Battle of Britain film

Were the problems because most the RAF have converted to jets by then whilst the Spanish maybe were still more frontline with the older piston aircraft.You would have though with all the previous experience the RAF had had it would’ve been an easier transition.
Were spare parts every a problem?

Battle of Britain stories.
My contract at Handley Page was coming to an end, I had heard about the Battle of Britain on the grapevine so I went to Henlow Camp and pestered dear ole Tubby Simpson to “Giss a job”. I started there as airframe and engine mechanic fixing the Spitfires and Hurricanes from camp gates to C of A standard so that the mad RAF pilots could fly them to Duxford. We followed later and then the Messers and Heinkels arrived from Spain complete with their own pilots and mechanics. We British as per usual could not organise the proverbial drink-up in a brewery and were always struggling to keep the planes in the air, working all sorts of hours. Unfortunately one of the Spanish mechanics had to go back to Spain so they came to us for a replacement, as you can guess not one of the English guys wanted to change camp and as I was the last to join it was me that got ‘volunteered’ to go. You could hear the sigh of relief and see the smile on the faces of my old crew, Well the smile was soon wiped off their face because the Spaniards were that well organised and good at their jobs that when there was a lull in the flying because of bad weather etc it was siesta time for them and their new member. We were sitting about playing cards and football, even going to the camp cinema to watch films like the Magnificent 7 whilst the English boys tried to get their work done. Plus the fact that I got flying hours in the Heinkels and special catering in the billeting hall. Boy were they envious!!
Not an aeroplane story, just recalling good times on the Battle of Britain.

:very_drunk: Thank you ,keep them coming.That could have been an expensive lesson.

Battle of Britain stories.
I will try to recall some anecdotes of my time on the B o B film and I shall refer to the aircraft as we did at the time ie:~ Messers, Heinkels, and Spits.
I do hope that you’ll forgive any ‘fuzzy’ details as this was 45 years ago.
One incident that seems quite funny now but at first [given the landing characteristics of the Messer] must have been quite serious.
There was one two seater Messer at Duxford and in their wisdom they mounted a camera in the back seat to get a scene of a pilot being shot in the head in flight. There was to be an entry hole in the back of the head with the bullet exiting in front.
Well the effects were dramatic as the flying helmet exploded as the missile entered, the exit effect was an exploding capsule of ‘blood and gore’ that completely covered the front cockpit and visor leaving the pilot flying ‘blind’, trying to remove it only smeared it and made it worse.
The pilot and camera man looked decidedly shaky as they went to change their underwear.
Regards

John

G-AWHA went to Germany, Siegerland airport, IIRC owner was at that time LSV Hellertal. German reg. was D-CAGI. Last flight (if you do not count the one under a CH-53 to Munich) was on an airshow. I am not sure, but I seem to remember the British pilot was a Tim ? Thomas. Standing several years in the open did nothing good to her. As the plane was not even locked (I know for sure, as I sat in the cockpit as a boy of 14), some “fans” lifted souvenirs. When she was donated to Deutsches Museum, the overall state was a very sad one. Pics below (not by me):

Michael

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Hi John, It was me that was asking for information on the last flying days of CASA G-AWHB the other week:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?133465-Last-flight-of-CASA-2-111-D-G-AWHB&highlight=Last+flight+of+CASA+2.111-D+G-AWHB

Great to hear your stories and see your photographs. It really is amazing to find new material surfacing and it just goes to show that it’s out there, the problem is finding it! I have a long running interest in the film with connections to the CASA G-AWHB at Southend and here at Duxford. I was also responsible for the research and layout application of our Buchon G-AWHK back into its original B of B film colours as Yellow 10 a few years ago. The engineer with the beard in your Buchon photo is familiar. I have seen him in another photograph standing next to G-AWHA during an engine start at the Bovingdon press day. Who was he? Do you recall the date of the last flight from Bovingdon to West Malling? I have a list of the personnel moving from DX to Bovingdon and there is a well known (now deceased) British pilot listed as the “He-111” pilot. As the Spanish CASA aircrew are also listed as being given notice of termination of their employment (along with Connie Edwards) I suspect it may well have been this pilot who was called upon by Hamish Mahaddie, to ferry them from open storage at Bovingdon to West Malling. With regards to your packing up the Buchons for Connie, can you tell us any more. It sounds really fascinating. Please check your PM box on your account.

Roobarb

Still from the Battle of Britain film B25 camera ship showing the Isle of Dogs towards the city of London

I still have vivid memories of working close to Southend Airport when the B-25 Camera ship, Spitfire and CASA 2 111 landed,
presumably to refuel ?

Never understood why the bf110 and ju88 were borrowed but not used. Probably not allowed to modify them?

Borrowed. Are you sure about that?

Mark

SADSACK – If they had the use of both the bf110 and the ju88 for ground shots it would have been feasible for them to show them in a couple of scenes on the ground ‘après mission’ at a ‘French’ grass airfield. A bit of simulated battle damage, fake injuries, etc would have only added to the authenticity of the movie as both of these types were well represented in the BoB. Maybe they (BoB Productions) were denied the opportunity to mod them for fake damage?

DazDaMan – I think your version of the story is likely to be more correct than mine. The engine run on the Stuka definitely rings a bell.

Cheers

Barry

Never understood why the bf110 and ju88 were borrowed but not used. Probably not allowed to modify them?

John, Was that real Stuka the RAF’s one (which I saw as a teenage ATC cadet at St Athan), and was supposedly lent to the BoB Productions with strict instructions that it was to remain firmly on the ground. Rumour had it that on one occasion it suffered a ‘daylighting’ issue – (i.e. too much daylight between the wheels and terra firma).

Cheers

Barry

The story I had always read/heard was that the film company wanted to get the Stuka in the air, but it would have cost too much. The engine was run, though.

Here is the Ju87 at Henlow.

It is jacked up to take light readings in the flight attitude for pre-setting the cameras.

Image is by unit photographer Keith Hamshere.

Mark

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Barry

PS – I recall that B25 being at Bovingdon too for a while. All painted in bright colours. The pilot was John (or maybe Jeff) Hawke from memory.

Thanks you can do the next one as well if you would
John

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Still from the Battle of Britain film B25 camera ship showing the Isle of Dogs towards the city of London

Here you go John,

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Barry

Barry,

Well it did belong to the RAF but this was at Henlow Camp just outside of Luton. I do believe that there was a ‘daylighting issue’ as you put it but not of a flying kind.
If I remember correctly it was hoisted by crane at a ‘bombing’ angle for close-up shots.

Regards

John

John, Was that real Stuka the RAF’s one (which I saw as a teenage ATC cadet at St Athan), and was supposedly lent to the BoB Productions with strict instructions that it was to remain firmly on the ground. Rumour had it that on one occasion it suffered a ‘daylighting’ issue – (i.e. too much daylight between the wheels and terra firma).

Cheers

Barry

Moggy C
I’ve posted some photos and I seem to have made a Pig’s Ear of it, if you could tidy them I would be obliged.
Regards
John

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Me sitting on the tail 1968/9 Duxford.
Notice the radar masts in the background as used in the Stuka models sequence.