Mitchells over the Atlantic
 

Hi all,

I am trying to get hold of a copy of the programme featuring Jeff Hawke and the B25's brought over for the film Hanover St in 1978).

Any ideas as to where a vhs or dvd of this programme can be found

I remember this program. It was called 'B25s can fly in IMC'. Some quite hairy flying, IIRC, and some of the team didn't share Jeff's calls on when it was safe to go or not.

I used to have a copy on an old Phillips video tape (remeber that format? One tape reel atop the other?). It went bto the tip wiyth all its tapes when it died.

I'd love a VHS copy to see it again.

SSD

Me too... if you find it, let us know. Excellent film, remeber that shot of one backtracking after abandoning take off with the others still taking off...

Variation on the title might be "B-25 Mitchells do Fly IFR" of possibly even "Mitchells do Fly IFR". Can't quite remember, Shaggy's doesn't quite seem right.... I may well be wrong though (usually am!)

Treadders: It's 'Mitchells do fly in IMC' and (assuming it's still in my loft where I believe to be) my original copy will soon be on its way to Paulc, so you'll need to talk nicely to him...

I have a much watched and much enjoyed copy but it is getting very tired now with lots of jumping about and missing bits of sound but I do enjoy watching what bits I can. I really think it's too far gone for a copy of it to be worthwhile but it might just be possible if I had the technology.

One of these days I'll either win the lottery or be very lucky to be offered a ride in a B25 but not sure I'd manage the breakfast !!!

Shaggy and I seem to have danced nimbly around the correct title nicely! Aerohack, you have a memory like a database!

Cheers

Treadders...

One of my favourites too, mainly because of John Hawkes and the music.
Does anyone know if any of those B25s finished up at Coventry or North Weald?

Treadders: Yes, a middle-aged brain-faded database that can retrieve inconsequential trivia from decades ago, but is hard-pressed to remember what it did this morning. It does recall photographing those Mitchells lined up nose to tail at Blackbushe (and done with the late Doug Arnold's blessing, rather than his set-the-dogs-on-you routine), and also doing a photo shoot with a flightsuited Gary Numan posing in front of them. I found those pictures just the other day, but have yet to fathom image posting here (middle-aged, etc, etc).

Had a rummage in the attic and found the B25 video........seems to be in good shape - at least the first 10 minutes are !!
If anyone still wants one, let me know and I'll make a copy when I can requisition the Mem'sahib's VTR for a morning.

I seem to remember an article in Air Classics magazine about that. Their e-mail address is [email protected] and the website is www.challengeweb.com
They may not have the video, but Challenge Publications can usually point you in the right direction. They own a B-25 themselves.

Remember it well

The Mitchells came into LTN and were painted in the old Court Line Tristar Hangar. I was a Liney at LTN and we used to push them out of the hangar when they were filming and put them back in at night. There were at least four if not five of them. Watched my copy til it wore out as well. 'Mitchells do fly in IMC' was the response given by a BY a/c to ATC over the south of England when advised to keep an eye open for the a/c inbound on the ferry flight.

Was it one of these B25s that blew an engine (stbd I think) on t/o from Liverpool Speke some years ago. If my memory serves me right this a/c ended up at Dublin Airport ??:confused: :confused:

I think one of the Mitchell ended up in Dinard , and staid there a couple of years due to Customs problems ... It was probably considered a military aircraft, and the french customs were totally paranoïac with WW2 a/c.

The five Mitchells were:

44-29121/N86427 - went to the Museo del Aire at Cuatro Vientos
44-29366/N9115Z - now in the RAF Bomber Command museum at Hendon
44-30210/N9455Z - now at the USAF Museum at March AFB - was at Avignon
44-30925/N9494Z - at Coventry with Visionair in 1988
44-86701/N7681C - Stored at the Musee de L'Air, Le Bourget in 1988.

Sorry, my books still a bit old...

Other UK based Mitchells have been:

43-3318/G-BYDR - Fighter Collection, sold to another operator in 2002
44-30823/N1042B - Aces High with camera nose, back in the USA
44-30861/G-BKXW - Aces High, still stored at North Weald (used for 633 Sqn film)
44-31171/N7614C - AAFM, Duxford (used for filming in 1970)
44-31508/N6578D - Based in Florida, used for Battle of Britain

I think this is one of the Mitchells brought over by Jeff Hawke. Taken at Yeovilton c.1979

http://www.pbase.com/image/13841689

It is indeed WUB, looks like that might be Jeff Hawke in the chair as well...

Treaders, Yeah I thought it was Jeff Hawke too

Be unusual if it were Jeff. Never flew anywhere without his sweatsodden/filthy cap. And I think the two gents in the foreground are Keith Sissons (left) and Ted White. Not sure about Yeovilton!!

CamelPilot, It's Yeovilton alright, I took the pic myself. If you look in the background on the left you'll see the fins of a couple of FRADU Hunters with the 'VL' code on them.

You are probably right about the gents in the foreground because a couple of minutes later I took this:

http://www.pbase.com/image/13856462

Don't think he was wearing the cap when he shouted at me and a few other interested parties who had gathered to watch him start up the same aeropalne at Cranfield in '81 or '83... But to be honest I was too busy taking offence...!!!

Would the more shapely figure in the foreground be Ellie Sallingboe?

Have to say if that was '79 the aeroplane looked amazingly tatty - or was that all part of the film garb?

Yeovilton '79 - Starfighter prang? Very sad. I went to the '82 and '86 shows and they were excellent. What was the name of the Hunter team - Blue Herons?

Nice pics WUB...