Flying Films
Yes, Him
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Lou, was that the one with air-to-air of 43Sqn Hunters doing aeros?
Saw a Russian movie once when "the Regiment fulfilled its Patriotic Duty by meeting its training targets...", bloody impressive or what?
Saw a Russian movie once when "the Regiment fulfilled its Patriotic Duty by meeting its training targets...", bloody impressive or what?
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Gainsey: Absolutely. The story was that the RAF wouldn't let them cut a hole in the front of one of their Hunters for the camera. so they cut a hole in the front of the Hawker machine, chinagraphed a viewfinder on the front screen and sent the pilot off to fill it up with shots of the other Hunters flying. The shots of the burning Hunter on the ground were provided thanks to one of the JP's who, reportedly, put his Hunter down rather hard so they set fire to it again for the film.You can probably still get the film on old 78rpm records!
And here's another gem:
When they filmed the Dambusters at Scampton the Station was filled with actors dressed as Officers and Aircrew NCO's. No one actually in the Service knew who to salute and who to ignore. The order went round for all the actors to wear dark brown shoes (which they did).
The request was relayed to Richard Todd, who of course played Wg.Cdr.Gibson. He declined, pointing out that he had held the rank of Lt.Col. in the army and therefore felt no embarrassment dressed as a Wingco!
And here's another gem:
When they filmed the Dambusters at Scampton the Station was filled with actors dressed as Officers and Aircrew NCO's. No one actually in the Service knew who to salute and who to ignore. The order went round for all the actors to wear dark brown shoes (which they did).
The request was relayed to Richard Todd, who of course played Wg.Cdr.Gibson. He declined, pointing out that he had held the rank of Lt.Col. in the army and therefore felt no embarrassment dressed as a Wingco!
Lou - yes, the film 'High Flight' was shown a while ago on TV - fortunately I managed to record it (for personal use, of course) as I've no idea where it can be acquired from elsewhere. Some excellent flying sequences; not just the Hunters but also the Piston Provost low-flying scenes! And the Vampire which takes off, clips the grass and just clears the cameraman....
[ 19 October 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]
[ 19 October 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]
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Personally, I got hooked on the USAF from watching all those episodes of 'I Dream of Jeannie' as a kid. Barbara Eden...hot d@mn tamale! 
The show was famous for having Maj Tony Nelson take off in a F-4, fly around in a F-105, then land in a F-86 (or something like that). F***ing magic!
But I digress...
The show was famous for having Maj Tony Nelson take off in a F-4, fly around in a F-105, then land in a F-86 (or something like that). F***ing magic!
But I digress...
Just a numbered other
One corker for excellent footage of 1950s crabs is 'conflict of wings'
John Gregson (septic from angels-one-five) is our hero. It's set in East Anglia and revolves around a gunnery range and a flock of geese who think they own it. Drossy love interest with typical 50s 'posh bird'.
Great shots of Vampires and Venoms and period crab station life.
John Gregson (septic from angels-one-five) is our hero. It's set in East Anglia and revolves around a gunnery range and a flock of geese who think they own it. Drossy love interest with typical 50s 'posh bird'.
Great shots of Vampires and Venoms and period crab station life.
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Oh, that'll be nice then, eh FV? 
But if no Hunters it'll be before my time.
(Wot's a period Crab then? You're not going to admit, at last, that we've actually got some traditions?
)
Please, no-one mention bad habits.
But if no Hunters it'll be before my time.
(Wot's a period Crab then? You're not going to admit, at last, that we've actually got some traditions?
)Please, no-one mention bad habits.
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My all time favourite is the classic "Battle of Britain" because it feels authentic and has some of the best one liners...
Flight Commander of the Polish Training Squadron demonstrating excellent power of command after his wards have peeled off to attack a German formation, "SILENCE...IN POLISH!".
Robert Shaw as a Squadron OC returning to base (which is full of craters) to find a number of German airmen POWs being unloaded from a truck..
"Corporal, where are you taking these vultures?"
"Officers to the mess, NCOs to the guardroom sir"
"Well they're responsible for this mess, get them to clean it up"
"But sir, what about the officers?"
"Give them a bloody shovel!"
Flight Commander of the Polish Training Squadron demonstrating excellent power of command after his wards have peeled off to attack a German formation, "SILENCE...IN POLISH!".
Robert Shaw as a Squadron OC returning to base (which is full of craters) to find a number of German airmen POWs being unloaded from a truck..
"Corporal, where are you taking these vultures?"
"Officers to the mess, NCOs to the guardroom sir"
"Well they're responsible for this mess, get them to clean it up"
"But sir, what about the officers?"
"Give them a bloody shovel!"
Have mentioned 'Conflict of Wings' on this site before - and also taped it off TV. One of the most interesting aspects of the 'period shots' is the sheer number of servicemen on a typical RAF station. And no PFIs, IiP rubbish, PC behaviour, Budget Management.............
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Yes Beagle, but this is a thread about Movies and I'm not a film buff so I mustn't hijack it but may I just reinforce your comment?
When I joined my first sqn in 1955 there were still over 250,000 serving in RAF uniform; there were 90 fighter sqn colours I was supposed to memorise and I can't even remember whether that was just 11 Gp or 11 and 12 Gp together.
There were 15 or 18 of those sqns within a 30-40 nm radius of my station (a standard two day- and one night-fighter sqn outfit).
The station had a grand total of three Wg Cdrs and 8 Sqn Ldrs (as well as the Gp Capt Staish, of course. But we called him God in those days).
Saturday mornings were often a sortie of a Balbo of six or eight DF Interceptor sqns mixing it over East Anglia followed by a parade of anything up to 400 men on the parade square. The station must have had 1000-1200 personnel on it.
Just like you see on the movies - except for the funerals every so often. I'd helped to bury 11 pilots before I'd completed two year's aircrew service.
Not glorifying anything here or claiming "how much better it was in those days". Not at all; it wasn't, because we were paid a pittance and we were b uggered about no end but we didn't realise that there was a better way. But this may be of interest to the younger guys who would like to get a flavour for a former way of life and know that what they saw on the movies was close to reality.
{Edited because I object to being censored from using the words b uggered about. For heaven's sake it's part of the language now.}
[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: fobotcso ]
When I joined my first sqn in 1955 there were still over 250,000 serving in RAF uniform; there were 90 fighter sqn colours I was supposed to memorise and I can't even remember whether that was just 11 Gp or 11 and 12 Gp together.
There were 15 or 18 of those sqns within a 30-40 nm radius of my station (a standard two day- and one night-fighter sqn outfit).
The station had a grand total of three Wg Cdrs and 8 Sqn Ldrs (as well as the Gp Capt Staish, of course. But we called him God in those days).
Saturday mornings were often a sortie of a Balbo of six or eight DF Interceptor sqns mixing it over East Anglia followed by a parade of anything up to 400 men on the parade square. The station must have had 1000-1200 personnel on it.
Just like you see on the movies - except for the funerals every so often. I'd helped to bury 11 pilots before I'd completed two year's aircrew service.
Not glorifying anything here or claiming "how much better it was in those days". Not at all; it wasn't, because we were paid a pittance and we were b uggered about no end but we didn't realise that there was a better way. But this may be of interest to the younger guys who would like to get a flavour for a former way of life and know that what they saw on the movies was close to reality.
{Edited because I object to being censored from using the words b uggered about. For heaven's sake it's part of the language now.}
[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: fobotcso ]
fobotsco - sorry, I didn't mean the post to read the way it does; my computer ate the bit which went on (after 'TV') "..and I agree that it was a classic piece which gives an interesting insight into how things were 'beck then' as the female lead might have said."
Just a numbered other
Was quite enjoying your piece, fobotsco, until I got to the bit about balbos on Saturday morning
Crabs flying at the weekend???
Nah. I'll have to lift you on that one!!
Crabs flying at the weekend???
Nah. I'll have to lift you on that one!!
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Ark, true Honest! But then we had Wednesday afternoons off for "Sports" afternoons. Now bite on that!
Good bit on the wireless today about size of the Forces in 52-53. Over 1¼ million! (about ½ million+ army seems low). Large number were National Service of course and my figure of ¼ million RAF 3 years later also included those worthies.
No probs Beagle, I hadn't found fault, I just butted in. Remember, this is a movie thread - not for bad-mouthing Crabs.
[ 21 October 2001: Message edited by: fobotcso ]
Good bit on the wireless today about size of the Forces in 52-53. Over 1¼ million! (about ½ million+ army seems low). Large number were National Service of course and my figure of ¼ million RAF 3 years later also included those worthies.
No probs Beagle, I hadn't found fault, I just butted in. Remember, this is a movie thread - not for bad-mouthing Crabs.
[ 21 October 2001: Message edited by: fobotcso ]
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Got to agree with Waco - Appointment In London, with Dirk Bogarde, is perhaps one of the best overall films about Bomber Command. The flying sequences are nothing special and the storyline is rather hacknyed - Wg Cdr is pushing to do 'just one more' so he can get in his 90th sortie and get posted to a ground job; Group say no but he manages to wangle himself on a Lanc full of 'odds and sods' including the ubiquitous USAF exchange officer (who incidentally has been banned from flying on raids by the USAF), Master Bomber gets shot down over the target but Wingco saves the day...and returns to ensure his crew make thier 'Appointment in London' to pick up tea and medals at the Palace. The film is dedicated to those crews who did not manage to make their Appointment In London - nice touch.
