Battle of Britain film Cine Film

Spits at Duxford 1968 complete with blue haze.

With all those houses in the background and that black hanger, and radio mast, I don’t think that was taken at Duxford…….??

I don’t how I missed this thread first time around………. fabulous shots of the filming of BofB.

Scary to think that it doesn’t seem that long ago when we marking the 50th Anniversary of the actual Battle, and here we are this marking the 50th Anniversary of the making of the film :eek::eek:

Hi John jhwebb1941
I have just left you a reply on my “Heinkel relics thread”

Its great to have someone on this thread who has actually worked on the film set itself and who was involved on the maintenance side of the aircraft that took part in the making of this epic film. it would be interesting to add any of your other stories and experiences in and around the film set itself if at all possible.

Certainly a great icon of an aircraft to of been lucky enough to work on, i can only dream.

You can view the footage thanks to Viv Bellamy family on youtube The 5th picture was the collection of Messers at Duxford I am the mechanic in white on the far right of the picture
I was airframe/engine mechanic and eventually the last man standing with the Heinkels on the Battle of Britain film after the Spaniards went home. The only Brit working with the Spanish I was issued with a ‘Procedures checklist’.

We do not see many air to air shots of the Griffon Spits.

RM689 /G-ALGT AI-A

Mark

Great shot!

Some rare images behind the scenes here.

http://www.jaon.es/batallainglaterra/batallainglaterra.htm

We do not see many air to air shots of the Griffon Spits.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]257959[/ATTACH]
LINK >>> Here’s another video of the filmset in Spain etc.

Posted by a Spanish enthusiast judging by the YouTube site intro and Spanish subtitles.
The date on the introduction 1960 is clearly wrong Guy Hamilton says “25 years ago”.
1940 + 25 = 1965. I don’t know if the film-set shown in this video was up and running as early as 1965.
All I know is I departed Tablada along with three He111 and 27 Buchon aircraft by mid 1968 when
filming in Spain ended.

Thanks for the link to the Viv Bellamy article, what a terrific read. The dodgy Canadian Hurricane flight experience sounds nightmarish, and gives a good insight into the potential hazards of flying aircraft with a sketchy restoration background. It also seems the B-25 was able to hold its own in a dogfight!

Cheers YK I did think that was where the last image was taken from google earth you can see the old hedge line pre M11

North Weald orientation

The first four pictures from North Weald are on the Hangar 2 Apron facing south or west.

The next picture is taken from the area by Hangar 4A (Gnats) looking across towards the Squadron. The revetment is just visible on the left of the shot. The silo at Weald Hall Farm is visible on aerial views we have from the 1970s. The three storey structure on the right was later demolished. There is a view of it on a picture of Norwegian armourers working on a Spitfire IX.

The last picture is taken facing north and shows the corner of the taxiway. It is facing roughly where Hangar 11 now stands. The hedge was not a high as it is now.

After a little delay a few more images. taken by the late Mike Nash and in Bob Ballard’ s archive.. At North Weald, May 1968

Serial ID’s top to bottom.

TE311 AI-M

TE356 AI-P

MK356 AI-R

TE384 AI-Q

TE476 AI-B

SL574 AI-A

Mark

Love those last one North Weald photos I am trying to work out where they are taken it may be of the threshold of 013 looking W
The others are the apron outside where Robs Lamplough had his hangar and also looking N towards where the Squadron is now.

Be great for some Now shots from the North Wealders !!

That’s a great read,thanks.

Here’s a link to a period article you may not be familiar with about the filming by Vivian Bellamy.
https://books.google.com/books?id=0lxBbz-vuWgC&pg=PA58&dq=Spitfire&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjYspyEhpfYAhWoiFQKHbm-AvMQ6AEIRDAI#v=onepage&q=Spitfire&f=false

I’ve posted a link to it before, but since it’s relevant to this thread, here it is again for any newcomers.

Great stuff!

I’ve built so many Battle of Britain film models that I really should do a diorama….!

After a little delay a few more images. taken by the late Mike Nash and in Bob Ballard’ s archive.. At North Weald, May1968
[ATTACH=CONFIG]257743[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]257742[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]257741[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]257740[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]257739[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]257738[/ATTACH]

In recent times, 17 Spits at Duxford would be the biggest assembly ( and a few of those were Griffons! )

You’re right Propstrike, the biggest airbourne fleet powered by merlins was likely to have been, as witnessed by Viv Ballamy’s cinefilm, overhead Seville area of Spain.
I was among the aircraft servicing crew, mostly Spanish that accompanied 27 Buchon and 3 He111 bombers back to UK via Madrid, San Sebastion, Nantes, Jersey then Manston. So add flyable Hurri and Spits at the Duxford filmset. Would have the potential not too far short of Tablada. Unfortunately after sunny Spain, UK aerial filming in 1968 had British adverse weather to contend with! :eagerness:

Hamish Mahaddie as a distinguished wartime bomber pathfinder was consulted for several air films. Hamish conjured up fighter planes from all over the world for the 1969 Battle of Britain film. There are several biographies of his life. This one explains just how his long search for rare fighter planes and his discovery that the Spanish Air Force still flew many of them, injected so much realism into the film.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0536700/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

[ATTACH=CONFIG]257238[/ATTACH]

16 bombers, maybe 18 Buchons, = 50 Merlin engines flying together, it must have been the final ever big Merlin-powered formation, though possibly the dogfight scenes shot in the UK might have got perhaps a dozen Buchons, and another dozen Spits/Hurricanes up at the same time, though not in a balbo.

In recent times, 17 Spits at Duxford would be the biggest assembly ( and a few of those were Griffons! )

Regarding aircraft used in the film, the Sons of Damien website is quite useful.