Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Military Aviation
Reload this Page >

BBC Military Documentaries from the 1950s - Present Day

Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here.

BBC Military Documentaries from the 1950s - Present Day

Old 2nd Oct 2011, 12:10
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BBC Military Documentaries from the 1950s - Present Day

Hi,

In the last two weeks, the BBC have released their archive of documentary programmes about the British Army. They are available to watch via iplayer and include "The Paras" from 1983 and also "Defence of the realm" from 1996 (plus lots more).

A full selection of the programmes is available via BBC Four Collections.

BBC Four - Collections - Army: A Very British Institution

Cheers
small_dog is offline  
Old 2nd Oct 2011, 23:22
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: London/Oxford/New York
Posts: 2,921
Received 137 Likes on 62 Posts
I wonder if 'Skywatch' will be released?
pr00ne is offline  
Old 2nd Oct 2011, 23:25
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A lot of them have been available on youtube for some time now - albeit, (probably) lower quality vid.

I'd highly recommend the Cutting Edge documentary on P Company from the early 90's - very tough course and some great lines in it also!
Akrapovic is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2011, 10:12
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: @exRAF_Al
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thanks.

Who remembers the BBC documentary filmed during Taceval at Wildenrath in the early/mid 80s? That'd be good to see again.
Al R is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2011, 17:42
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SCOTLAND
Age: 51
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Great, watching the marines in Borneo in 64, that's when my dad was there.
snowball1 is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2011, 19:09
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NOTTINGHAM
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wonder if 'Skywatch' will be released?
I was involved in Skywatch with 12 Sqn (Buccaneers)! Spent too many nights in Wittering Officers' Mess helping Raymond Baxter consume most of the BBC's hospitality budget in 'G&Ts All Round!'.

Recent research would suggest that a copy of it is not even in the BBC Archive!

Foldie
foldingwings is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2011, 20:29
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Welwyn Garden City
Age: 63
Posts: 1,851
Received 77 Likes on 43 Posts
I've got the Box Set of "SAILOR" was watching it a couple of years back and the first thing that sticks out at the start is the Ship's Company returning from a night on shore. Flares and shirt collars like kites.

From the previous decade, loafing around somewhere, I've got Ludovic Kennedy's 1966 Christmas Special, a Documentary on life aboard HMS Eagle on a cruise to the Far East. "Warship Eagle"!

FB
Finningley Boy is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2011, 07:00
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Al R, it was called "Phantom" and originally aired as a Man Alive programme narrated by Jack Pizzey.

I have a copy of the original programme on VHS which I got from Paul Hamer, the producer. It's quite amusing to watch the ground play which seems so naive nowadays.

I clipped together some of the flying shots (BBC copyright). Spare a thought for one of our crews who were killed filming some of the flying sequences.

F4 Videos pictures by DeeGee - Photobucket


Geehovah is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2011, 08:09
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: @exRAF_Al
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
.. thanks, I enjoyed that.

I watched the first episode of 'The Paras' last night, and was struck by how 'innocent' and 'make do and mend' it was. But in many ways, being under resourced with ironing boards and the like didn't automatically make for a worse training and learning environment.

Ali Melvyn incidentally, was the first recruit broadcast at Aldershot. As a Sgt, I shared a snow hole near Tromso with him 16 years later and we had a good old natter (with Padre Frank Collins too).
Al R is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2011, 08:38
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Wiltshire
Age: 59
Posts: 903
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In The Paras one of the instructors, Cpl Al Slater
November4 is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2011, 09:19
  #11 (permalink)  
WPW
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Lincoln
Age: 71
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Training the Phantom Pilot

Geehoval,
Is this PHANTOM the one that went though the Pilot training from Biggin Hill to Op Sqn? I was a young J/T at Church Fenton in 1972 / 73 when it was filmed, if my memory is correct the subject pilot had been chopped before getting to a Sqn. I can be seen walking in to Aero Med (that's were some of you will remember having your EEG or even having Airsickness treatment)
The film did the rounds as the 'B' movie to Serpico with Al Pacino, Ii saw it in the ABC Lincoln that was near the old CIO, it is now the waterside shopping centre.
WPW is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.