A Conflict of Wings

[Nogbad the Bad]

Also know in the USA as "Fuss Over Feathers".

Some may call it a "soppy" film (not me, I think it's rather wonderful), but being flimed in Eastman colour in 1954 it oozes atmosphere - there's even a lovely colour shot of a B1 - if anyone knows what they are :8

Now to my point - being in colour this film holds great historical interest in that it shows Vampire and Meteors (amongst others) in RAF service in the early fifties. VERY nice - but does anyone know where it was filmed ?

:ugh:

[BEagle]

I've been trying to find out for years, mate!

Dan Winterland thought he knew, as the 'Island of Children' in the film was somewhere he knew. But it was made before he was born.

One thing to note in the movie is the sheer number of servicemen you see on that base!

Was it a Lincoln B Mk 1, perhaps?

[Groundloop]

Shot in the dark - is a B1 a steam locomotive?

[kevmusic]

Shot in the dark - is a B1 a steam locomotive?

If you saw it on 'Discovery Wings' it is!!

[Nogbad the Bad]

Yup a Thompson 4-6-0 - but I digress.
All I have managed to find out about the film is some of the locations where it was shot, but sadly not which airfield/airfields were used - or units involved - in the filming.
To quote from http://www.wymondhamonline.co.uk/org&clubs/regal_experience/news.html
The film was mainly shot on location around Hickling Broad, Ludham and Wells. It also features The Pleasure Boat Inn at Hickling and there is some lovely Broadland scenery shot in Eastman colour.
Also, after a long time searching, I have found a DVD of the film. If anyone's interested, they can be purchased here http://www.the-norfolk-broads.co.uk/cart/ (and no, I am not on commission :} )

[Dan Winterland]

The airfield used was RAF Langham on the north Norfolk coast. The 'Island of Children is supposed to be Scolt Head Island, but a lot of the filming was done at Blakeny Point, a few miles to the East. I think the fighters came from the Day Fighter Leader's School which I gather was at RAF West Raynham at the time.

Langham is now a Bernard Matthews turkey farm, but one of the taxiways was being used as a light aircraft strip when I once landed there in 1989 - according to my logbook. There used to a maintenace place specialising in De Havilland types. I've no idea if it's still there. There's a very rare dome shaped building surviving at Langham which was used as a training facility for Air Gunners.

A chap I used to be in a flying group with was an extra in the film as a child. He was living in Langham village at the time.

[Nogbad the Bad]

At last *Happy Dance*

Thanks Dan :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok: