Flt. Lt. Hugh Beresford

SWMBO and I have just watched Billy and the Fighter Boys.

I’m not sure the CGI was any better even when new, but the story is as compelling as when I watched it first.

May they sit above the salt in Valhalla.

Adrian

Thank you Skeeler
For sharing this link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/battleo…in/11403.shtml

“Billy and the Fighter Boys”

I hadnt seen this before a very enjoyable watch showing Billy Drakes very lucky escape so like many others, sadly to many didnt make it home.

Here is a link to the original 2010 forum discussion on the ‘Missing’ documentary. https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?103609-BBC-film-of-Hurricane-and-Pilot-recovery-in-1979

That also contains the original link to the BBC Kent online article that included the original documentary ‘flash player’ type link that no longer appears to work – probably because the BBC have removed it now? – http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/front_page/newsid_9020000/9020481.stm

Here is a BBC Archive link to ‘Billy and the Fighter Boys’ discussed above – http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/battleofbritain/11403.shtml

Here is the BBC Archive link to Man Alive 1969 ‘The Few’ – http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/battleofbritain/11401.shtml

There are also a number of other related documentaries available on the same archive site that will be of interest, specifically a number about the Spitfire and Battle of Britain, but I’ll leave the reader to find these themselves from the relevant links that can be found on the above pages.

I may be able to find a ‘link’ to the 1979 ‘Missing’ documentary somewhere, in which case I’ll add it here in due course?

Steve.

Arc
You can watch that on the BBC archive site also a fantastic recording of Man Alive from 1969 entitled the Few.
Not sure how to do a link………

Jules

There is a bit about Hugh Beresford including some pictures in the book ‘The Battle of Britain – Then and Now’.

Arc

Also missing from You Tube now – the excellent documentary about Billy Drake ‘Billy and The Fighter Boys’ – the bit at the cemetery where he visits the Grave of F/O Leslie Clisby (his roommate) always seems to coincide with a bit bit of dust in my eye…………..

If anyone has a link to that I’d appreciate it.

Missing…The film built impressively into an attack on the ‘ bogus romantic cult’ of the fighter pilot. (SUNDAY TIMES)

and this was highlighted in the later superb film First Light detailing the experiences of Geoffrey Wellum, not romantic but often downright scary.

There was a previous thread on here from around 2010 i think. Andy Saunders wrote some excellent replies to questions put forward by other members about the contents of the programme. The one that stuck with me was his explanation of what was in the two Black bin bags, which was in fact the pilots clothing, shoes and mae west in one and the parachute in the other, which is why they looked so heavy. The fragmentary remains of Hugh Beresford were apparently placed with care into a wooden box which the film crew were not allowed to film or show.

wellI have it on an old VHS tape I recorded from the TV in the 80’s, I will get it transferred to DVD if there is nothing available on line.

thanks
Jules

I remember watching it via You tube a couple of years ago but the episode seems to have disappeared from there now.

From the BBC Genome site:

BBC2 7 September 1980, 20.45hrs (Repeated, BBC1 – 9 November 1980, 15.35hrs and then BBC1 4 August 1983, 15.30hrs)

Missing

An Inside Story documentary
On 7 September 1940 Hurricanes of 257 Squadron took off from Martlesham Heath , Suffolk, to intercept a large wave of enemy bombers over the Thames estuary, heading towards London on what turned out to be the first day of the London Blitz. Among those lost in the battle was Flt-Lt H. R. A. Beresford. No one saw him shot down. He was posted as ‘ missing ‘ until September 1979 when the wreckage of a fighter was found … This documentary pieces together the sad story of Beresford’s last mission, finally concluded 40 years after the Battle of Britain.
An outstanding programme of the weekend … last night’s haunting, perceptive and eye-opening Inside Story.
(THE DAILY TELEGRAPH)
The film built impressively into an attack on the ‘ bogus romantic cult’ of the fighter pilot. (SUNDAY TIMES)
Producer ROGER MILLS Director PETER GORDON

I think it was part of the series called Inside Story. May be some on YouTube