…although NOTHING to do with The Few this time, I promise!!
Was having a quick browse at the Steven Spielberg fansite, and found this:
UNTITLED ISRAELI AIR FORCE FILM
On July 1, 2002, Steven Spielberg was quoted in The London Telegraph detailing future plans to direct a film about the formation of the Israeli Air Force.
“Before statehood was achieved,” Spielberg told the Telegraph, “Syria and Egypt had their tanks and military equipment lined up to invade Tel Aviv and destroy it; but the Israelis scrambled together an air force, some of it from old Second World War Messerschmidts, and the invasion was halted. It’s the story of the scramble to find the planes.”
No definitive timeline (if any comes to fruition) exists for the film, as least by Spielberg’s last comment on it back in 2002.
“I don’t know when I’ll get around to it or when I’ll have a script I’m ready to direct, but I’m working on it right now,” Spielberg said.
In 2003, rumors were going around Israel that a casting agent was working for Spielberg’s offices to find Israeli actors for a project to be filmed in country. If true, this could connect the agent’s work with the Air Force project, VENGEANCE (see below), or perhaps another project yet unmentioned all together!
Interesting stuff – but, obviously, nothing known for certain yet.
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th January 2004 at 19:41
Originally posted by SteveYoung
As I say, I’ve got the full story at home somewhere so I’ll dig it out as soon as I can.
Well, I’ve found some of the Israeli Beaufighter story, but not the full lot. Rather than completely hijack this thread, I’ll start another one…
By: Corsair166b - 16th January 2004 at 02:49
A photo of the event mentioned above, with Bob McClurg talking to a couple of WELL KNOWN European magazine types…McClurg is at left, and as you can see the lighting isn’t the best….even with all that sunshine outside the tent.
Mark
By: Corsair166b - 16th January 2004 at 01:08
Well, I for one am not dissappointed…every photo has a story behind it, and the waiting was worth it to hear about the shots of Spielberg and the Spitfire pilot…great stuff and must’ve been a heck of a moment for you….I had a similar event happen to me at the Corsair gathering in Sept. 2002 when I was sitting across from Bob McClurg, Boyington’s wingman, and he was telling stories and calling me and my partners by name….”Mark, I ever tell you about the time Boyington’s relief tube was’nt working…..?” Great stuff, great moment…but it looks like your photos came out better than mine, I did’nt use the flash under that tent canopy and I should have….but I still got some good stuff….
Mark
By: Dan Johnson - 15th January 2004 at 22:14
Originally posted by Mark12
Dan,You have disappointed me. 🙂
You have not spotted that there are no radiators fitted.
Too busy looking for those ‘Chimney pots’, I bet.The wings are total dummies made of steel and aluminium. Made to a low budget at Star(r) Aviation in California from memory.
Mark
Dan bows his head in shame and walks away grumbling something under his breath about chimney pots………..:)
Dan
By: DazDaMan - 15th January 2004 at 22:11
The Warbirds Resource Group states that it was auctioned as a project with a restored fuselage and unrestored wings.
I read somewhere the wings were new-build, but thought there was something ‘not quite right’ about them at the time!
By: Mark12 - 15th January 2004 at 22:05
Dan,
You have disappointed me. 🙂
You have not spotted that there are no radiators fitted.
Too busy looking for those ‘Chimney pots’, I bet.
The wings are total dummies made of steel and aluminium. Made to a low budget at Star(r) Aviation in California from memory.
Mark
By: DazDaMan - 15th January 2004 at 21:45
NOW I’m in awe, Mk12! 😉
No wonder that shot was your favourite of 2000 – and it must have been one hell of an experience, too!
By: Dan Johnson - 15th January 2004 at 21:44
Almost hate to ask a wing question 🙂
But was that Spit flying with an A wing in 44?
Dan
By: Mark12 - 15th January 2004 at 21:00
…….and
By: Mark12 - 15th January 2004 at 20:59
D-Day Museum – New Orleans
Yep. You are just about there. It was the opening of the D Day Museum at New Orleans on 5/6 June 2000.
The gentleman on the left is good friend Tony Cooper, a former flight commander with 64 Sqd. He not only flew on D day with a private camera in his cockpit but had actually logged hours in BL370 the machine restored for the D-Day Museum. You will note that yes he is wearing the un-official Spitfire Society tie and his miniatures.
