Spitfires and Messerschmitts over the Solent

[FODPlod]

Of possible interest to south coast spotters:

Spitfires and Messerschmitts fly from Daedalus

Originally Posted by Portsmouth News 4 Aug 2016

WORLD War Two aircraft are staging mock dogfights over the Solent as part of filming for a blockbuster movie.

Spitfires and Messerschmitts have been spotted over the Daedalus site for the film Dunkirk, which is set to be released in 2017. Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Tom Hardy, Dunkirk tells the story of the 1940 evacuation of Allied soldiers who were surrounded by German troops on the beach of the French town.

Filming at Daedadlus reportedly began on Monday and with helicopters filming mock dogfights in the skies.

[gpzz]

Ha, it's all very exciting running in and out of the house all day watching them come and go. I'm not a pilot and I've seen Spits up close before but this lot certainly seem to be getting a move on once the gears up.

[Chugalug2]

Thought that Sleaford Tech had been moved south, then realised that they meant Lee on Solent. Perhaps "Daedalus Airfield" would have been a little more self explanatory. I also misread Tom Hardy as Tom Hanks. The latter could have been the more likely, so a pleasant surprise too!

[Pontius Navigator]

That is going to be very quick to produce. Dads Army took a lot longer to bring to the screen.

Also the story at the time were no RAF fighters over the beaches. What fighters there were were Hurricanes and Spitfires mainly fighting in land to try and keep the Jerry off the beaches. Dowding wouldn't release more sqns knowing the next battle would be for Britain.

I suppose the Spit/109 action is over 'Dunkirk'.

[Tourist]

Originally Posted by Chugalug2

Thought that Sleaford Tech had been moved south, then realised that they meant Lee on Solent. Perhaps "Daedalus Airfield" would have been a little more self explanatory.

To the vast majority of the readership of that news source, and those a little less light blue-centric, Daedalus requires no explanation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNAS_L..._(HMS_Daedalus)

[Hempy]

As in the BoB movie, it's a Hispano Buchon, but close enough for movie work

[NutLoose]

Lots of pics

Dunkirk film - Merged for general updates and chat - Page 6

[Wokkafans]

Short trailer here:

[Chugalug2]

Tourist:-

Daedalus requires no explanation.

and as if to make your point none was provided by your link, other than to provide a further link which then did. I am intrigued by the multitude of Daedali (?) that the Royal Navy has possessed, including a pier! What isn't mentioned though is an Airship establishment (ship?) in deepest Lincolnshire. Yet when I was a young snot (thought I'd throw that one in just for you) there, we were told that had indeed been its title until we sensibly renamed it RAF College Cranwell. We also sensibly renamed the OP one as RAF Lee-on-Solent, but then the RN renamed it as a ship yet again. I asume you then had to once again hang around the Guard Room until there were enough to row a Jolly Boat ashore?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Daedalus

[Max Contingency]

8/8ths blue. 3 Spits chasing a Messershmitt down the Solent. Neighbours staring curiously at me in the garden waving my pitchfork and shouting obscenities every time the filthy hun comes over. Does life get any better?

[NutLoose]

Britain at War magazine did and article on the film, they have built a full size wooden frigate, and hauled a museum ship up to Dunkirk for the filming, some of the modern buildings they have hidden are superbly done.

[Treble one]

Point of order here with the LC squadron code on those fabulous Spitfires-it says its the code for the Station Flight at RAF Feltwell.....

[andytug]

Also some of the original "little ships" at Weymouth harbour this last week for filming.

[Wander00]

Many years ago flew in a Dominie (that's right, 2 piston engines, 2 wings) from HMS Daedalus over the Solent and saw Cockerell's SRN-1 in action

[Lima Juliet]

They are using a converted Yak 52 made to look like a Spitfire for the close up shots of the actors...







I won't post the pics I have of the large scale model Heinkels and Messerschmidts that I have. The film looks like it will have some great live action filming. I feel that the CGI filming in Red Tails, Pearl Harbour and Fly Boys really let the movies down. Let's hope that Chris Nolan's magic touch makes Dunkirk a classic for years to come.

Here is one of the Spits carrying the fictional LC markings on the Yak (which were the markings of Feltwell Station Flight) - the individual aircraft marks will be added afterwards apparently:





The other movie that is looking promising is Brad Pitt's "Allied" that has a full-scale Lysander in it. Filming has just finished and it's directed by Robert Zemeckis of Forrest Gump/Castaway/Back to the Future. So this should also be a good watch this coming November.



Locations for both are hush hush...

LJ

[Wander00]

LJ - I am sure someone will spy them out. Interested in "Allied" as one of "my" Yacht club members had flown Lysanders and Hudsons into small fields

[Lima Juliet]

Wander00

See Allied (2016) - IMDb for some detail. Pitt is playing a RCAF Lizzie pilot for some of the movie.

Also, have a look at this video https://mobile.twitter.com/beststree...542464/video/1

LJ

[FODPlod]

Originally Posted by Leon Jabachjabicz

...The other movie that is looking promising is Brad Pitt's "Allied" that has a full-scale Lysander in it. Filming has just finished and it's directed by Robert Zemeckis of Forrest Gump/Castaway/Back to the Future. So this should also be a good watch this coming November.



Locations for both are hush hush...

LJ

Thanks LJ.

Does anyone else remember the BBC TV series Moonstrike in the early 1960s (I were only a lad ) and its evocative theme music? It would take some beating.

Moonstrike BBC Ron Goodwin Orchestra 1963