Hurricane (or possibly Fury) aerobatics in a George Formby film?

Joy was – take off the top wing & you almost had a Hurricane. So my transition was easy.

Not for nothing were the early Goshawk-powered design studies that eventually evolved in the Hurricane known as the Fury monoplane.

Then, of course, the whole process was briefly put into reverse with the slip-wing Hurri, which converted itself from a biplane to a monoplane in flight. Must have been baffling times for 1940 planespotters!

Flt Lt Lee in many ways symbolises fighter command in 1940 to me, I have the same book and with him vanishing chasing Bf-109’s, its incredibly sad.

I’m sure I’ve read elsewhere that the footage was included in the film, also that he flew inverted and had grass stuck to the aerial !?

In my study I have a framed picture of a group of 85 Squadron pilots, taken late one evening, all holding pints, Lee is there, most were killed within weeks of it being taken.

This heavy action was part of the late afternoon action off the coast of Essex on the ‘Hardest Day’ and involved an attempted bombing raid on Hornchurch and North Weald. Flt.Lt. Dick Lee was flying Hurricane P2923, and was one of initially 13 x 85 Sqn a/c led by Sqn.Ldr. Peter Townsend among 61 x Hurricanes of 46, 85, 151, 257 and 310 Sqns. heading to intercept 51 x He111 of BG53 with 25 x close escort Me110’s of ZG/26 as well as top cover Me109’s from III/JG51 on their way to North Weald. In a big battle which saw the raiders abort the raid, after many of the Hurricane’s had disengaged with exhausted ammo, Lee was one of a few 85 Sqn a/c left in action and he was last seen at about 6pm, 30 miles north-east of Margate chasing 3 x Me109’s out to sea. A brave, but, perhaps rash act from an experienced veteran pilot, who at the time had achieved 9 victories during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain. His body was never found…..:(
It’s possible that he was shot down down by Gefr. Karl Willius, the only claim by a III/JG51 pilot on 18th Aug.

Hi,

I have the film and it’s an Audax! 😉

I googled the serial number and it came up with an accident report from 1940.

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=2541

George does fly through a hanger but it’s done with special effects, not for real.

Hence my great regret!!
= Tim

Saw it on TV decades ago. I seem to recall it was a Fury but I may be wrong!

May I add a useless touch of topical tittletattle?

FURIES. ‘My’ No1 Sqn had them before I joined. Always longed to get my hands on one.

Nearest I got was in the same year as the Formby film – at Abingdon – my Uncle was Engineer Officer of XV Sqn – I was 14 – &, bless him, he put me in the back. So much for EU regs??

No – that’s not the actual aircraft – although it just could be!!

Hind, not Hart. Joy was – take off the top wing & you almost had a Hurricane. So my transition was easy.

Many thanks for all the gen, although I’m now wondering if in fact the aircraft used was a Gladiator rather than a Fury. 85sqn were formed with Glads in June ’38, converting onto the Hurri that November.

Does anyone know if the film’s available on DVD? I could buy the VHS listed above on Amazon but I wouldn’t have anything to play it on!

But our film hero lands safely ….

“Turned out nice again!”

😉

I think I saw this film on TV many years ago. I can recall quite a lot of Tiger Moth action. There is a long sequence showing George Formby inadvertently taking to the air in one alone – the close ups being studio shots! But our film hero lands safely ….

Flt Lt Lee in many ways symbolises fighter command in 1940 to me, I have the same book and with him vanishing chasing Bf-109’s, its incredibly sad.

I’m sure I’ve read elsewhere that the footage was included in the film, also that he flew inverted and had grass stuck to the aerial !?

In my study I have a framed picture of a group of 85 Squadron pilots, taken late one evening, all holding pints, Lee is there, most were killed within weeks of it being taken.

‘It’s in the air’
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Air-George-Formby/dp/B00004TBRO

The movie was “It’s In The Air”

I can’t recall seeing it, though doubtless I did many, many years ago.

Moggy

From Wiki

One of Debden’s early and most bizarre experiences was when the airfield was chosen as a location for the film “It’s in the Air” in which George Formby was to pilot a Hawker Fury through Hangar No. 3. The rather sharper angle of the hangars at Debden built around the tarmac apron allowed free access at both ends of the end hangar. The flying for the sequence was actually done by Flying Officer R. H. A. Lee who went missing on August 18 1940 when he was last seen ten miles north of Foulness Point chasing three German aircraft out to sea.