I had been involved on the fringes of the restoration and at long distance overseen the paint scheme. We all new that it was going in some new museum but were all unaware of the scale. Taylor Oil funded and donated the Spitfire and very generously invited and funded a party of us to the opening. On the 5th we had a full day of photography before the official opening and Tony gave interviews to all the major TV Networks. This went out prime time across the US. He is a very personable chap and came over in that way that only English gentleman of a certain age and bearing can. He was an instant hit. One of the reasons why this photo is my favourite for 2000 is that it captured a man who had been though it all and here he was hovering 80 and a hero once again to literally thousands of people of all generations.
This was all way up the scale of our anticipation.
The next day the 6th was to be the official opening and it was wall to wall V.V.I.P.s and we were right in amongst it. The USAAF and the Confederates were to fly over and the longest, largest military parade since WWII was billed. We had prime seats on the balcony of the oil company and this is where I had my camera bag and the big gun flash. We were called back to the adjacent museum for the Secretary of State for Defence and Stephen Ambrose to cut the ribbon so to speak. I just had my trusty old Canon T70 with no flash for this outside shot. The call went out that Stephen Spielberg wanted to meet the Spitfire Pilot. We were quite deep into the museum building, not wonderfully lit and sh*t no flash. I gulped and went through the motions with camera set on A-Automatic. “This isn’t going to work and I’m the only one”, was going through my mind. Stephen Spielberg then said lets photograph under the Spitfire and my heart sank further – it was even darker. I apologised to Tony afterwards and told him not to raise his hopes too high as at best there was perhaps just a record shot in there if I had been still enough.
Well when they came back – fantastic. Somebody up there was looking after us. Cracking shots by my standard and now pride of place in Tony’s office and boy did he impress the grand children with the set including Tom Hanks.
At all levels I trust you can see why it was my favourite for 2000.
Mark
By: DazDaMan - 15th January 2004 at 20:15
BL370
Still can’t think of the pilot’s name! 🙁
Picture from the Warbirds Resource Group
By: Chipmunk Carol - 15th January 2004 at 20:01
Is that a Spitfire Society tie on the Gentleman on the left?
And it’s Sir Steven now, isn’t it?
By: DazDaMan - 15th January 2004 at 20:00
He did have a cameo role in one episode as a British soldier 😉
And he was also executive producer on the series.
(Daz has just realised he really meant Saving Private Ryan originally – sh!t happens! ;))
By: Chipmunk Carol - 15th January 2004 at 19:51
Originally posted by DazDaMan
Hmm… I would have thought something to do with “Band of Brothers” given that Tom is in the background??
Daz: Remind me what Tom’s part in Band of Brothers was please. Did I miss him?
By: DazDaMan - 15th January 2004 at 19:41
Ahhh, yes, that’s who it could be! Can’t remember his name, but the Spit is an actual D-Day veteran, BL370.
If I remember rightly, Spielberg and Tom Hanks were there when it was either opened or dedicated.
By: David Burke - 15th January 2004 at 19:37
Mark 12 – is it the D-Day museum in the States and the pilot is from the rebuilt V there?
By: DazDaMan - 15th January 2004 at 19:35
Ah, slowly!!! Lots of reworking at the moment, and I’m only six chapters in!
Still, must plough on!
I don’t think Spielberg would redo Battle of Britain, but if there was a good enough script he could make a good BofB movie.
By: Bigglesworth - 15th January 2004 at 19:29
Originally posted by DazDaMan
I actually hope he’d do a Battle of Britain project – I mean, just how GOOD would that be??
Sure it would be good to see, so long as it’s not a remake of the original film.
So how’s your book coming along then Daz??? Nothing stopping you turning it into a film script…
By: DazDaMan - 15th January 2004 at 19:06
I actually hope he’d do a Battle of Britain project – I mean, just how GOOD would that be??
By: Ant.H - 15th January 2004 at 19:01
Is the guy next to Steven Spielberg his Dad?I know his father flew B25’s in North Africa and Italy.Just a guess…
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January 15, 2004 at 9:46 am