Battle of Britain Film
They were making B of B in 1968 at the same time as Mosquito Squadron; I remember driving past Bovingdon and seeing a line of Mosquitos, Spitfires, Hurricanes and Me (Hispano)109s parked on the apron south of the tower.
NB A few of the sequences for B of B were launched from Bovingdon, but as far as I know, no filming actually took place there. That Shackleton pilot who did the tailchase sequences filming the Mosquito was incredible ( believe he was a Farnborough TP).
NB A few of the sequences for B of B were launched from Bovingdon, but as far as I know, no filming actually took place there. That Shackleton pilot who did the tailchase sequences filming the Mosquito was incredible ( believe he was a Farnborough TP).
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Originally Posted by Davey Stott
Wait until Hollywood decides a re-make is required 
Yes I know there were a few of them in the Few - this is parody
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Remake?
Why not, like Pearl Harbour, use CGI aircraft?
There is a website,(here) of merlin engined a/c- simply keep all of the acting parts, but change the a/c with CG ones?
Or might it be a big
up?
There is a website,(here) of merlin engined a/c- simply keep all of the acting parts, but change the a/c with CG ones?
Or might it be a big
up?
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There is a special edition DVD available. It has several documentaries on a separate disk full of interesting insights into the making of the film and into the flying of the aircraft. Well worth buying before it disappears.
Climebear,
Perhaps you overlook history.....the Eagle Squadrons and Polish pilots were quite ably assisted by the rest of the RAF and RN squadrons.
Perhaps you overlook history.....the Eagle Squadrons and Polish pilots were quite ably assisted by the rest of the RAF and RN squadrons.
TAC Int Bloke
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The Eagle squadrons came later SAS, there were 8-10 Americans credited with flying in the BoB, they flew with regular squadrons. The first Eagle Squadron wasn't formed until Sep 1940
Mind you, Tom Cruise might have something to say on the matter!
From the RAF website
Donahue Pilot Officer A G American 64 Sqn Killed
Fiske Pilot Officer W M L American 601 Sqn Killed*
Haviland Pilot Officer J K American 151 Sqn
Keough Pilot Officer V C American 609 Sqn Killed
Leckrone Pilot Officer P H American 616 Sqn Killed
Mamedoff Pilot Officer A American 609 Sqn Died
Tobin Pilot Officer E Q American 609 Sqn Killed
Mind you, Tom Cruise might have something to say on the matter!
From the RAF website
Donahue Pilot Officer A G American 64 Sqn Killed
Fiske Pilot Officer W M L American 601 Sqn Killed*
Haviland Pilot Officer J K American 151 Sqn
Keough Pilot Officer V C American 609 Sqn Killed
Leckrone Pilot Officer P H American 616 Sqn Killed
Mamedoff Pilot Officer A American 609 Sqn Died
Tobin Pilot Officer E Q American 609 Sqn Killed
Last edited by Maple 01; 6th Aug 2006 at 08:40.
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SASless, no Eagle Sqns existed during the BoB ol' boy. The first, 71(Eagle) Sqn was not formed until Nov 1940 - commanded by a Brit. The other two, 121 and 133 came later but eventually all were transferred to USAAF control on 29 Sep 1942. A few yanks did fly during the battle though but as members of RAF sqns.
The Poles and the Czechs did make it to the BoB albeit, like the Americans, initially commanded by Brits. My grandfather was the IO on 303 Sqn from it's formation until after the battle and luckily I have copies of most of the original combat reports he wrote, rivetting reading. Brave men one and all.
Downed Polish pilot "Good Afteernoon"
Farmworker "What?...Good afternoon my arse, get yer 'ands up come on get em up" or words to that effect!
The Poles and the Czechs did make it to the BoB albeit, like the Americans, initially commanded by Brits. My grandfather was the IO on 303 Sqn from it's formation until after the battle and luckily I have copies of most of the original combat reports he wrote, rivetting reading. Brave men one and all.
