View Full Version : Darkest Hour - little known WW2 engineering
Will1593
19th Jan 2018, 13:18
Haven't yet seen the film but I'm reading "Darkest Hour" by Anthony McCarten who wrote the screenplay. According to the book, in May 1940 Churchill made a flight to France on a DH Flamingo escorted by "Hurricane fighter jets". Now I'm really looking forward to seeing the film. :E
Wander00
19th Jan 2018, 13:22
Have been watching the (fascinating, IMHO) TV series based on the memoirs of Churchill's Met Police body guard. Mentions going to and from France in an unarmed and unescorted Flamingo (cue CGI Flamingo followed by contemporary film).
Saw Darkest Hour a couple of nights ago in English with French subtitles, in a cinema where almost all the other patrons were French. Not sure my genuine applause at the end of the film was appreciated by the other patrons, showing as it does the French in less than a flattering light. Brilliant film though, IMHO
Will1593
19th Jan 2018, 13:28
Some details of Churchill's wartime transport here (https://www.winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-148/getting-there-churchills-wartime-journeys/).
I seem to recall that it's a Dakota in the film.
DHfan
19th Jan 2018, 16:16
I've sometimes wondered how successful the DH.95 Flamingo would have been if it wasn't for WWII.
As the first all-metal DH aircraft, everything I've read seems to show it looking quite a promising design.
Wander00
20th Jan 2018, 10:19
TV series - Flamingo, film indeed a DC3, but I guess airworthy, indeed any, Flamingo unavailable. No Routemasters though.