Battle of Britain Film 50 years this year 1969

“…… Anyone still have them?

“…”

Hi ZRX 61,

Yes, I think I still have a load of them somewhere – they carried captioned colour still photos from the film on the front face, and facsimile/reproduced British newspaper headlines/columns from various dates during the BofB on the rear face.

I remember chewing my way through many lumps of the disgusting chewing gum in vain attempts to collect more cards – not sure why I didn’t just ‘bin’ the gum unused, but I guess that was a little too obvious to a nine year-old who was desperate to collect as many of the set of cards as possible :apologetic:.

I also had a very crude “Battle of Britain” board game where you ‘flew’ cardboard pieces marked with Spitfires or Bf109’s across a hexagonal-gridded board based on shakes of a dice/die, having made each piece ‘take off’ from their respective side of the English channel, with the aim of getting on the tail of, and then ‘shooting down’, the opposing aircraft. The original box, which carried the film logo etc has long since been lost, but I think I still have the playing board and the playing pieces.

I have a well worn, and much read, copy of Leonard Mosley’s paperback about the making of the film book (entitled ‘Battle of Britain’), plus copies of Ginger Lacey’s biography ‘Fighter Pilot’ and a BofB novel (sorry, title and author escape me – possibly ‘ Squadron Airborne’?) that were published by Pan books in paperback cover designs that tied in to the film release. I also still have one of the old Dinky diecast Ju 87s (complete with cap-firing bomb) that tied in with the film – my younger brother had their Spitfire in spurious AI-A markings, I wonder where that went.

For a youngster with a growing interest in aviation the release of the film in 1969, and all the tie-in merchandise that followed, no doubt helped cement my lifelong love of historic aviation.

I must dig out the DVD and watch it again…

At the time of the release you could buy packs of cards with gum (like baseball cards etc) from A&BC Gum. I think there were 5 or 6 cards in a pack & they showed stills from the movie… Anyone still have them? I recall having a stack about 2in thick.

At the switch on of the Blackpool illuminations in 1969 Talbot Square was bedecked with many models from the film a mix of large and smaller ones, at least 20 of them, to switch on the lights a Canberra dropped a very bright photo flare over the North pier which prompted a council worker to operate a switch….

The Heinkel is being sold on behalf of T.Bianchi ( it used to be suspended in the hangar at Booker until the company closed two years ago) I suspect the asking price has come from TB, whose position on pricing has historically been, let’s say ‘ambitious’ . His full-size Indianna Jones Stampe mock-up was also unsold at £24,000.

I remember one of the Spitfire miniatures from Over Here was listed on one of those sites. They were asking a ludicrous amount for what was basically a stock radio-controller kit made up.

In case some of you might not be familiar with the always interesting Internet Movie Car Database, here is the page on the film…which has some nice stills from the film.

https://www.imcdb.org/movie.php?id=64072

The photo of the Fordson tractor shows a few Spitfires and the Bedford MW shows what I presume is Duxford.

As you’ll notice, the producers used a mixture of period correct…and incorrect…vehicle types.

Really ? Has anyone EVER paid such a ludicrous sum for a model like that Hurricane ? I have my doubts.

I am very well acquainted with another prop company, who are selling a B-17 model from Memphis Belle for £4,000, and even that seems ambitious.

https://propstore.com/product/memphis-belle/flak-hit-miniature-b-17-aircraft-display-sf/

or a Heinkel 111 in poor condition between £10.000 and £15.000

https://propstoreauction.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/78/lot/18142/

Certainly a market for movie props from this classic movie, sadly out of my price range.

For anyone who may of been lucky to of purchased a Hurricane miniature model from the film it may be worth a look at this thread below, £23.995 a nice profit, ive also seen a Hienkel 111 for a lot more, ill try and find it at some point.
Just think what a full size replica would be worth.

http://www.thepropgallery.com/hawker-hurricane-filming-miniature

Christopher Plummers’ car is an MGPA (according to this website http://classiccarmag.net/mg-ta-a-true-classic-british-sports-car/), not an L type, the L was a larger car. MG created three basic model shapes Midget, Magna, Magnette. The PA/PB and later the T-types fell into the midget category whereas the L1 was a Magna, four seater open tourer, although to confuse matters the PB was available as a four seater but has a narrower body – you might have to park them side by side to tell the difference though.

My father has a postwar MGTF (1954) that I might have to borrow one day for a fighter pilots view of Kent pubs.

Watching it now – Harvey’s just walking into the Jackdaw!

J Boyle, if you haven’t been to them, The Jail Inn at Biggin Hill and the White Hart at Brasted both have a strong connection with Biggin Hill. Sadly the White Hart is a bit Pubco now but worth a visit.

The interesting thing is that they changed the number plates on the cars. I have about 15 original BoB film number plates, both German and British. I am trying to read them from the DVD so I can see which ones I have and when used

Good idea. The interesting thing is that from the film, it appears as if their table and seat is just inside the door and on the right. In reality, it is out the back.

The power of the media…they’d probably clear the beer garden for a photo, good publicity.

The MG L1, is a fairly rare auto, so I’d guess it wouldn’t be that hard to track via a MG club or register.

​​​​​Not being an expert on prewar MGs, I always assumed it was a TA, like the one in the Shuttleworth collection…

I guess as the car had already survived for 35 years it’s likely to still be around now.
Although it’s a good idea for a classic car magazine story, the problem would be getting the car and the pub in the same picture.
I’ve only been to the Jackdaw a couple of times and it was about 7 years ago but as I recall there’s nowhere to stop or park anywhere near the front of the pub and the car park’s well off to the right.

Considering the amount of fans the film has and how many details of its production are known…

Is the identity of Plummer’s car known?
It’s apparently a 1933 MG L1 Magna, taking it to the Jackdaw would be a nice photo opportunity (or story idea for a classic car magazine).

Another notable change to the Jackdaw is it wouldn’t be a good idea to park where Christopher Plummer did as it would probably upset them – and not do your car any good. It’s now a beer garden.

As BoB was made in 1968 I guess it must have been 1967 when I went round the hangar(s) at Henlow where the aircraft were being collected to make the film.

I’m planning something for Cockpitfest

Hooligan…
We didn’t eat there (aside from a few chips) but the menu looked good.
We have friends with a nearby farm and they’re always up to visiting BoB sites when I n sit. This time we visited the nearby Capel-le-Ferne memorial before heading to the Jackdaw. Not far away in a field I noted a concrete anti-virus pull box.
In past visits we’ve visited Manston, Hawkinge and their pasture that welcomed a He 111 back in the day.
As I related in a post a decade ago, his father drained the petrol from it and used it to run farm equipment for quite awhile.
All in all, with BoB history virtually everywhere, it’s one of my favorite parts of the UK.

Jackdaw Mr B – good isn’t it? When I was there some years ago I enjoyed the 16oz mixed grill – they also offered a 28oz mixed grill which even a dedicated carnivorous trencherman such as I would have found a challenge!

Thanks for the BoB heads up, I shall put it on to watch at the weekend….