Downed Polish pilot "Good Afteernoon"
Farmworker "What?...Good afternoon my arse, get yer 'ands up come on get em up" or words to that effect!
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From wiki
Billy Fiske
This is not to take anything away from his sacrifice, just that I worry how the film will present history. His pre-RAF life seems eminently suitable for a Hollywood portrayal, however, I fear another 'Pearl Harbor' when it comes to the Battle of Britain element.
Billy Fiske
On August 11 he claimed the first probable kill, of a Bf 110 and on August 13 he claimed the probable kill of a Junkers Ju 88.
Ben Clinch, a weapons loader for Billy Fiske and his comrades during the summer of 1940, said, "I can't see how they can make a film of Fiske's life. It was quite short. He was unremarkable, in the context of the squadron. He was just another pilot as far as we were concerned."
Ben Clinch, a weapons loader for Billy Fiske and his comrades during the summer of 1940, said, "I can't see how they can make a film of Fiske's life. It was quite short. He was unremarkable, in the context of the squadron. He was just another pilot as far as we were concerned."
Originally Posted by L-H
SASless, no Eagle Sqns existed during the BoB ol' boy. The first, 71(Eagle) Sqn was not formed until Nov 1940
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Originally Posted by ORAC
A temporary reprieve, but a reprieve nonetheless.
As for CGI aircfraft- I have yet to see a film where the action sequences look convincing.
Oh, one more thing, how can you chaps possibly forget:
"Spring chicken to ****ehawk in one easy lesson. Dakadakadakadaka..."
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Originally Posted by SASless
Climebear,
Perhaps you overlook history.....the Eagle Squadrons and Polish pilots were quite ably assisted by the rest of the RAF and RN squadrons.
Perhaps you overlook history.....the Eagle Squadrons and Polish pilots were quite ably assisted by the rest of the RAF and RN squadrons.
One source suggests 24% of the BoB aircrew were non-British. Indeed the Eagle Squadrons were being formed beginning in the last month of the BoB, unfortunately (depending upon how one looks at it) the Germans decided they had enough of the RAF before the three squadrons came on line.
The Hollywood version will have the Fat Man learning of the three squadrons and deciding not to face them as being the real reason for the about face.
This excerpt of an article might show what the volunteers faced in joining the RAF.....early on the law was not so lenient towards the volunteers.
The Hollywood version will have the Fat Man learning of the three squadrons and deciding not to face them as being the real reason for the about face.
This excerpt of an article might show what the volunteers faced in joining the RAF.....early on the law was not so lenient towards the volunteers.
Nobody knows how many ‘secret Americans’ served in the Royal Air Force during the summer of 1940, or how many Canadians who joined the RAF were actually Americans who kept their nationality a secret. (The official number is 7.)* But the real figure is probably many times higher. The only trace of their true nationality are buried in squadron rosters – ‘Tex,’ or ‘America,’ or ‘Uncle Sam.’
One of the Neutrality Acts made joining the armed forces of a ‘belligerent nation’ a criminal offense. The punishment for anyone unfortunate enough to be caught trying to join the RAF was stiff – a $20,000 fine, a ten-year prison sentence, and loss of US citizenship. To protect themselves from harassment by border patrols and the FBI, American volunteers simply declared themselves to be Canadian. Others simply went to Canada and disappeared. A volunteer from New York told a customs officer that he was going to Newfoundland ‘for some shooting.’ Americans who crossed into Canada and made their way across to England and the RAF lost their US citizenship, and technically became fugitives from justice.
Between June 1940 and December 1941, several hundred Americans volunteered to join the RAF. The best known are the fighter pilots, but others served in Bomber Command as pilots, navigators and air gunners. Among those who are known to have served with Fighter Command in the summer of 1940 was Flight Lieutenant James Davies of Bernardsville, NJ, who joined the RAF in 1936. By June 1940, he had shot down six enemy aircraft, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 25 June, the day on which he was to have received the DFC from George VI, Davies was shot down and killed.
