By: Dr. John Smith - 9th January 2012 at 19:16
Dambusters on ITV 4
Thanks for that…
Actually, I noticed that the aircraft representing Guy Gibson’s Lancaster (AJ-G) has its “real” serial NX673 clearly visible in some shots, but at some point during the making of the film, someone must have realised this was an error…because the shot of Gibson’s crew getting out of their Lancaster after the raid (near the end of the film), you can clearly see that “NX673” had been painted out, the “ED932” painted over it (there’s an obvious black stripe of fresh paint behind the serial…).
The Wellington used was rather too obviously a T.10: it has a metal nose cone instead of a nose turret…
Oh, and did you know? Patrick McGoohan (later of Danger Man and The Prisoner) appears uncredited in a minor part as an RAF Guard. This was McGoohan’s feature film debut, playing a guard posted outside a briefing room where the crews are being told of their mission. His only lines are spoken to Gibson’s dog.
But, best of all – and well done to ITV 4 – the broadcaster did not succumb to “political correctness”: Guy Gibson’s dog was clearly addressed by his real name throughout. It is a measure of how things have changed since 1955 that to state the name of the dog on this forum would be censored or even get me banned!
Lastly, this link http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_movietv.htm suggests that at least two other Lancasters (TW862 and TW883) were also used for air-to-air and “flypast” shots. Another website (http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/afilms.html#Dam) stated “A fifth Lancaster that took part was Boscombe Down’s NX739. This was used as a back-up and for some aerial filming (most of the aerial shooting was done from a borrowed RAF Vickers Varsity).” That’s a total of seven in all…
By: Dr. John Smith - 9th January 2012 at 19:16
Dambusters on ITV 4
Thanks for that…
Actually, I noticed that the aircraft representing Guy Gibson’s Lancaster (AJ-G) has its “real” serial NX673 clearly visible in some shots, but at some point during the making of the film, someone must have realised this was an error…because the shot of Gibson’s crew getting out of their Lancaster after the raid (near the end of the film), you can clearly see that “NX673” had been painted out, the “ED932” painted over it (there’s an obvious black stripe of fresh paint behind the serial…).
The Wellington used was rather too obviously a T.10: it has a metal nose cone instead of a nose turret…
Oh, and did you know? Patrick McGoohan (later of Danger Man and The Prisoner) appears uncredited in a minor part as an RAF Guard. This was McGoohan’s feature film debut, playing a guard posted outside a briefing room where the crews are being told of their mission. His only lines are spoken to Gibson’s dog.
But, best of all – and well done to ITV 4 – the broadcaster did not succumb to “political correctness”: Guy Gibson’s dog was clearly addressed by his real name throughout. It is a measure of how things have changed since 1955 that to state the name of the dog on this forum would be censored or even get me banned!
Lastly, this link http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_movietv.htm suggests that at least two other Lancasters (TW862 and TW883) were also used for air-to-air and “flypast” shots. Another website (http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/afilms.html#Dam) stated “A fifth Lancaster that took part was Boscombe Down’s NX739. This was used as a back-up and for some aerial filming (most of the aerial shooting was done from a borrowed RAF Vickers Varsity).” That’s a total of seven in all…
By: PeteP - 9th January 2012 at 16:10
In 1954 the 100 pound per hour flying charge is equal to approx £5,874 in todays money based on average earnings.
Just to make it clear, the £100 I quoted was per engine hour so the hourly cost of each Lanc using scotavia’s figures would be about £23,500 and £11,750 for the Wellington and Varsity.
Pete
By: PeteP - 9th January 2012 at 16:10
In 1954 the 100 pound per hour flying charge is equal to approx £5,874 in todays money based on average earnings.
Just to make it clear, the £100 I quoted was per engine hour so the hourly cost of each Lanc using scotavia’s figures would be about £23,500 and £11,750 for the Wellington and Varsity.
Pete
By: scotavia - 9th January 2012 at 16:00
Noticed a few Lincolns in the background and for the first time realised how close the 3 Lancs were placed for the start up sequence, one on a concrete frying pan dispersal and the other two on grass.
The backdrops for the low flying were varied and I think some were in the Lake district. The footage of the Highball trials drop were I think at loch Eriboll.
Certainly the clearest print i have seen on Tv .
In 1954 the 100 pound per hour flying charge is equal to approx £5,874 in todays money based on average earnings.
By: scotavia - 9th January 2012 at 16:00
Noticed a few Lincolns in the background and for the first time realised how close the 3 Lancs were placed for the start up sequence, one on a concrete frying pan dispersal and the other two on grass.
