Battle of Britain DVD

Grrrr! I keep meaning to get that DVD! :rolleyes:

It may have been mentioned before (and I apologise if it has) but last year on the History Channel was a 3 part series on the B0fB that consisted entirely of out-takes from the film. I failed to video it of course, but have now managed to obtain a DVD set of the above. Its been reviewed in some of the leading magazines and the film used IMHO is better than what we saw in the released version. Lots more Buchon and Hurricane footage for example. Mine came courtesy of Play.com.

There’s an odd quote about Buchons from my desktop calendar:

“The marvellous film Battle of Britain brought together Rolls-Royce-powered Spitfires in cinematic conflict with Rolls-Royce-powered Messerschmitts! Here’s a trivia question for you: Did the Spanish reverse the offset in the Messerschmitt’s vertical fin to compensate for the opposite rotation of the Rolls?”

I always thought the DB engine rotated the same way as the Merlin?? :confused:

Your are of course correct Daz.

I think the Hispano Suiza that powered the early Buchons turned the opposite way to the DB & Merlin hence the fin offset.

However, you would have thought that they would have fixed this on the Merlin powered machines! :rolleyes:

I wonder though if this is one of those stories that is more myth than fact? :confused:

Cheers

Paul

If this has already been posted, I am sorry.

I have watched the DVD two or three times since last year but I have finally found the time to sit and look at the “extras” today.

I watched a third of the special features with audio commentary by director Guy Hamilton – Paul Annett and Garth Thomas talking about the aircraft airfields and actors etc. I do not know whose voice said it but there was a blatant bloop when North Weald was described as Duxford Airport.
Scene is June 1940 Spit landing with its wheels up. “undercarriage lever a bit sticky was it Sir?”

It is clear to me after spending many a year parascending and watching air shows there to recognise it as the Weald and not Duxford.

Has anyone else found any mistakes?

I for one have waited a long time for this DVD and I still think it is one of the best films ever made.

Brian.

There’s an odd quote about Buchons from my desktop calendar:

The marvellous film Battle of Britain brought together Rolls-Royce-powered Spitfires in cinematic conflict with Rolls-Royce-powered Messerschmitts! Here’s a trivia question for you: Did the Spanish reverse the offset in the Messerschmitt’s vertical fin to compensate for the opposite rotation of the Rolls?

I always thought the DB engine rotated the same way as the Merlin?? :confused:

Yep, Standard on the Buchon. The Buchons in the film fitted with three bladed props were used for taxying / static shots only.

Laterly, restored Airworthy Buchons have been fitted with three bladed props (modified DC3 props I believe) for asthetic reasons & to reduce the torque effect. This is quite an important feature as the Aircraft has a nasty reputation for ground handeling, you can see why too, that tiny fin & rudder, plus that narrow undercarrage with wheels that toe out…..nasty. 😮

Four bladed props on the Buchons? I’d never noticed that before…

DDM,

True, Mark 12 came up with these, but better/other ones would always be welcome.

Geoff.

GEoff – I thought we did already?? :confused:

This sticky-backed Luftwaffe emblem was picked up blowing around Duxford during the making of the film, and has now been donated to our museum. If anyone could come up with a photo of one of the ‘He111s’ wearing this badge, the museum would be very pleased.

Geoff.

Well we’ve had the the film, the video, the CD, and now the DVD……
Being really sad….I’m now waiting for the BofB theme tune’s as a polyphonic ringtone for my mobile…….. 😀 😀 😀

(You can get Dambusters, 633 Sqn and A Bridge Too Far so why not BofB.. :confused: )

Texas BF109s

Last year I ran into Connie Edwards at our local field ( his Albatross was into the avionics shop) and he confirmed he still hads “several” Ha/Bfs…he seemed a bit guarded about them, he was much more willing to show me the interior of the Grumman and talk about his Catalina.

As I recall, the CAF lost their HE 111 earlier this year on a takeoff, perhaps out of Arizona, with the sad loss of the crew also…

My wife got me the DVD also, for Father’s Day… I still need to crack the wrapper, now I am motivated…

On the Spanish He 111s, the nacelles are the same as the outboard ones on the Lancaster.

😉

Question, is the rerelease of the BoB DVD with the bonus features in a international DVD format or just the european format? I have not been able to find it here in the US.
Cheers
Itch

BoB Planes

Here’s some others…

‘Protukas’
There’s just been an article on the Protukas by one of the regular posters here in the new magazine (wot I’m assoc with): Warbird Digest. It’s the full info as far as can be put together. No link (advert) but I’m sure you can figure it out!
Cheers,
James

Pedro Santa Cruz, thats the man, I have been itching to get home to check Len Mosley’s book!!

A Spaniard fighting with the Luftwaffe on the Russian Front?! Well I never! 😮

The pilot Galland flew the two-seater ‘109’ with was Commandante Pedro Santa Cruz, an old friend who flew in the Spanish civil war & with the Luftwaffe on the Russian front.

Geoff.