One of the Neutrality Acts made joining the armed forces of a ‘belligerent nation’ a criminal offense. The punishment for anyone unfortunate enough to be caught trying to join the RAF was stiff – a $20,000 fine, a ten-year prison sentence, and loss of US citizenship. To protect themselves from harassment by border patrols and the FBI, American volunteers simply declared themselves to be Canadian. Others simply went to Canada and disappeared. A volunteer from New York told a customs officer that he was going to Newfoundland ‘for some shooting.’ Americans who crossed into Canada and made their way across to England and the RAF lost their US citizenship, and technically became fugitives from justice.
Between June 1940 and December 1941, several hundred Americans volunteered to join the RAF. The best known are the fighter pilots, but others served in Bomber Command as pilots, navigators and air gunners. Among those who are known to have served with Fighter Command in the summer of 1940 was Flight Lieutenant James Davies of Bernardsville, NJ, who joined the RAF in 1936. By June 1940, he had shot down six enemy aircraft, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 25 June, the day on which he was to have received the DFC from George VI, Davies was shot down and killed.
OK - whats the link between the film and Pink Floyd - a bit of lateral thinking could send Quint from Jaws up the wall on this one !
nb - Take a look at Robert Shaws house - looks awfully 1960's around the door to me................
nb - Take a look at Robert Shaws house - looks awfully 1960's around the door to me................
This film seems to a long time in production - following news item from September 2003... as its director is Michael Mann expect Tom to wear no socks and keep his flying jacket sleeves rolled up! 
Cruise Eyes Second Pilot Role
Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise is teaming up with his Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer to play a daring pilot for the second time in World War Two epic The Few. The movie will tell the story of American airman Billy Fiske, an Olympic athlete who risked imprisonment to fight alongside British forces before America joined the war. Fiske and a small group of men risked imprisonment by their native country by defying orders to remain neural in the bitter conflict and answering Prime Minister Winston Churchill's call to arms. Other names attached to the project are The Last Samurai scribe John Logan and director Michael Mann - who will also work with Cruise in upcoming movie Collateral.
Cruise Eyes Second Pilot Role
Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise is teaming up with his Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer to play a daring pilot for the second time in World War Two epic The Few. The movie will tell the story of American airman Billy Fiske, an Olympic athlete who risked imprisonment to fight alongside British forces before America joined the war. Fiske and a small group of men risked imprisonment by their native country by defying orders to remain neural in the bitter conflict and answering Prime Minister Winston Churchill's call to arms. Other names attached to the project are The Last Samurai scribe John Logan and director Michael Mann - who will also work with Cruise in upcoming movie Collateral.
Originally Posted by SASless
Among those who are known to have served with Fighter Command in the summer of 1940 was Flight Lieutenant James Davies of Bernardsville, NJ, who joined the RAF in 1936. By June 1940, he had shot down six enemy aircraft, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 25 June, the day on which he was to have received the DFC from George VI, Davies was shot down and killed.
It should be remembered that although almost all the Eagle Sqn. personel transfered to the USAAF, there was a number of US flyers elsewhere in the RAF that elected to stay in the RAF for the duration.
Just 3 examples being, 'Foob' Fairbanks, one of the high scoring Tempest pilots, 'Bob' Kirkpatrick who piloted one of the 21 Sqn. Mosquitoes on the famous Shellhaus in 1945, and of course Lance Wade who was one of the RAF's leading scoring fighter pilots during WW2.....
It all goes to show that there's almost nothing that an American can't do, providing he has an English officer telling him what to do.
Our two countries always work best when we work together.
Our two countries always work best when we work together.
As for hollywood re-writing history, check out www.flyboysthemovie.com looks like the yanks have now claimed the air war from WW1 as well!