633 Squadron

[Zlin526]

Just watched the last 40 mins of 633 Squadron. Anyone know where it was filmed? I suspect Bovingdon, by the sight of an RAF Anson XIX parked in the background of one of the shots.

And how many airworthy Mossies were involved? I counted 3, but I'm convinced they destroyed one in filming. :{

And who were the Pilots?

[Tony_EM]

The (real) Mossie shots made my heart yearn to see one flying again, but they could have used better models; those 1/72 airfix kits looked pretty sad when they blew them up leaving pieces dangling on a string.

[wub]

There were 3 flying aircraft and some of the scenes were filmed at Dalcross (Inverness) airport

[Compass Call]

Can anybody identify the triple-finned low winged monoplane in the opening shots of the film? Was it a type used during WW2?

CC

[tharg]

Zlin - good spot on the Anson, I missed that. Loved the Miles Messenger (?) at the opening though.

Can confirm Bovingdon as main location. Understand from fellow Merlin followers that three airworthy and two grounded, but moveable, Mossies were involved. One of the latter (:{ ) was wrecked for 633. Filmed from a number of angles, the wreck is used for two different incidents.

Also worthy of note is the "RAF" B-25 used to ferry Chakiris to Norway. Totally bizarre col scheme (white roof with blue cheat line as in post-war Transport Command!) thrown on as last moment. The Mitchell was actually the air-to-air camera ship for the film! Director, Walter Grauman, was a Mitchell driver for USAAF during WW2 in Europe.

Cannot confirm exact ID of pilots of Mosquitoes. But DO know that one credit goes to "Captain John Crewdson" who was one of the WW2 veterans who Paul Mantz used to help him bring three B-17s from desert storage in US to UK for filming of "12 O'clock High".

Crewdson is also credited with the great airfield beat-up in "The War Lover" (Bovingdon, again). He was also "aviation advisor" for "Dr Strangelove, or how I learned to....etc" and also gets several flying credits in Bond movies: "OHMSS" and "Spy who loved me among them".

Whoever piloted 633's stars of the show must have been pretty damned good, understand from chap I know who drove one in WW2 that they were a bitch on finals and losing an engine on same almost inevitably led to large smoking hole in field.

Compass - believe a/c was Miles Messenger (as above). Yes did see service in War. Commissioned by British Army as an air observation post and liason platform in 1942, it was developed in three months (from similar Miles Mercury) and saw service in small numbers. Rumour has it that officer who commissioned it actually had no authority to do so and was posted to nastiest bit of North African campaign when the Messengers started to be delivered to them!

Probably a lot more in the Miles thread in this board.

[Zlin526]

John Crewdson was renowned for his involvement in film flying during the 50's and 60's. He was also responsible for numerous helicopter appearances in films, such as the 007 films and also ISTR founded Helicopter Hire Ltd, a company at Southend.

Neville Browning was the pilot of the Miles Messenger, later to be tragically killed in the crash of his Zlin 326, G-ASIM at Seething. Now there's a character.......

[tharg]

Zlin & Speechless

Gents, thanks for that - have always been a great admirer of the art of Paul Mantz and Frank Tallman (killed in, or shortly after, filming of Flight of Phoenix and Murphy's War respectively). But had not come across Mr Crewdson before. Read on PPRuNe recently of 'Skeets' Kelly's death. Aerial cinematographer must be one of the most dangerous professions ever. RIP all of 'em, their work lives on...

[Molesworth Hold]

“After the Battle” No 18 has a nice little article on the aircraft used in 633 Sqn and the later rather dire Mosquito Squadron. There were five airworthy aircraft for 633 Sqn and three only capable of taxying, which were destroyed or badly damaged in making the film. Other aircraft and parts of aircraft were used to film cockpit shots.

The special effects aren’t too bad for a film made in 1963.

[Zlin526]

Speechless,

I think the helicopter you refer to was Alouette II G-AWAP, which crashed in the Wash 26/6/83. That was owned by Heli Hire Ltd, and featured in quite a few films itself.

[Tony_EM]

The special effects aren’t too bad for a film made in 1963.

That is true. I was just having a fond dig at a film I first saw over 35 years ago. I remember filling my airfix Mossies with bangers but the effect wasn't as 'good' as the film's.

I am overawed by the depth of knowledge here, and very appreciative. Anyone know the plans for the Fighter Collection's Mosquito at Duxford?

[Gainesy]

But in the cockpit shots, there is no fin/rudder.:)

[Hairyplane]

Great movie. I get the impression that a big budget wasn't available. However, try to do it now with real planes....!

The amazing advances in computer technology seems to render everything possible these days though.

Messenger - none other than my old G-AKBO!

She is on CofA at the moment - hopefully back in the air for G-VFWE.

I commend you to nip across to the MMMmmmiles thread if you want to learn more about the Messenger.


