Just had the opportunity to watch a piece of pure 1950’s nostalgia, thanks to the loan of a poor quality (but watchable) video of ‘High Flight’ Its a film I was not familiar with, but centres on the training of three cadets at RAF Cranwell in the 1950’s
It features shots of Vampires, Provosts, Hunters and a Farnborough airshow the plotline is a bit cheesey, but never the less enjoyable for the 50’s plane p@rn.
I did some ‘googling’ to find if its available on DVD but without success, although I did stumble across an old forum thread trying to identify the Spitfire supposedly on show in the ‘museum’ on the base
(reading the active ‘Norton spitfire’ thread something Mark 12 is still trying to positively identify 4 years later – 10/10 for perseverence !)
Anyone else come across this film classic of the RAF in the 50’s?
By: Mark12 - 31st December 2007 at 20:56
And if RAF Norton had displayed a Vampire alongside PK724 … what’s that behind the mystery Spitfire?
And which one is this?
The photographer was based at North Weald and remembers (vaguely) a film being made at the time?
G-ORDY
I think this is PK624 being shipped from North Weald to the RAF Uxbridge gate in 1957.
Although your image is a bit thin on pixels I believe a squadron crest is just visible below the exhaust stacks. If you could confirm this from the original and advise if the cockpit canopy frame and windscreen metal work are black…we have it.
From this image by Fred Grisely, one of several taken outside No. 4 hangar at North Weald in 1957, you can see the crest. It does not appear to be a 604 Squadron crest, nearer 609 Squadron in general form.
Latterly at North Weald the aircraft carried no RAF serial and when first displayed at Uxbridge it was just re-painted silver with black canopy frame and no serial. It later acquired a Chipmunk Serial ‘WP916’ in the silver scheme and retained it and the black frame through to the first camouflage application at Uxbridge.
Mark
Image:- Fred Grisely
By: Septic - 30th December 2007 at 00:36
Mark12, Production on ‘High Flight’ reputedly commenced on the April 10 1957 so I guess most of the exteriors would have been filmed in the following weeks, depending on the weather.
The film is occasionally shown on the Turner Classic Movie channel in the US, so hopefully sooner or later someone on the forum could capture a decent DVD copy for future reference. A heads up for its showing would also be much appreciated.
Septic.
By: G-ORDY - 29th December 2007 at 15:09
And if RAF Norton had displayed a Vampire alongside PK724 … what’s that behind the mystery Spitfire?
And which one is this?
The photographer was based at North Weald and remembers (vaguely) a film being made at the time?
By: Mark12 - 29th December 2007 at 09:57
High Flight
1958
RAF- Ray Milland (Ex USAAF Flight Instructor); Jet trainers set at the famous RAF Cranwell. Which ones?
For me the enduring puzzle is the identity of the 20 series Spitfire in the ‘Cranwell Museum’. The camouflage is clearly tired and original and I suspect the logo was applied by the film company. See the accompanying stills.
My best guess is the RAF Norton Mk 24 PK724 prior to its repaint to silver for display at the 1957 BoB day – my earliest shot of this machine.
Filming for ‘High Flight’ could well have been conducted during 1957 for release in 1958. Moving the Spitfire and returning it to Norton would be consistent with a refurbishment for a September BoB open day…just a theory.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049313/
Mark
By: T-21 - 28th December 2007 at 22:33
Have you tried the RAF College Cranwell library ?
By: alanl - 28th December 2007 at 19:59
In my capacity as a volunteer with the Classic Flight ,I showed a gentleman around Bagington a month or so ago and he was telling me about this film.It transpired that he played a part in it ! The character who was flying some- where and he happened to forget his wife’s birthday and had to buy her a gift from an airport shop ?
Or am I confusing tne title ?
The film he appeared in was about ex RAFpilots getting new jobs with the airlines.
I tried to find the film on the net to but had no luck.
Would it be possible to borrow a copy ?
Cheers, Alan
By: northeagle - 28th December 2007 at 17:20
Lucky man. I am of an age to have seen this film when it was new, and a few times since. Oh it’s hammy but it was watchable if only to see 43 Squadrons Hunters doing the flying…magic. I did try and find a copy a couple of months ago with no success. There was a copy in America but it was in black and white……defeats the purpose.
Best Wishes.
Robert.
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December 28, 2007 at 2:38 pm