The backdrops for the low flying were varied and I think some were in the Lake district. The footage of the Highball trials drop were I think at loch Eriboll.
Certainly the clearest print i have seen on Tv .
In 1954 the 100 pound per hour flying charge is equal to approx £5,874 in todays money based on average earnings.
By: PeteP - 9th January 2012 at 08:25
The four Lancasters used were Mk 7s NX673, NX679, NX782 and RT686 which were taken from storage at No 20 MU at Aston Down. The first 3 had already ‘starred’ in the film “Appointment in London” in which, coincidentally, Dirk Bogarde’s character is said to be based on Guy Gibson.
673, 679 and 686 were modified at Hemswell to represent the Type 464 Provisioning Lancasters used on the raid by having their mid-upper turrets, H2S radomes and bomb bay doors removed. 782 was retained in its original standard and appeared as Gibson’s 106 Squadron aircraft.
The Air Ministry is reported to have charged £100 per engine hour for the Lancasters (and the Varsity and Wellington) during filming sorties. The Lancasters were flown by Lincoln crews of Nos 83 and 97 Squadrons from RAF Hemswell.
Were the aircraft that took part in the film later scrapped? You would have hoped that their “film star” status would have ensured their preservation…
Presumably, the aircraft used were returned to storage and later scrapped. On that subject, the Lancaster Guy Gibson flew on the raid, ED932/G actually survived intact until July 1947 when it was scrapped without ceremony!
Pete
By: PeteP - 9th January 2012 at 08:25
The four Lancasters used were Mk 7s NX673, NX679, NX782 and RT686 which were taken from storage at No 20 MU at Aston Down. The first 3 had already ‘starred’ in the film “Appointment in London” in which, coincidentally, Dirk Bogarde’s character is said to be based on Guy Gibson.
673, 679 and 686 were modified at Hemswell to represent the Type 464 Provisioning Lancasters used on the raid by having their mid-upper turrets, H2S radomes and bomb bay doors removed. 782 was retained in its original standard and appeared as Gibson’s 106 Squadron aircraft.
The Air Ministry is reported to have charged £100 per engine hour for the Lancasters (and the Varsity and Wellington) during filming sorties. The Lancasters were flown by Lincoln crews of Nos 83 and 97 Squadrons from RAF Hemswell.
Were the aircraft that took part in the film later scrapped? You would have hoped that their “film star” status would have ensured their preservation…
Presumably, the aircraft used were returned to storage and later scrapped. On that subject, the Lancaster Guy Gibson flew on the raid, ED932/G actually survived intact until July 1947 when it was scrapped without ceremony!
Pete
By: Dr. John Smith - 8th January 2012 at 18:55
Dambusters on ITV 4
This seems the relevant thread to ask: which Lancasters took part in the film, and what became of them?
Of course the Lancasters in the Dambusters film were not the same ones that took part in the actual raid – but it is sobering to think that you could still get your hands on half a dozen airworthy Lancasters in 1955.
Were the aircraft that took part in the film later scrapped? You would have hoped that their “film star” status would have ensured their preservation…
I presume that PA474 (the BoBMF Lancaster) was not one used in the film?
By: Dr. John Smith - 8th January 2012 at 18:55
Dambusters on ITV 4
This seems the relevant thread to ask: which Lancasters took part in the film, and what became of them?
Of course the Lancasters in the Dambusters film were not the same ones that took part in the actual raid – but it is sobering to think that you could still get your hands on half a dozen airworthy Lancasters in 1955.
Were the aircraft that took part in the film later scrapped? You would have hoped that their “film star” status would have ensured their preservation…
I presume that PA474 (the BoBMF Lancaster) was not one used in the film?
By: Moggy C - 8th January 2012 at 18:00
And ITV4 (non HD)
By: Moggy C - 8th January 2012 at 18:00
And ITV4 (non HD)
By: TonyT - 8th January 2012 at 17:38
Oops, good on em, they said before it started this contains some racial content used in a historical context…… So simple and allows for accuracy.
By: TonyT - 8th January 2012 at 17:38
Oops, good on em, they said before it started this contains some racial content used in a historical context…… So simple and allows for accuracy.
By: One of the Few - 8th January 2012 at 16:13
That would be ITV4 HD Tony! 😀
By: One of the Few - 8th January 2012 at 16:13
That would be ITV4 HD Tony! 😀
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January 8, 2012 at 3:38 pm