Hi all…
As a result of poking round various TV companies while trying to sort out my Lancaster project/recovery (NF920 Easy Elsie), I’ve just received an e-mail from one of them who is interested in doing something as regards avaiation archeology/excavations. I don’t think I’ll be able to get my project ready in time, so I thought I’d put it to you guys…
Dear Richard Woods,
I was in touch with you some time ago, regarding aviation archaeology and Time Team specials.
I am still involved with specials, but am also developing a series for Channel 4 on aviation archaeology, for the other company based here in the building – so it won’t be a Time Team thing, but will be made by the same people (hope that makes sense!)
Anyway, Channel 4 have given a strong indication that they are interested in a series so I just need to go back to them with some strong stories to clinch it! I wondered if you might be able to help. This is what we are after: –
We are looking for excavations that would be happening in 2004 (or early 2005). We would consider following excavations that may already be planned to go ahead, but if the story was strong enough we could potentially make a significant contribution financially if a group had a burning desire to locate, research and excavate a specific plane. (i.e. if there was a particular plane for which a group or individual had long been searching, but perhaps never had the resources to do any further work, then we could step in and help in many ways).
The main criteria for which we are looking are: –
1. Sites in Britain
OR
2.Sites with a British connection (or a famous/intriguing plane/pilot/story)
3. They have to be casualties of war or wartime
We would be looking to tell the story of the person who died, as well as doing some detective work into what may have caused the crash. There has to be an element of mystery and a real reason to be digging. We would ultimately aim to make a graphic reconstruction of the sequence of events leading up to the fatal crash. We really are looking for stories that would grab people’s attention – perhaps the holy grails of aviation research and archaeology!
As a company, you’ll know we have experience of making aircraft archaeology documentaries, and handle them with great sensitivity, and would obviously be guided by the experts as to directions taken. We would like to add something to someone’s quest, or help to answer burning questions – ultimately paying tribute to those who lost their lives during war.
I hope you can help and I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best,
Siân Price
I have her contact e-mail if anyone is interested.
Bye for now!
Richard W
By: Super Guppy - 23rd February 2004 at 12:45
The Hornchurch ‘Two Men in a Trench’ is being shown on BBC2 this Thursday
By: Septic - 22nd February 2004 at 22:16
Anyone interested in Aviation Archaeology should check out the current (march) issue of ‘British Archaeology, which has a feature entitled ‘They died for us-Now we dig them up’
Availiable at WH Smiths.
By: von Perthes - 19th February 2004 at 10:49
Someone has stolen all the toilets at New Scotland Yard.
The Police have nothing to go on.
By: Mark12 - 19th February 2004 at 09:11
A large hole has appeared in a road in central London.
The police are looking into it.
Mark
By: paulmcmillan - 19th February 2004 at 09:01
From 2000
By: Yak 11 Fan - 18th February 2004 at 23:27
Maybe this is what the congestion charge is all about 😀
Keep all the cars out of central London so a TV company can dig a big hole in the ground.
By: Ant.H - 18th February 2004 at 23:23
A million quid??Whew!IIRC,the road the Hurri came down on was deemed to be a crucial one,so the hole was just filled in and the wreck left in situ.Could be interesting if the plan goes ahead…
By: Yak 11 Fan - 18th February 2004 at 23:17
I’d heard something of this plan two or three years ago, if it’s going ahead as first planned it could well be an interesting programme.
By: von Perthes - 18th February 2004 at 21:32
I’ve no idea I’m afraid (TV???), or whose doing the dig, but it’s a hell of a lot to splash out on speculation that there’s somthing there. But then again it is such a famous incident, so I suppose any little thing found will be of interest.
Geoff.
By: Mark12 - 18th February 2004 at 21:28
Who is paying the £1m?
Mark
By: von Perthes - 18th February 2004 at 21:24
Ant,
I’m told that the Hurricane that Ray Holmes bailed out of on the 15th September 1940 is to be excavated during March (not by us I should add), and that the cost could run to £1,000,000. Ray himself doesn’t think that there’s anything much there to be found, and bearing in mind the location, he could well be right. I suppose there might be some small bits there overlooked by the wartime recovery crew, unless the road was such a priority that they just filled the hole in with the remains of the Hurricane at the bottom?
Geoff.
By: SPIT - 14th February 2004 at 23:52
Hi
If anyones interested NEXT SAT on BBC 2 in a prog called ANCESTORS they are doing a prog about the recovery of a No 1 Squadron a/c flown by Billy Drake (I THINK) that was crashed in France in 1940 and Billy Drake is present.:) 🙂
By: Ant.H - 14th February 2004 at 14:35
Hi Gerry,
I saw this one aswell,it’s called ‘Two Men in a Trench”.The first series was shown on terrestrial BBC about a year to 18 months back and the second series is being previewed on BBC3.Shouldn’t be too long before the Hornchurch one is repeated on Beeb 1 or 2.
By: Gerry H - 14th February 2004 at 13:47
Documentries…
I was channel surfing the other day and on the history channel was a show about Hornchurch and what 2 Gents were doing with the area. They were apparently looking for and then “digging up” “E” pens (I believe he called them) anyway they were revetments that 2 Spits were put in for rearming and refueling that also contained a protection bunker. I unfortunatly didn’t catch the whole thing and am hoping to see it again and was wondering if first, anyone knows about the show and second are there others.
Thanks sincerely Gerry
By: Ant.H - 12th February 2004 at 21:06
Just a thought,but would a TV programme be a good enough reason to dig up some of the capitals major roads?I’ve heard that there are a number of BofB aircraft still resting where they came down under London’s streets because it’s always been deemed that tehre would be too much traffic disruption to recover them in the past.The Hurricane with which Ray Holmes rammed the Dornier over Buckingham Palace on the 15th Sept is under a road junction in Piccadilly for example.
By: von Perthes - 12th February 2004 at 18:45
A pm is on it’s way to you.
Geoff.
By: Rich Woods - 12th February 2004 at 15:07
Okay,
An e-mail should be on its way to you….
thanks
Richard W
By: Steve Bridgewater - 12th February 2004 at 14:42
Richard,
Please check your private mails.
Steve
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February 12, 2004 at 12:29 pm