Defenders Of The Sky H2 Channel Sunday 15th 9pm Biggin Hill

Tonight and repeated Sunday.

Tangmere.

One of the better programmes in the series.
Although they barely scratched the surface of what the base was all about.

Was talking to my Dad about Bentwaters a couple of months ago. He was saying that a chap who used to work for us,
moved to what used to be the married quarters, when he retired.

No UFO’s were mentioned in any way, shape or form by two of the contributors.. Wonder who they were?

😀

Graham

It wasn’t mentioned over the two days of filming at Bentwaters. They concentrated on the Cold War role of the base.

Graham

So much so that the Cold War Expert got totally stumped by one of Jules questions and said the Meteor was armed with machine guns.. Realising of course it had cannons after the filming finished.. :rolleyes: No UFO’s were mentioned in any way, shape or form by two of the contributors.. Wonder who they were?

Out of all of them I liked the Duxford one and the Coningsby one, errors aside.

Thank goodness for that 🙂

I just hope they don’t go into UFO territory 🙁

It wasn’t mentioned over the two days of filming at Bentwaters. They concentrated on the Cold War role of the base.

Graham

I just hope they don’t go into UFO territory 🙁

Even some of the experts make mistakes… One can’t proof read and rerecord filming that is already done, there is no auto cue 😉

That will be my excuse! 😀

Graham

I share your disappointment Alan, having watched and recorded several of these programme’s I cant help feeling the series title may be a bit misleading.. the main problem I find is there seems to be a very poor representation of the actual military history of these Airfields,surely that’s what the title alludes to? the wartime history and activities…I would have liked to have seen more about the various squadrons involved, maybe some of the missions they embarked on, some of the personality’s involved etc..but then I suppose that would narrow the the potential audience somewhat, cant win ’em all!

I shall enjoy the Bentwaters episode (hopefully). Lots of history there.
Hurn I found rather disappointing.

Bentwaters on the 28th. Agree on the errors and the mistakes, but the production team is very small and work on tight time lines and budgets. Even some of the experts make mistakes… One can’t proof read and rerecord filming that is already done, there is no auto cue 😉

A new one tonight on H2 at 9pm……. Hurn

It wasn’t a bad programme. Giving a pretty good overview of the airfield.

Coningsby next Sunday.

Hi All,
Alan,
Yes should be good although some minor snags the programme does give out some good info on the Airfields despite my grumbling. 😀

Geoff.

I’m looking forward to this weeks episode……Stow Maries.

Hi All,
Still amazes me that the makers still make mistakes and not informing the presenter he has made one,like Alan said nice to see inside the chapel but this is were the mistake happened of all places, The stain glass windows portray all the RAF staff in various jobs but when the presenter came to a ground crew window he stated the aircraft they were working on was a Spitfire which it was not (Hurricane) this really bug’s me because the presenter keeps banging on about how much it means to him personally walking around these airfields that and being an aviation buff since knee high to a grass hopper etc.etc. it just belittles the programme and the sacrifices that so many made during the poignant part of the programme IMHO.
I have said before about the continuity and basic errors that should really be picked up on the day of filming which leads me to believe that the presenters and makers just treat these programmes with no passion for getting what they are saying across and correctly. I don’t know about other forumites but these programmes are catering for a specific audience while hoping to attract the casual viewer, also the least they could do is get what they are talking about right and the continuity is my biggest bug bear especially in films and Dramas, again in programme two about Duxford he was walking in the American Air Museum telling the viewer how this was the 1st airfield he visited and he would never have guessed he would back many years later presenting a programme about airfields, as he was walking under the hung aircraft he correctly points to a couple of aircraft then states he’s walking under the wing of a Marauder when it’s a Mitchel ??
I am sorry and yes it’s only my opinion and that does not matter really but consider this, these programmes should emulate the Aircraft/Pilots/Staff etc.etc. when making these documentaries those who make the programmes should care about their chosen subject getting the correct Facts/Film footage/Continuity etc.etc. to honour those who flew and fought, repaired these aircraft let alone the multitude of people who are behind the scenes on active airfields in particular that’s all I ask or am I asking the impossible :confused:

Geoff.

Just caught mention of this on Sky H2 Sunday 9pm – “Defenders Of The Sky” – Duxford: Jules Hudson heads to Duxford the home of Douglas Bader’s Big Wing during the Battle of Britain and an aerodrome that welcomed thousands of GIs in WWII (3 of 10)

Not a bad programme, although there wasn’t really that much on Biggin Hill itself.
Nice to see inside St Georges Chapel though.

Thanks for heads up.