BBC2 – Spitfire -Britain's Flying Past

Would love to see more aviation programmes on the beeb, who knows it could happen.

Is there a chance that the programme comes available on dvd? Only viewers in UK can see the missed programs…

I am advised by Archie Productions that the viewing figures for this programme were in excess of 2 million. All parties are delighted, it gaining a substantially bigger share of the evening viewers than anticipated.

I think that says it all. 🙂

Mark

I greatly enjoyed that.

A great piece of broadcasting. The look-down in the camera-ship added a new perspective as did the bulk of the narration being in flight. The inclusion of those affected by the Spitfire i.e. the school children and the ground crews was emotionally insightful.

The perusers and contributors on this Forum don’t really need a full blooded 2 hour documentary on MH434 or the Battle of Britain as the facts and info are on DVD, on here or are available on request from the residents.

My thoughts are; it was a well presented piece giving insight into the life changing impact of the Spitfire and in particular MH434 upon a wide range of people.

As much opportunity as is practicable and affordable needs to be taken to record the personal views, knowledge and feelings of the remaining heroes of our most loved part of history.

Just got through with this show, have to admit my eyes were joyfully tearful as the ending drew nearer. Just a great bunch of stories, set against the backdrop of a wonderful aircraft.

Especially interesting for me was the focus on 222sqn at Hornchurch. I live in Hornchurch, and spend a bit of time at the country park. It was fascinating to hear about the connection to Sanders Draper’s, and the escort duties on bombing raids.

Although I’d welcome and devote myself to watching a series based on this concept, I don’t think any other aircraft could have such an effect as the subject – except maybe one or two.

Well done to the BBC, and John Sargeant was a complete surprise. A joy to watch and listen to. He actually seemed interested and passionate about the people he met and places he saw, as well as MH434.

I liked the recreation of the notorious Alain de Cadenet “look behind you” clip……nicely done.

Enjoyed the programme, you can never have enough of a Spitfire gently rising and falling on your wingtip, backlight by the setting sun. Lovely.

Never fear, as sure as the Sun will rise in the morning, it will be repeated over and over again until the groan factor comes into play, and then it will be repeated again……… such is the UK TV mantra of today…….

Indeed…but then if there were no repeats there would be pretty much nothing on TV!

Sometimes that wouldn’t be a bad thing, though.

ada quonsett – thanks for digging that out. Excellent programme presented by the indomitable Baxter – both a fine and very knowledgeable presenter.

I thought it was very good. There are countless programmes, books etc covering the Spitfire’s history and development; it was nice to see a fresh approach taken, with the emphasis being on the impact the Spitfire had on the people of the time and the high regard that it was held in.

There will always be presenters about who can stand around talking about how great an aircraft it was. Before long, those who can recall flying or seeing the thing in combat will be long gone. In my view, it’s essential that our generation record as many of their stories and thoughts as possible, before it’s too late.

If you didn’t get at least mildly choked up at Betty and Joe’s story, Lardner-Burke’s son reading his mother’s letters or the Hornchurch school children, now elderly gentlemen, still honouring the pilot who saved their school, then you have very little soul!

I thought it was tame, MH434 is probably the most famous spitfire, there are several programmes already dealing with its history, sadly I don’t believe it had anything new to offer; shame really.

Shame Ray & Mark & OFMC didnt get mentioned.

Steve.

That was the only fault in an otherwise really enjoyable programme……..glad the wartime lovers got together eventually too.

Never fear, as sure as the Sun will rise in the morning, it will be repeated over and over again until the groan factor comes into play, and then it will be repeated again………

And then finally it’ll go on the ‘Dave’ channel. 😀

Didn’t appear to get it in my neck of the woods… 🙁

Never fear, as sure as the Sun will rise in the morning, it will be repeated over and over again until the groan factor comes into play, and then it will be repeated again……… such is the UK TV mantra of today…….

Great programme..lots of enthusiasm..different approach…some nice ‘then and now’ shots…8 out of 10….

A ‘plane’ is something you use on or with wood…an ‘aeroplane‘ is something that is flown, in’it.

Spitfire! Two Seconds to Kill

Spitfire! | Two Seconds to Kill
The story of the race to design and build a fighter plane fit to win a war.
Raymond Baxter, a former fighter pilot himself, talks to some of the men who built and flew the plane that played a key part in preventing the invasion of Britain in 1940. We learn how the Spitfire narrowly escaped being called the Shrew and find out about the significance of the elliptical wings. Douglas Bader explains the flying tactics Spitfire pilots used against Messerschmitts and Gordon Mitchell recalls his father Reginald, who designed the plane but died before it went into full-scale production.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/battleofbritain/11405.shtml

A great nights viewing and very moving. 🙂

🙂 Best bit for me,watching the interview of the [now old ] guys who were in the school as youngsters when the Spitfire pilot died saving them,laying the roses on the grave,real touching and still a living link to the past.

Overall a well rounded programme aimed at telling some of the spitfire’s story to the masses. Which I think it did well. I suspect if it was aimed at us it would have covered the Spit’s post war years. But then the programme wouldn’t have even been made, would it?!

..or COGEA, or Tim Davies, or the Battle of Britain Film, or…

Where are you going to stop? 🙂

Mark

Agreed, you cant claim to give a history of MH434 without mentioning Ray and Mark Hanna.

Or Adrian Swire or Neil Williams etc. etc.