Hi All
for years now I’ve been seeing bits of a documentary colour film about bomber command cut into all sorts of programs about WW2.
I think the story is of one base on one day and includes footage taken on a Lancaster during a raid.
By the look of things it was filmed well into the second half of the war.
Notable bits I’ve seen include aircrew turning up at a briefing on a fleet of bicycles (one man has his pet dog in the basket on the handlebars). The fittting of a new rear turret on a Lanc (of the type I think they call a Rose Rice–twin fifties instead of 303’s) and scenes on an operation including the Nav looking at the scope of his H2S set and the bomb aimer sitting in the nose position framed by a bright orange reflection in the perspex
(presumably from fires below).
Can anyone out there tell me about this film–title, where filmed etc. Also is it available on video. I would imagine it would be popular if it was–well at least with people who like aircraft.
Thanks in advance.
Andy Jones
By: Hatton - 22nd April 2004 at 03:22
i like the fact that one of the extras is an ‘intro to the spitfire’, sounds like filler to me. I cant imagine the kind of people buying this looking at the special features and thinking “oooh, just what I needed, an intro to the spitfire, sounds like a nice plane” 🙂
sounds like a great dvd. one to add to the ‘wants’ list
By: Moondance - 8th March 2004 at 23:05
Thanks Robbo & 357, yet more stuff I need to buy.
By: Eric Mc - 8th March 2004 at 22:45
BBC showed Cozens’ film in 1979. I still have the original “Radio Times” from that week (it had a painting of a Lancaster and a B-17 on the front cover – what a pity the “Radio Times” does not feature art work on its cover anymore).
By: station357 - 8th March 2004 at 18:56
Moondance,
I believe the longer version has had the colour footage restored and remastered.
Okay, that’s another DVD I have to buy!
Regards,
Paul
By: Moondance - 8th March 2004 at 18:24
On a similar theme, I notice that there are two versions of the original (wartime) version of Memphis Belle available on DVD. One is about an hour longer than the other, I presume it to be the better buy – any comments?
By: SPIT - 8th March 2004 at 18:17
Hi
If you want a copy it is at DVD FILMS (on the web) and I got a VCR copy so I dont see why they do not have the DVD copy.
Hope this helps (it is a superb film).
By: station357 - 8th March 2004 at 18:12
Great shout guys, thanks for bringing this to everyone’s attention. Can’t wait to get hold of a DVD.
Regards,
Paul
By: Bluebird Mike - 6th November 2003 at 10:08
I’ll second Mark’s comments about the taxi scenes! 🙂
By: Mark V - 5th November 2003 at 22:46
Its an amazing film – although some of it was actually mocked up using a scrap fuselage on the ground that had been split in half!
The most amazing sequences are the mass Lancaster taxi out in the twilight at Hemswell and the FIDO landing scenes at Sturgate.
Cozens was an interesting man, having commanded 19 squadron at Duxford in 1938 at the time of the introduction of the Spitfire in to RAF service, becoming Hemswell station commander by 1943.
By: Andy in Beds - 5th November 2003 at 22:21
Night Bombers
Thanks eveyone,
I’ve ordered it from Amazon.
I’ve wanted to see this complete for a while.
Andy
By: Moondance - 5th November 2003 at 21:46
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004CJMU/ref=sr_aps_vhs_1_1/026-1662691-7358869
Looks like its still available
By: Bluebird Mike - 5th November 2003 at 21:44
It goes by the name ‘Night Bombers’ and is usually available somewhere or other on tape. The take off sequence-shot from an already airborne aircraft flying beside the Lanc during it’s run-is superb.
It’s not the only colour film of Bomber Command though-there’s colour footage of a WW2 Conningsby Lanc, too.
By: Andy in Beds - 5th November 2003 at 21:35
Bomber Command in Colour.
Does anyone know if this film is available to be seen complete anywhere–video or public viewing?
Thanks for the info.
regards
Andy
By: Moondance - 5th November 2003 at 21:16
Shot at Hemswell by Air Commodore Cozens, reputedly the only colour film taken of Bomber Command in WW2.
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November 5, 2003 at 8:27 pm