Air Force were still using their He111s and had only recently stopped flying their Me109s, which had been retrofitted with Merlins! The Spanish government offered their He111s on loan.
Many of the 'real' aircraft were OK to taxi but not airworthy; others were pure wood and fibreglass mock-ups.
I remember the film being made as a boy - seeing the B25 Mitchell camera aircraft often doing fly-bys over Swanton Morley near Norwich on its way somewhewre more interseting - and saw it for the first time at RAF Coltishall at the air display there in 1969.
It was a joy to read Stuffy's famous letter when I first visited the library in College Hall at Cranwell. Every line. It was still on display there about 3 years ago.
And as my children often quote from the film, our favourite line: "Don't you shout at me Mr Warwick!". Do they mean me?
Last edited by GlosMikeP; 18th Aug 2006 at 12:27.