However, the film has a great period feel and for those with an interest in Bomber Command it is a must see. The Mess Party sequence towards the end of the film is very moving and poignant.
However, the film has a great period feel and for those with an interest in Bomber Command it is a must see. The Mess Party sequence towards the end of the film is very moving and poignant.
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One of the features of "Appointment in London" that sticks in the memory was the background music. There was a rendering of "I don't want to join the Air Force..." slightly muffled, with the words a little bowdlerised. And also another ditty which I never heard anywhere other than in the film .
"...don't wnat to fly and don't want to fight
I've much better things to do in the night..."
Wednesday afternoons at Middleton in the early 50s were sports afternoons, but most of the QFIs were so knackered that we did "Egyptian PT" (On yer backs DOWN! Deep breathing by numbers COMMENCE!). Saturday morning was usually a station parade, but if we were behind with the task, we flew on through the weekend. The routine was flexible. If the met briefing at 0700 was hopeless the Wingco Flying (a mad Irishman) would declare "No flying today. Bar Officer, open the bar!" Woe betide you if you were in the bar on St Patrick's day and the clag lifted. "Fitz" would call for a balbo - "brief on Distress last man airborne's a cissy". He would then lead the balbo over the airfield and at the crucial moment he would roll inverted. With a few whiskies inside him his rolls weren't as accurate as he thought they were, so his Nos 2 & 3 learned to space themselves out a tad.
"...don't wnat to fly and don't want to fight
I've much better things to do in the night..."
Wednesday afternoons at Middleton in the early 50s were sports afternoons, but most of the QFIs were so knackered that we did "Egyptian PT" (On yer backs DOWN! Deep breathing by numbers COMMENCE!). Saturday morning was usually a station parade, but if we were behind with the task, we flew on through the weekend. The routine was flexible. If the met briefing at 0700 was hopeless the Wingco Flying (a mad Irishman) would declare "No flying today. Bar Officer, open the bar!" Woe betide you if you were in the bar on St Patrick's day and the clag lifted. "Fitz" would call for a balbo - "brief on Distress last man airborne's a cissy". He would then lead the balbo over the airfield and at the crucial moment he would roll inverted. With a few whiskies inside him his rolls weren't as accurate as he thought they were, so his Nos 2 & 3 learned to space themselves out a tad.
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Could never understand why the Ruskies never sprang a surprise attack on a Wednesday afternoon. They must have known.
Remember seeing burnt Hunter on the Chivenor boundary. Was that the one refered to?
Now off to The Astra, Strategic Air Command, loved those B47s, sure it was supposed to be serious but the audience seemed to treat it like a Whitehall farce.
Remember seeing burnt Hunter on the Chivenor boundary. Was that the one refered to?
Now off to The Astra, Strategic Air Command, loved those B47s, sure it was supposed to be serious but the audience seemed to treat it like a Whitehall farce.
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The Great Waldo Pepper
Its really great. It portrays the golden age of flying in the 1920s and has all sorts of bi plane-tastic stunts and larks. Very good flying scenes with vintage planes. Also shows how the CAA over regulated everything and broke Pepper.
Has anyone seen "Those magnificent men and their flying machines" ? Is it good/plot outline please?
Its really great. It portrays the golden age of flying in the 1920s and has all sorts of bi plane-tastic stunts and larks. Very good flying scenes with vintage planes. Also shows how the CAA over regulated everything and broke Pepper.
Has anyone seen "Those magnificent men and their flying machines" ? Is it good/plot outline please?
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Magnificent men in their flying machines has essentially no plot. Lots of sight gags, etc. Don't get technical with it, just laugh your *#$#& off.
Believe some posts confuse "Dawn Patrol" with "Wings" a Howard Hughes produced/directed spectacular that trashed a goodly number of WW1 or their abouts vintage A/C.
Best flying movie of all time is still BoB. See it on an IMAX screen from row 10 center, it's the next (well, next to next) best thing to aerobatics in a Stearman on a spring afternoon.
Believe some posts confuse "Dawn Patrol" with "Wings" a Howard Hughes produced/directed spectacular that trashed a goodly number of WW1 or their abouts vintage A/C.
Best flying movie of all time is still BoB. See it on an IMAX screen from row 10 center, it's the next (well, next to next) best thing to aerobatics in a Stearman on a spring afternoon.