HP

[Dop]

Yes, the effects are a bit tacky, but it's still a cracking film...

Watching the end, I can't help thinking that it's where a certain Mr. Lucas got one of his ideas from...

[hairyclameater]

Indeed, it has been stated that the final Fijord sequence was the inspiration for Star Wars death star bombing run.Cant believe that it took so long to be repeated - it is a stonking finale.

Anyone know where that was shot (633s I mean!) - Scottish valley somewhere? - perhaps the current "star wars valley" that the RAF use today. Would have loved to have seen 3 mossies screaming down there over and over!!

[RabbitLeader]

but if anyone's playing the new PS2/PC/X-box game, when you get to mission 11 (I think!) you have to fly a Mosquito down a Norwegian fjord in order to destroy a power station at the foot of a dam, rolling a Highball bomb down the fjord in order to destroy the generators at the dam's base.

Not only that, but you have to take out the German AA guns on the sides of the cliffs.

Sound vaguely familiar?? ;)

[Gainesy]

Hairy,
The "Star Wars Valley" is in Saudi or Oman (can't quite remember).

[BeauMan]

Pretty certain it was Saudi - my old Flight Commander was a nav on XV in the run up to Gulf War I, and shot some cracking camcorder footage of Star Wars valley from the back seat. :cool:

[G085H1TE]

But in the cockpit shots, there is no fin/rudder.

Also, when the pilots turn the yoke (which should be a stick in the FB versions anyway, but I digress) to bank at some crazy angle, the horizon visible through the rear of the canopy never changes!

Still very fond of dear old 633 Sqdn, though:D

[Archimedes]

<dons anorak> I think that the 633 Mossies are correct in having a yoke rather than a stick...

IIRC (which I probably don't :rolleyes: ) - In the book (which is better than the film, IMHO), 633 trades in its Bostons for a special version of the Mossie IV. These are equipped with two cannon and two mgs in the nose (the nature of the mission meaning that the bomb-aiming position and glazing are not required) and has no underfloor guns - the space there, you see, is needed to carry the 'earthquake' bombs dropped on the rock above the factory...

:8

[hairyclameater]

I'm sure the RAF call the Selkirk to Moffat valley along the A708 and the A9 Pitlochry - Aviemore "star wars valleys"as well as the foreign ones.
Seem to recall Ewan McGregor (aka some anorak name from Star Wars part 1etc) being flown down one of them in the back seat of a 15sqn Tonka with his brother (last years GR4 display pilot) up front.
Any low fly boys or gals out there to confirm??

[Tony_EM]

I'm sure the RAF call the Selkirk to Moffat valley along the A708 and the A9 Pitlochry - Aviemore "star wars valleys"as well as the foreign ones.

Brings back succulent memories of playing golf at Pitlochry while watching the Hercs and Jags winding their way through the valley below. Spent a lot of time around Loch Rannoch over the years, mostly with neck ache.

[Georgeablelovehowindia]

After the film was made, one of the Mosquitoes involved was resident at Wycombe Air Park (Booker) for some time. It was there for major maintenance by Personal Plane Services. When it was ready for its test flight, the (late) Neil Williams flew it. He very nearly became the earlier/late Neil Williams that day because, having completed the flight, he returned to Booker for a landing on 25, which is a mite short for a Mossie.

Williams wasn't quite satisfied with the approach, so he opened up for a go-around and promptly suffered the dreaded "Rich Mixture Cut" from one of the engines. Trailing black smoke, he staggered across the airfield towards what seemed like the inevitable site of the crash. Indeed watching this was flying instructor Miss Joan Hughes, who had a fair few hours on Mossies herself, having been a WW2 ATA pilot. She was heard to murmer in that refined accent: "Oh lor! He's dead my dears, I fear he's dead ..."

Somehow, Williams made it across the airfield and vanished into the valley beyond, leaving the trail of smoke. Everyone expected the fireball to rise but amazingly, the screaming of the one good Merlin kept going, getting fainter and fainter. Eventually, what seemed miles away - and probably was - the aircraft was seen to claw its way into the sky and everyone heaved a sigh of relief. NW quite rightly decided he'd had enough excitement for one day and landed at nearby RAF Benson. He subsequently ferried it back to Booker after Doug Bianchi (the boss of PPS) and his boys did some adjustments on the engine.

I'm fairly sure this Mosquito was subsequently flown out to the USA and survives in flying condition.

[treadigraph]

G-ALHI, that would make it G-ASKA/G-MOSI, rebuilt by PPS in '71, which subsequently joined the Confeds and others, thence back to Blighty for Doug Arnold in '79. Another Trans-Atlantic ferry in '84 and now in the USAF Museum at Dayton. Sadly grounded.

Hadn't heard that story about Williams...

We want another Mossie!